Discipline & the Church WATC

This title could seem scary if you have an incorrect view of discipline.

That is discipline = punishment. 

Biblical church discipline is not focused on punishment.

It is meant for spiritual growth and restoration.  

It involves building relationships with your church family, overlooking what can be forgotten, calling out sin, calling people to repentance, and glorifying our Holy God.

There should be discipleship and relationship before what is often thought of as church discipline.

Suppose you think about some of the lessons we have covered. In that case, they are connected to this truth:  meaningful membership, intentional relationship, prayer for one another, thinking Biblically, and the importance of leadership (congregational and elders).

The misconception of church discipline is that the goal is to kick people out, and it begins by calling out sin before the entire church body.ck people out

The reality of church discipline is a desire for holy, sanctified living, godly relationships, and restoration.  Matthew 18 discipline needs to be done with care, caution, wisdom, love, and a DESIRE TO GLORIFY GOD.

We need the whole church to be brought into the discipline process because the entire church brought the individual into the membership. 

Remember the keywords we have used in the previous lessons: submission, unity, and harmony.

Is church discipline biblical?  HERE is a list of passages that share the reason for and importance of church discipline.

• 2 Corinthians 2:6
• Galatians 6:1
• Ephesians 5:11
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – 15
• 1 Timothy 5:19 – 20
•  2 Timothy 3:2 – 5
• Titus 3:10
• Hebrews 12:11
• Matthew 18:15 -17
• 1 Corinthians 5

 What is the difference between discipline in Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5

Here are some thoughts from Is It Loving to Practice Church Discipline? by Jonathan Leeman

Question:  What does removing a person from membership mean?

Answer:  A church is no longer willing to affirm that a person is a Christian.

“Removal is not an absolute ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in response to someone’s profession of faith. It is a removal of the ‘yes.”

 Question:  What sin leads to public discipline?

 Answer:  Outward, Significant, and Unrepentant

 A resource to check out is www.9marks.org/article/church-discipline-primer

The last class is the Gathering of the Church next week (11/19).

For every We Are the Church lesson, click HERE.

Leadership & the Church WATC

Who leads the church?

 

There are two different, yet complementary, answers to this question.

 

The first answer is the SIMPLE and ULTIMATE ANSWER.

 

It is simple and ultimate. At the same time, it may seem like a Sunday School answer.

Jesus leads the church.

 

In Matthew 28:18 – 20, Jesus tells the disciples what they and those after them must do. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.”

 

Jesus tells the disciples in John 13:34-35 that if they love one another as he loved them, people will know they are His disciples. Their love will show that they follow Jesus.

The Lord outlines the requirements of a church leader in First Timothy 2:12 and 3:2 through Paul's inspired writings.

 

In Second Timothy 4:1 – 2, Paul exhorts Timothy and others to preach the Word. He says this preaching must correct, rebuke, and exhort.

 

In each of these verses, there is either an authoritative claim of Jesus or direction from God on how the church should work.

 

Ultimately, the church is under Jesus Christ’s authority. 

 

Now, the COMPLICATED ANSWER.

 

God has given specific people roles in the church: the congregation, elders, and deacons.

 

At Trinity Baptist Church, we believe in meaningful membership. Because of this, the congregation is responsible for the spiritual health of the whole church.

 

This responsibility makes itself known in several ways.  

As discussed in last week’s preaching and the Church lesson, there is a mutual ministry of the Word each of us, not just the preacher, needs to be involved in. We disciple others and seek to be discipled by others. If we are a gathered body of Gospel believers and Jesus followers, we must live out and guard the Gospel.

 

As we will discuss in next week’s Discipline and the Church lesson, we want to encourage each other to live godly lives. It needs to happen when there is a serious, unrepentant, loving, restorative, God-glorifying process of church discipline (Matthew 18). As a congregation, we bring in church members through a vote, and this vote is so much more than an election. It is a commitment to one another.

 

 As a congregation, we are also responsible for the physical care of one another through the benevolent fund, the election of deacons, and the personal looking out for one another.  

 

Trinity Baptist Church also believes in the two Biblical church offices of elders and deacons.

