OceanSide church of Christ




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BUILDING THE LOCAL CHURCH…

By Members Committed to the Local Congregation

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There is a concept that I wish all Christians could come to truly appreciate.  It is God who created the local congregation.

1.      Jesus built the universal church (Matt. 16:18).

2.      The universal church, however, is the composite of every local congregation throughout the world.

a.      Church which was at Jerusalem (Acts 8:1)

b.      The church in Antioch (Acts 11:26; 13:1)

c.       The church which is at Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1)

d.      The church of God which is at Corinth (I Cor. 1:2

e.       Church of the Thessalonians (I Thess. 1:1)

f.        The church that is at Babylon (I Pet. 5:13)

g.      Seven churches which are in Asia (Rev. 1:11)

 

B.      Every Christian is to be a member of a local congregation.

1.      Phoebe was a member of the church at Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1).

2.      Acie Sanders is a member of the Arlington church of Christ.

3.      We are members of the OceanSide church of Christ in Atlantic Beach, FL.

 

C.     This might come as a shock for some.  If we are going to build up the local church, each member must be committed to the local congregation.

 

I.                   WHAT COMMITMENT LOOKS LIKE

 

A.    Submission to the elders

1.      Elders are the overseers of the church (Acts 20:28; I Pet. 5:1-3).

2.      They have the rule over the local congregation (I Tim. 5:17).

3.      As members, we are commanded to obey them and submit to them (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.

 

a.      Most elders will not command their members to do very many things because they do not want to be accused of being lords over God’s heritage (I Pet. 5:3).

b.      Most members believe that the things the elders ask of them are optional.  They will do it if they want do.  They will not do it if they do not want to.

c.       NOTE:  These very lax positions mean that elders have very little control of the local congregation.

 

B.      Attending the worship service

1.      Hebrews 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.

 

2.      Worship brings us together for many purposes.

a.      To praise the God who redeemed us.

b.      To learn from His holy will and strengthen our inner man.

c.       To remember the precious death of our Savior.

d.      To provoke one another to love and good works.

e.       To give generously of our means so the works of the church can thrive.

 

3.      Some members fail to attend the worship services.  What is more needful than this on the Lord’s Day?

 

C.     Participating in the works of the church

1.      Our physical bodies exist to do things, to accomplish things, to work to get things done.

2.      The spiritual body has been created to work and labor to accomplish the will of God.

a.      There are three works of the church:

1)      Evangelism (Mark 16:15)

2)      Edification (Eph. 4:12)

3)      Benevolence (James 1:27)

b.      All works of the church are designed with one of these objectives in mind.

c.       To be effective, every member must do his/her part.

1)      I Corinthians 12:20-22

 

But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:  nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble are necessary.

 

3.      Again, members often take a very nonchalant attitude toward the works of the church.

1.      If I want to participate, I will.

2.      If I do not want to participate, I will not.

 

D.    Effectual fervent prayer

1.      James 5:16

 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

2.      We need to pray for

a.      Our leaders:  elders, deacons, preacher and Bible class teachers

b.      One another

c.       Our works

d.      Our sick and shut-in

e.       Our unfaithful members

f.        The lost

g.      Our enemies

h.      Our plans and goals

 

 

II.                TO BE TOTALLY COMMITTED MEANS

 

A.    Scheduling spiritual things first (Matt. 6:33)

 

B.      Serving with an “I want to do this” attitude (Isa. 6:8)

 

C.     Strain in God’s service with every fiber of our being (Phil. 3:14)

 

D.    Sacrificing worldly things for eternal things (Phil. 3:7-8).

 

E.      Subsidize the church with time, talents, and treasures (Rom. 12:1)

 

F.      Shirk every excuse for not being committed (Ruth 1:16-17)

 

III.             WITHOUT COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL CHURCH

 

A.    The local church will not grow.

1.      The church grows through the efforts of all her members.

2.      Ephesians 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.

 

B.      The local church will not shine.

1.      Shining involves something that is seen.

2.      Our works are the rays of light that shine out into the world (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15)

 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

C.     The local church will eventually die.

1.      James 2:26a

 

For the body without the spirit is dead…

 

2.      Life must be present if a church is going to exist.

3.      If there is no life, the church dies.

 

D.    The local church will fail her head, Jesus Christ.

1.      The head is what controls the body.  It governs and directs.

2.      When the members do not do their job, they fail.

3.      Ephesians 4:15-16

a.      Verse 16 beings with the words:  “From whom the whole body…”

b.      The “from whom” ties this verse to verse 15 wherein Jesus is proclaimed to be the Head.  The body proceeds from “the Head, even Jesus.”

c.       We are either doing His will or not doing His will as the body.

 

E.      The local church will not be vital.

1.      God did not create the local congregation just to buy a piece of land, build a building and assemble for an hour on Sunday mornings.

2.      He created the church to be a living organism that accomplishes His will (Eph. 2:10).

 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto God works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

 

 

F.      The local church will not be pleasing to the Father.

1.      Remember, it was God who created the local church.  He designed it with a purpose (Eph. 3:21).

 

Unto him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end.

 

2.      If the church does not engage in an abundance of good works, God will not be glorified.  If He is not glorified, he will not be pleased (See Eph. 1:12).

 

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who trusted in Christ.

 

G.     The local church will be judged for her ineffectiveness.

1.      The Lord examines each individual Christian (Rom. 14:12), but He also examines each local congregation.

2.      This is the lesson that is taught in Revelation 2-3. 

a.      Each church is address:  Unto the angel of the church of … write.

b.      Each church is exhorted:  “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

c.       Each church is told by Jesus:  “I know thy works” (Rev. 2:2; 2:9: 2:13; 2:19; 3:1; 3:8; 3:15).

3.      The Lord is well aware of what is happening at OceanSide.  He knows our works.  He knows who is participating and who is not.  He knows who is committed to the local church and who is not.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Commitment is a choice.

 

B.      Most of us have committed the best to our jobs.

1.      Show up on time

2.      Do all of our work

3.      Obey the instructions of our boss

4.      Accomplish company goals

5.      Help co-workers

6.      Participate in extracurricular things

7.      Willing to go the extra mile

8.      Willing make some sacrifices

9.      Endure the tough times

10.  Let the company accept the glory of our labor

 

C.     We need to make this type of a commitment to the local congregation.  When we do, we will see the local church start to prosper like the business to whom we are so committed.