ARE YOU THE CHURCH SCRIPTUALLY ASSEMBLED?

                                          PRESENTED BY STEVEN SCHILLER

INTRODUCTION

As we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, as we continue in our service and walk with God, we do not do so alone

A wonderful blessing we have in Christ is being members of His body, the church

When we properly understand:

What the church is, both in its universal and local sense

What our responsibilities are toward the church

-- Then we can better utilize this blessing to help us remain faithful in our lives as disciples of Christ

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

THE WORD "CHURCH" REFERS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED...

As we are saved, the Lord in heaven Himself "adds" us to His church - Act 2:47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

As His "church" (a word meaning "assembly" or "congregation"), we are members of God's "household" or "family" - 1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

THE WORD "CHURCH" IS USED PRIMARILY IN TWO SENSES...

The UNIVERSAL sense: all the saved throughout the world

It is used in this way in passages like Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ; Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ; Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

In the "universal" sense:

There is only ONE church - Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ; compare with Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Christ is the head; individual Christians are members of His body - 1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 

There is NO EARTHLY ORGANIZATION; what organization there may be is spiritual in nature - Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 

The universal church never meets as such; it has no "officers" except Jesus Christ and the original apostles and prophets

The LOCAL sense: the saved in one particular locality

It is used in this way in passages like 1Co 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. ; Rom 16:16  Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 

In the "local" sense:

There are MANY churches - cf. Gal 1:2  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 

There is to be EARTHLY ORGANIZATION within each local church

Ideally, each church has elders (also known as bishops, pastors) and deacons - Php 1:1  Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:  (described more fully later in this lesson)

But churches may exist temporarily until such men can be appointed - cf. Act 14:21  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

Act 14:23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 

Local churches meet regularly; and Christians have responsibilities in connection with their brethren in the local church

RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

WE SHOULD "JOIN OURSELVES" TO A LOCAL CHURCH...

Only Christ "adds" one to the church UNIVERSAL; but one can and should "join" themselves to a LOCAL church - Act 9:26  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 

Act 9:27  But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 

Act 9:28  And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 

This enables you to benefit by the association of other Christians, and provides you an opportunity to be of service to them - Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

There are some responsibilities Christ has given you that you cannot fulfill on your own; for example, the Lord's Supper - Act 20:7  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 

So you need to find and join a local faithful congregation of the Lord (a careful study of the New Testament can help you to identify such today; perhaps a subject for future study?)

WE SHOULD COOPERATE WITH THE "LEADERS"...

In a fully developed local church, there will be "ELDERS" to oversee the people of God

The terms "elder, pastor, bishop, shepherd, overseer" are often used interchangeably, referring to the same position - Act 20:17  And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. ; Tit 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 

Tit 1:6  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 

Tit 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;1Pe 5:1  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 

1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  

Their qualifications are found in 1Ti 3:1  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 

1Ti 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 

1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 

1Ti 3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 

1Ti 3:5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 

1Ti 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 

1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ;Tit 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 

Tit 1:6  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 

Tit 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 

Tit 1:8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 

Tit 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 

Our responsibilities to them are as follows:

To recognize and respect them - 1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 

1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 

; 1Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing. 

1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

1Th 5:19  Quench not the Spirit. 

1Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings. 

To obey and be submissive when they lead scripturally - Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. ; 1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 

1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 

Think of them as your "spiritual advisors", as "shepherds"; they are mature, experienced Christian men who are charged by God to "watch out for your souls"!

In a fully developed local church, there will also be "DEACONS" to serve the people of God

These are "servants" who assist the elders in the work of the church

Their qualifications are found in 1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 

1Ti 3:9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 

1Ti 3:10  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 

1Ti 3:11  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 

1Ti 3:12  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 

1Ti 3:13  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

The work they do is a very noble one - 1Ti 3:13

There may also be those who serve as EVANGELISTS and TEACHERS -

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

The "evangelists" concentrate their attention on teaching the gospel to the lost

"Teachers" concentrate attention upon edifying the members

Those commonly referred to as "preachers" or "ministers" may do both the work of evangelist and teacher

But whether they serve as evangelist, teacher, preacher, or minister, within the local church they likewise submit to the leadership of the elders

WE SHOULD CONTRIBUTE REGULARLY TO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH...

The work of the church can be divided into three areas:

Evangelism - Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ; 1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ; 1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

Edification - Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

Benevolence - 1Ti 5:16  If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. 

How the local church can raise funds to do its work is illustrated in 1Co 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 

1Co 16:2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 

Principles governing such collections were discussed in the lesson, "Our Public Assemblies"

The financial support provided the local church enables it to do much of the work God designed it to do

WE SHOULD DO OUR PART IN THE WORK OF THE CHURCH...

We cannot "pay" to have our part of the church's work done for us

A strong, successful congregation is one where every member is doing their part - Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

There are different kinds of functions we might perform - Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 

Rom 12:7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 

Rom 12:8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 

What is essential is that we each do what we can with the same zeal and enthusiasm - cf. 1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

1Pe 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

WE SHOULD HELP KEEP THE CHURCH UNITED...

Unity among believers is very important to Jesus - Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ; cf. Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Division is condemned in the Scriptures - 1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 

1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 

To maintain the unity we have in Christ requires certain attitudes and diligent effort - Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Here are some things we can do:

Be peacemakers when brethren have disagreements -Mat 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

Avoid gossip - 1Ti 5:13  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 1Ti 5:19  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 

Avoid discussion of speculative questions - 1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 

1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  2Ti 2:23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 

Avoid partiality - 1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 

WE SHOULD LIVE IN A WAY THAT SPEAKS WELL OF THE CHURCH...

Be an example to others - 1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Tit 2:7  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 

Tit 2:8  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 

Some people delight in finding Christians who are not living right and use them as an example to attack the church

We are to avoid giving them opportunities to do so -

Tit 2:8  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 

1Ti 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.  1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

Christians are not perfect, but we should strive to be an example of what Christians ought to be!

CONCLUSION

More could be said on this subject, but this should suffice to make the point that with the blessings of fellowship within the body of Christ come various responsibilities

God did not intend for us to be "islands unto ourselves", but joined together in Christ where we can encourage one another in an atmosphere of righteousness, joy, and peace - Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

SOME QUESTIONS TO STIMULATE YOUR THINKING...

Have you let a local church know that you wish to be identified as an accepted, working member of their group?

Do you know the elders, deacons and other members of the church where you attend?

Do you have a sense of what function you provide in the body of Christ, and are you fulfilling it?

If every member of the church were as faithful and active as you in your service to the Lord, what kind of of church would it be?

DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

HEAR

BELIEVE

REPENT

CONFESS

BE BAPTIZED

LIVE FAITHFULLY