 

Elders are godly men “commissioned by God and appointed by the congregation.” The deacons and the elders have very similar qualifications in the Bible. However, one difference is teaching the Bible (1 Timothy 3:2). This teaching can but does not always present itself as preaching to the whole body. It includes teaching smaller groups, children, and individual mentoring relationships. As the whole church is responsible for guarding the Gospel, the elders have a special gift and responsibility to do the same. This shows itself in how elders care for God’s sheep’s spiritual well-being and model obedience before the congregation. (1 Timothy 3)

First Peter 5:1-3 provides clear directions for the elders.

Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock.

Deacons

 

In Acts 6, we see the use of the Word deacon as the disciples appoint seven men to serve tables so they can focus on the Word and prayer. The deacons will serve the church and the elders while the elders lead the church through prayer and the Word.

 

The Deacon Ministry Handbook by Alan Witham lists several ways deacons serve the church (remember, the church is people, not a building or meeting time).

• Deacons serve by helping the church navigate conflict healthily – Acts 6:1 (Deacon Ministry Handbook).
• Deacons serve by engaging in shared ministry with the pastor – Acts 6:2, 4 (DMC).
• Deacons serve by meeting physical needs within the church and community – Acts 6:3 (DMC).
• Deacons serve by helping the church maintain a healthy balance between in-reach and outreach – Acts .6:7 (DMC)

Three key words that describe deacons and deacon assistants are mercy, servicing, and mobilizers.

 

H.B. Charles Jr. provides a basic explanation of the difference between elders and deacons.

 “If elders serve by leading, deacons lead by serving.” H.B. Charles Jr.

For every We Are the Church, click HERE

Preaching & the Church WATC

Explanation of expository preaching

What isn’t expository preaching? 

Expository preaching is not theme-oriented. The preacher's ideas or the pressure of contemporary ideas are not the driving force of the message, which is not focused on the now. 

While expository preaching focuses on the Bible, it is not merely informational, such as a verse-by-verse commentary.  It is also not merely inspirational, encouraging people to do good for the sake of good or humanity.

What is expository preaching?

One of the most basic explanations of expository preaching is the meaning of the text, which is the sermon's point.  In Preach, Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert write, “Expositional preaching is preaching in which the main point of the Biblical text being considered becomes the main point of the sermon being preached. 

In expository preaching, the Bible provides direction, whether the message is one stand-alone message or a series of messages through a specific book. A verse-by-verse study through a book, like Pastor Brett's current series, provides a Bible-based framework for a preaching schedule. The preacher does not decide what the topic is from week to week. The text does.

Why expository preaching?

In ACE class, Pastor Brett shared several reasons for expository preaching

• Clarity. God’s word is more precise and better than the ideas of man.
• Protects the truth, God’s authority against the preacher, crowd, and our own comfort.
• Demands a choice, spiritual growth, or rebellion.
• Promotes biblical literacy 

Here are Bible examples of expositional preaching (https://www.9marks.org/answer/do-we-see-examples-expositional-preaching-bible/)

1. Levitical priests taught the law. (Deut. 33:10).
2. Ezra and the Levites gave the sense. (Neh. 8:8).
3. Prophets were to speak God’s Word, not their thoughts. (Jer. 14:14).
4. Jesus interpreted the law and prophets, and more is needed 24:27, 44).
5. On Pentecost, Peter expounded the Psalms. Joel 2:28-32, Psalm 16:8-11, and Psalm 110:1
6. Hebrews is an expositional sermon. Hebrews 3:7-4:13 is an extended exposition on portions of Psalm 95.

Expository Listening - Mutual Ministry of the Word

In class, we discussed what expository preaching listeners need to do. Here is the list.

• Be here
• Be honest. Remember, expository exposes the word. It also reveals the human heart.
• Pray for the pastor.
• Remember the Bible. Before the sermon, read the passage. On the day of the sermon, bring a Bible.
• Prepare your heart, mind, and body.
• Live out the sermon.

If the expectation is that the pastor preaches an expository sermon (and at Trinity Baptist Church, that is the case), then the congregation has specific responsibilities and expectations. All Christians have the privilege and responsibility to prayerfully speak the word of God to each other and non-Christians about how God gives this growth.

