A Closer Walk With God
The Church And You - Cont.
Having looked at the primary work of the church and the work through leadership, we will now look at how we can contribute. We should contribute regularly to the work of the church. The work of the church can be divided into three areas:
Evangelism - Mt 28:19-20"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."; 1 Ti 3:15"if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth.; 1 Pe 2:9-10"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
Edification - Ep 4:11-16"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Benevolence - 1 Ti 5:16"If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are really widows."
How the local church can raise funds to do its work is illustrated in 1 Co 16:1-2 "Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." Principles governing such collections were discussed in Lesson #2, "Our Public Assemblies". The financial support provided by 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 does their part - Ep 4:15-16 "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." There are different kinds of functions we might perform - Ro 12:3-8 "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." What is essential is that we each do what we can with the same zeal and enthusiasm - 1 Pe 4:10-11 "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
We should help keep the church united. Unity among believers is very important to Jesus - Jn 17:20-21 ""I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."; Ep 2:14-16 "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility." Division is condemned in the Scriptures - 1 Co 1:10-13 "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"; 3:3-4 "for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?" To maintain our unity in Christ requires certain attitudes and diligent effort - Ep 4:1-3 "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Here are some things we can do to avoid division(s). Be peacemakers when brethren have disagreements - Mt 5:9 '"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Avoid gossip - 1 Ti 5:13 "Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.", 19 "Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses." Avoid discussion of speculative questions - 1 Ti 6:3-5 "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain."; 2 Ti 2:23 "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels." Avoid partiality - 1 Ti 5:21 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality."
We should live a life that speaks well of the church. Be an example to others - 1 Ti 4:12 "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."; Ti 2:7-8 "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 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 - Ti 2:8 "and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us."; 1 Ti 5:14 "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."; 1 Pe 2:12 "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." Christians are not perfect, but should strive to be an example of what we ought to be!
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 - Ro 14:17-19 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."
The following are 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 church would it be?