 There is a chapter in “The Trellis and the Vine” entitled “Why Sunday Morning Sermons are Necessary but not Sufficient.” The basic idea of the chapter is summarized in this statement: “It is the word of the gospel that is sufficient, rather than any particular form of its delivery.” Each of us is responsible for encouraging one another with God’s word to one another because it is the Spirit of God that changes and grows people. There is not one specific delivery method of God’s word.

The church and the sermon are so much more than an information download.
The church and the sermon are not for our entertainment.

“The church is a community of saved people who listen to, obey, and speak the truth of God’s Word into the lives of others for the glory of God. The sermon is one method used to educate and excite the community to live for the good of others and the glory of God.” (unknown)

Some practical listening helps from Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons

Basic Reminders:

1. Expect God to speak.
2. Admit God knows better than you.
3. Check that the preacher says what the passage says.
4. Hear the sermon in church.
5. Be there week by week.
6. Do what the Bible says.
7. Do what the Bible says today – and rejoice!

How to listen to Bad Sermons

Ash explains different types of bad sermons and gives some help for listening to each type:

Dull sermons “leave much to be desired in its style or presentation.”

Above all, we must search our hearts and come to the sermon praying for God's help to listen attentively as our bodies will let us...  My advice is not to worry that quite a bit of the sermon may go over our heads or bypass our consciousness but to ask God that some part of it may stick and be turned to repentance and faith.

Try taking notes or at least having paper and pen with you, with the aim of jotting down a verse or truth that you can take home and respond to.  Try going with a friend and agreeing not to spend lunch lamenting the preacher's inadequacies but rather sharing positive Bible truths that you have learned or been reminded of and praying together for God's help in putting them into practice.

Biblically inadequate sermons “import all sorts of things not in the passage, or to screen out important things in the passage that do not feature in the preacher’s understanding of biblical truth.” When responding to these sermons, Ash offers dangers to avoid.

1. “Avoid developing a critical spirit.”  
2. “Avoid being gullible and credulous, believing whatever any preacher says, so long as they say it plausibly and well.”

Heretical sermons contain “an error in something central to Christian faith and not something peripheral” (not a difference in church government but a denial of Jesus as Messiah). They are not merely mistakes or weaknesses that are put right when corrected or taught to the church.

Here is Ash’s counsel for heretical sermons.

The way to listen to these sermons is to stop listening to them!  That is to say, we ought to move away from that kind of church and find a church where they believe and teach the Bible faithfully.  We will not look for an exciting church where the preaching entertains; we will look for a faithful, Bible-teaching church (p. 28).

SCHEDULE

11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church

11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

RESOURCES

Pastor Brett on Preaching and Leadership

 

For every We Are the Church, click HERE.

 

The Bible & the Church WATC

God’s word provides what we need for spiritual growth and salvation

Why do we use the Bible?

The straightforward answer is - God spoke.
If we want to know him better, we should study what he said about himself, us, and this world.  It is the Word of God, and we are the People of God.

We need to remember that what we believe is grounded in the Bible, not the traditions of men, the ever-changing ideas of men.

Some of the central, essential BIG ideas found throughout scripture are:

• God is the Sovereign Creator – Examples:  Romans 8:28; Isaiah 45:7-9; Job 42:2; Ephesians 1:11.  Link: www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-gods-sovereignty/
• Man is so very sinful – Examples:  Genesis 3:6; Colossians 3:5-6; Romans 3:23, 5:12-15.  Link:  www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-sin/ 
• We need a Savior, and Jesus is that Savior – Examples:  Romans 1:16, 6:23; John 1:12-13; Titus 2:11-14.  Link:  www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-salvation/ 

In his book, Bobby Jamieson says, "The Bible is a story that preaches a message.  From beginning to end, the Bible tells a single story of salvation."

He says that reading and teaching Scripture aims to love God and our neighbors better.  We don't do these things for mere knowledge but for growth in godliness.

What do we use the Bible for?

Explicit, True Evangelism.  The truth of the Gospel was written down in the Bible.  The truth of the Gospel in the Bible must be shared with those who need salvation by those who have been saved.

Personal, Spiritual Growth.  The Bible helps us individually examine our lives with God as the one who is the most important.  We do personal Bible reading and study because it will shape our head, heart, and hand.

Corporate, Spiritual Growth. As we grow individually, we should grow together as a church. As believers, we should want to do what the Bible commands, not what the Bible forbids. In everything else (discernible issues), we want to be marked by grace and governed by the truth of the Bible. 

Scripture shows its importance (Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 1:3; and Titus 2:1).  Most of Paul’s epistles and others were written to clarify or correct doctrine and inform people about living the Christian life.

The importance of scripture is also seen in Church History.  Real-life examples can be seen throughout church history, so we offer an Adult Christian Education class on Church History.   Consider these two specific things about the Bible from Church History as shared in the “Men Who Rocked the World” podcast by Steven Lawson, specifically, the episode entitled The Puritan Commitment to Sola Scriptura.

• One of Martin Luther’s 3 marks of a Biblical church is Preaching the Bible
• A significant aspect of the Reformation was the clarity of the Scriptures taught in German, not Latin. Quotes like this one from Martin Luther the importance of scripture in the Reformers' lives.  "Evidenced in this quote, “A simple layman armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it.” 

If the church is a community of believers encouraging and helping one another, how should that impact our Bible reading? We should prioritize the private reading of and meditation on the Bible. We should look for more ways to encourage one another with God's Word. We need to share the truth of the Gospel with those who desperately need to be saved.

Resources

• Verse of the Day Images - wiki.logos.com/Biblia_Verse_of_the_Day_images
• Scripture Type - scripturetype.com/

Schedule

10/29      Preaching & the Church

11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

For every We Are the Church post, click HERE.

Prayer & the Church WATC

Prayer is not one of many different ministries.  Pray, a dependence on God, should be part of EVERYTHING the church does.  While we should pray for physical needs, the church's prayers should focus on spiritual growth and salvation.

What are some reasons we don't pray?  You may have come up with some different ones in your class.

• Seems like a waste of time.  
• Lie: Let's get working and doing something.
• Truth:  We are commanded to pray.  We need to grow in our dependence on God.  
• "I don't know how to pray."
• Lie:  There is an exact way that I need to pray.
• Truth:  Ask others to help you grow in your prayer life.  If you aren't sure how to pray, look to the Bible for examples of prayer.  
• If God is sovereign, why bother praying.
• Lie:  There is no reason to pray if God is sovereign.
• Truth:  We are commanded to pray.  The purpose of prayer is not to change God's mind.  

What would mark a praying church?

• People praying more.
• Harmony and unity in Christ.
• Growing dependence upon God
• Understanding that prayer is not ONE MORE activity of the church.  Prayer lies at the heart of all the church's ministry.  (The Praying Church, p. 28)
• Individuals praying for each other and asking others to pray for you. 

This "We Are the Church" study and last week's 75-year celebration are not meant to focus on Trinity Baptist Church but on the God Trinity worships.  We do church best when we don't look at the church but gaze at Christ (From The Praying Church by Paul Miller).  One way to grow in your prayer life is to look at and consider how to pray in scripture.

Here are three of Paul's prayers found in Ephesians for the church in Ephesus.  

• Ephesians 1:15-24
• Do not cease to give thanks for God's people.
• Pray that God will give the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God.
• Pray that believers would know the hope to which he has called you.
• Pray that believers would know the hope, the riches, the greatness of his power.

• Ephesians 3:14-19
• Pray for believers to be strengthened with power through His Spirit and according to the riches of his glory.
• Pray that Christ would dwell in the hearts of believers.
• Pray for the strength to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth
• Pray for believers to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
• Pray that believers may be filled with all the fullness of God.

• Ephesians 6:18-20
• Pray at all times.
• Pray that words may be given so the mystery of the gospel will be boldly proclaimed.

 Remaining We Are the Church Sessions

10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

For every We Are the Church, click HERE

Additional Resources:

Fighter Verses - www.fighterverses.com

40 Days of Life - https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/blogs.aspx

Prayerful Dependence from Church Ministries Conference workshop March of 2023.

Encouragement to Pray:  Prayer Promises from Thomas Hill

• James 1:5 - James 1;5 Image
• Hebrews 4:14 - 16 - Heb 4:14 Image; Heb 4:15 Image; Heb. 4:16 Image;  
• Philippians 4:6 - 7 - Phil 4:6 Image; Phil 4:7 Image
• Philippians 4:13, 19 - Phil 4:13 Image; Phil 4:19 Image
• Romans 8:26 - 28 - Rom 8:26 Image; Rom 8:27 Image; Rom 8:28 Image
• 1 Peter 5:7 - 1 Peter 5:7 Image
• James 4:1 - 3

TBC 75th Celebration

This week's "class" is not a formal study.  Celebrating God's goodness and grace is a great day, made known in and through Trinity Baptist Church. 

Here is the link to the Celebration Service

Here is the post from this Sunday's Trinity Kidz page post.  

The theme of today's lesson is Celebration. Trinity is celebrating its 75th anniversary with an open house, new members' reception, communion, and a Gospel reminder from Pastor Brett. The 1st—5th graders will learn about two events that remind us of what we need to celebrate: Rebirth through Jesus (John 3) and Salvation in Jesus (John 4).  

Take time today, this week, this month, and all of your time together to celebrate as a family THE HOPE WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST!
As you CELEBRATE GOD'S GOODNESSS AS A FAMILY, make it a habit to talk about these things regularly!

• Talk to your children about what it means to be a local church member, which is why we are doing the We Are the Church study.  This could be a weekly talking point.
• Talk to your children about communion. Remind them that it is a memorial and a celebration of Jesus for those who have been saved. This could be a monthly talking point.
• TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE GOSPEL, SALVATION, and JESUS CHRIST.  Use the booklet they will be taking home this morning.  This should be a daily conversation!

We need to remember that the church of God is the pillar that supports the truth.
It is not a marketplace for your preferred activities and ideas.

We need to share with the world about Jesus, his incarnation, righteousness, death, resurrection, and ascension.

This is the schedule for the next six weeks of class.

10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

Ministries of the Church WATC

Big Reminder: The church ministries are formal, as listed in the bulletin on the schedule, and informal, as each of us goes throughout the day.

What attributes of God are incommunicable (God alone possesses thus, we cannot have them)?

Omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, immutability, self-existence (aseity), and eternal

What attributes of God are communicable (We can be like God in these attributes)

His moral attributes:  love, goodness, and kindness

What do these questions about the attributes of God have to do with the ministries of the church?

In the first chapter of Discipling, Mark Dever makes two points.

We change:  “One of God’s incommunicable attributes is that he is immutable.  HE DOESN’T CHANGE.  But we change.” 

We influence and are influenced by others:  "We human beings are open to being influenced...  In fact, I want to take this one step further: all of us will inevitably be influenced by others, and we will influence others."

At the heart of discipleship is that we are not like God – we change.  Change is inevitable.
We should grow in love, goodness, and kindness – we must grow in Christlikeness. 
We can only do this through God's power and for God's glory.
The formal ministries of the church are meant to help us change and be change agents.  
For more verses on discipleship, go to www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-discipleship/ and consider what these verses say. 

As we think about the ministries of the church and discipleship, think about these two questions:

• What is essential for spiritual growth in a believer?
• The Gospel
• The Holy Spirit
• The Word of God
• The People of God
• Time

• What can be helpful but optional for a believer's spiritual growth?  Not necessarily bad, but it can be misplaced.  What are the benefits?  What are potential problems?
• Books other than the Bible
• Programs ("new and exciting OR "older and familiar")
• Events
• Potlucks

Ministry is NOT programs or events planned to keep people busy and entertained.
Ministry is saints in motion towards Christlikeness for the glory of God.  (from Praying Church by Paul Miller)
The formal ministries of the church are meant to help people grow in godliness, connect with people, and help others do the same. 

Last week's review of the membership included the BAPTIST acrostic.  The letter P is Priesthood of the Believers.  The ministries of the church are directly related to this point.  Each and every member of the church has the opportunity and RESPONSIBILITY to minister to one another.  This is not limited to those who stand between a pulpit.  
Another way to think of the Priesthood of the Believers is the phrase Ministry of the Pew - every believer speaking God's word and truth to one another.

The pastors, elders, and deacons have specific ministries and responsibilities at Trinity.

It is so important that we remember that EACH church member has a ministry at TBC. 

Brochure #2 says, "speaking the Word of God to one another for the glory of God."

The Trellis and The Vine is a book that has influenced Trinity's philosophy of discipleship and programs. The basic idea is that vinework is people-work and discipleship. The trellis are the programs and systems designed to help the discipleship process. It says, "If the real work of God is people-work—the prayerful speaking of His word by one person to another—then the jobs are never all taken. The opportunities for Christians to ministry personally to others are limitless."

With these truths and thoughts about discipleship and ministry, here are some considerations connected to specific ministry programs at Trinity Baptist Church

• Biblical Counseling
• Statement from the website:

No matter how long we've been followers of Jesus Christ, everyone needs fellowship and reminders of God's truth to persevere, grow in our faith, and help others do the same.

Such encouragement typically happens through participating in Sunday services and getting together with other Christians regularly for bible study, prayer, and discussion about applying biblical truth to life.

Sometimes, we need help beyond those general means of discipleship and encouragement.  It could be a trial that's hard to process, a long-standing pattern of sin, the impact of unwise choices, or a broken relationship.  How do we continue to obey and trust God when it gets tough? That's the role counseling can take in the Christian life.  It provides intensive and focused support for a particular issue to help us walk in obedience, faithfully steer life's storms, and persevere when hope, reconciliation, or change is impossible.

• Formally:  Biblical Counseling is meant to help people with difficulties with relationships, emotions, or habits.  This formal counseling involves meeting with someone with specific training, scheduling appointments, and more.

• Informally:  Everyone should be prepared to help people seek God and search scriptures for help.

• Women's Ministry & Men's Ministry (Taken from Women's Ministry In the Local Church)
• They are NOT consumer-oriented.  "We deserve a ministry that focuses on us."  With a consumer focus, the goal is to have EVERY woman or man participate in planned activities. And the ultimate motivation is merely because we love people and want to help them.
• They need to be Kingdom-oriented:  How can we invest in women or men in a way that equips them as disciples for their own spiritual growth, the good of families and individuals of the church, the betterment of the total ministry of the church, and their life in the world.  With a kingdom orientation, the goal is to serve and encourage every woman or man in the church for God's glory.  And the ultimate motivation is an insatiable longing to see the display of God's glory in the local church. 

• Children and Families & Teens and Families
• With both ministries, we want to disciple the children and teens God brings to us and help parents in their role of primary disciple-maker in their child's life.

• Adult Christian Education classes during regular quarters
• We want these classes to engage God's Word, God's World, and God's Work.  With these as our goal, we specifically offer the following
• one book of the Bible class each quarter.
• Classes on evangelism/missions, theology, prayer, church history, and parenting are regularly repeated.
• Occasional classes on current issues.

These are four specific words that are not separate ministry programs.  They should be part of everything we do.

Missions:  We should all be involved in Missions.  See the mission's brochure.  We should pray for and support our supported workers in each ministry while encouraging individuals to prayerfully consider serving the Lord in missions.

Evangelism:  This is not one of many programs.  It should be part of everything.

• The sermons and each ministry should encourage and equip Christians to know and share their faith. The ministries may also offer events to which you can invite unsaved people.

Discipleship: This is not one of many programs.  It should be part of everything.

• Class, groups, Bible studies, and Children's and Youth ministries are designed to help people connect with others for spiritual growth.

Prayer:  On August 8, we are going to look at PRAYER.

ADDITIONAL  RESOURCES

• Book:  10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, www.challies.com/book-reviews/ten-questions-to-diagnose-your-spiritual-health/

• Article: "Why don't churches make disciples?" This series of articles, www.9marks.org/article/5-reasons-we-dont-disciple-part-4/, provides some possible answers.

REMAINING LESSON SCHEDULE

10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

For every "We Are the Church," click HERE

Intentional Relationships WATC

The church seeks to build intentional relationships with believers to help each other grow and with unbelievers to share the gospel with them sooner rather than later.  This lesson and post explore what “intentional relationships” mean and look like in the church body.

This week’s lesson and last week’s lesson, Meaningful Membership, reviewed the two weeks of the New Members class to help each member understand what new members and every member are committing to when they join Trinity Baptist Church.

Two main parts of the second week of membership are (1) two initial church membership requirements – salvation and baptism and (2) a BAPTIST acrostic that explains some distinctive beliefs.

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY:  The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16‑17, 2 Tim. 3:16-4:2) 

AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH:   (Col. 1:18; 2 Cor. 8:1-5,19,23)

PRIESTHOOD OF EVERY BELIEVER:  Every believer has direct access to God. (Rev. 1:5‑6, Heb. 10:19, 1 Tim. 2:5)

TWO ORDINANCES:  Baptism by immersion and The Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41,47, 1 Cor. 11:23‑31)

INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY:  Every believer can distinguish truth from error through the teaching of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 2:20, 27; 1 Cor. 2:12)

SAVED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP (Acts 2:41, 47)

TWO OFFICES:  Elder and Deacon (Phil. 1:1, I Tim. 3:1‑13).  There is a Plurality of Leadership – Never CEO.

Each member of the church plays a vital role in the life of one another because each member is a part of the body of Christ.  In The Gospel Primer, Milton Vincent captures this reality with the following statement: “The more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.”

This intentionality is made known in the many "one another" commands.  Many of these commands can be found at www.challies.com/articles/one-another-the-bible-community/

Hebrews 10:24 and 25 tell us to meet together.  This spurring one another towards love and good deeds and encouraging one another needs to happen all throughout the week, not just Sunday morning.  It is not passively showing on Sunday mornings.  It is intentionally building relationships with others. 

These intentional relationships are built on Sunday mornings, other regular meeting times, special events, and throughout the week. 

These intentional relationships are built on different levels.  There are deep personal relationships, friends, and acquaintances.

A helpful intentional relationships resource is www.crossway.org/articles/building-a-culture-of-spiritually-intentional-relationships/. It contains four Ps that can lead to persistent cultural change. You can discuss how each of these can help grow intentional relationships.

DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:

Church members seek to build intentional relationships with believers to help each other grow and with unbelievers to share the gospel with them sooner rather than later

Upcoming Classes

10/01      Ministries of the Church
10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

For every We Are the Church post, click HERE.

Meaningful Membership WATC

The first part of the Meaningful Membership and Intentional Relationship class reviews the two weeks of membership class.

One of the first questions in the membership class is, “Why should one join a church?”

While there are multiple answers, here are two answers Pastor Brett shares with potential members. 

Membership means something.

True believers have been brought into the family of God.

The Bible does not talk about church membership.  However, it does talk about submission.  Submission to God and to one another.

In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul writes to the church, not the individual.  He tells “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons” (1:1) how to live. 
Be of the same mind, united in spirit, intent on one purpose, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, humbly consider another as more important than themselves, and don’t look out for your own interests but also for the interests of others. 
What a submission list.

We live this way because of who Jesus is and what He has done

In the church, this submission is made...
physically (gathering with church family on Sunday and throughout the week),
geographically (giving members access to me for discipleship and hospitality),
socially (Our most robust relationships should encourage us to grow in Christlikeness.  We should have friends outside of our comfort zone.),
financially (voluntary, sacrificially, for God’s glory),
ugliness (We tend only to want to submit to people or organizations if they are perfect or support our desires.)

Most of the N.T. was given to the church to be applied in the community, not individually.  Even Paul's letter to Timothy is written "so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God.”  (1 Tim. 3:15) 

We have brochures on various aspects of life at Trinity Baptist Church.  One is the “What does it mean to be a church member?” brochure.  It states that the church is a community of believers committed to growing together in godliness and testifying corporately about Jesus Christ to a fallen world.

This is done by...
- Protecting sound doctrine
- Pursuing unity in the church
- Promoting church purity
- Participating in the church
- Providing for the church 

During class time and, hopefully, outside of class time, talk to others about how God has used the church and saved people to help you grow in godliness.  Remember, God can and does use specific ministries at specific times in the life of a church.  Ultimately, membership is about a commitment to be used by God in the lives of others and to allow others to be used by God in your life.

To read more about meaningful membership, check out https://www.9marks.org/answer/what-meaningful-membership/

DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:

One key aspect of Meaningful Membership is that members are saved; they understand the importance of salvation and desire to see others saved.

9/24        Intentional Relationships
10/1        Ministries of the Church
10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

Urban Legends of Theology by Michael Wittmer has a section (216-217) very much connected with this week's lesson - "The Bible doesn't teach church membership."

The New Testament does not command Christians to join a local church, probably because it did not need to. What New Testament follower of Jesus would refuse to join his body?  On the day the church began, 3,00 people believed, were baptized and added to the church. In the ensuing days, "all the believers were together," and "every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved" (Acts 2:41-47). This pattern of believing and joining the church continued throughout the book of Acts. Is it possible to believe in Jesus and not belong to his local assembly? Maybe, but it never occurred to an apostle that anyone would; if someone refused baptism and membership in a local assembly, they would be counted as a genuine believer. The church assumed everyone baptized by the Spirit had become a member of the body of Christ by that baptism.  They belonged (1 Cor 12:12-13).° 

We do not know how the New Testament church kept track of its members (did they keep membership rolls?), but several Scriptures assume they had them. Paul tells Christians directly, "Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it" (v. 27). The New Testament church held elections for deacons and sent men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 6:1-4; 15:22). Surely, they knew who had a vote and who did not. Membership is also required for church discipline. Jesus said if our offending brother will not listen to our rebuke, we should "tell the church" (Matt 18:15-17). How do we tell the church if we do not know who belongs to the church? If our erring brother does not repent, Paul said we must "remove the evil person from among [us]" (1 Cor 5:13). How do we remove a person from among us if we do not know who counts as us? Paul said God judges those outside the church, and we judge those inside, so when we evict people from membership, we leave them to God's judgment (vv. 12-13). How do we do this without a clear boundary between those inside and outside the church?

 Finally, God says the church elders are responsible for the people under their care. They must "be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God" (Acts 20:28). They "will give an account" to God for how well they kept "watch over your souls" (Heb 13:17). If they "shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly," they "will receive the unfading crown of glory" when Jesus returns (1 Pet 5:1-4). The elders are not responsible for everyone or even every Christian. They are responsible for the people in their flock, which assumes they know who is a member of their church and who is not. 

New Testament Christians could not imagine uniting with Jesus but not his church. Neither should we.

For every We Are the Church post, click HERE.

Surgery Day Hope Reminder

 

We have been reminding Josiah and ourselves that this senior year injury reminds us of some critical, fundamental truths.

 It is not everything.  It is not a defining event.

It is not nothing. It is a significant event in his life.

It is something.  God is using this for His glory in Josiah’s life.  

This is part of a devotional I read to Josiah before his shoulder surgery. While we are disappointed that he will miss sports for a big chunk of his senior year.  We pray that his and our hope in God will continue to grow.

 “Hope:  Living Confidently in God”  by John Crotts The verse is Psalm 62:5

“The fact that we have to wait on God is not accidental. It is not a delay. He designs waiting times, using them to build our patience and strengthen our hope. When God’s children patiently expect him to bring the help they need, it shows that they recognize their dependence on him and trust him to come through.”

“God’s timing also has purposes beyond you. Have you considered God may be delaying the answer to your prayer so that your testimony of waiting (prolonging your active hope) on him can help someone else who is watching?”

“Although you cannot access God’s calendar, you can know his heart as revealed in his Word. Your hope for God’s good work in future events is as sure as all God has accomplished in the past. Until God finishes his plan, you must wait for him—but you can know for certain that God’s sovereign plan is good and wise. Waiting upon him is never in vain. He will always come through. He will deliver on every one of his promises. Your godly desires will be satisfied, according to God’s perfect will and in God’s perfect timing.”