I'm not going to have you stand today because I'm actually going to preach, gulp or gasp, a topical message. I think I can do that a couple of times a year. We're going to read a lot of scripture, to be sure, but yeah, so that's why you're not standing right now. I could have you. I'm reading like 400 scriptures, so we can have you stand. Each time I read one. Okay, fair enough.
Speaker 1:Well, I said something during my Easter message that probably was a bit shocking to some people, maybe here, especially those probably watching online, and it went something like this that it is hard for me to believe that someone who that someone is a genuine Christian who is not part an active part of a local church. Okay, it is hard for me to believe that someone is a genuine Christian if he or she is not part of a local church. I received some pushback on that and this is something I've said throughout my ministry, but I thought, if I'm to make such a bold statement, it would probably help me to back that up with Bible. Would you appreciate that today? So that's what I want to do today, as we just pause on the book of Acts for just one week, and I want to be clear here, just give some clarification that going to church does not save you any more than sitting in a garage makes you into an automobile. Okay, it doesn't save you. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone according to the scripture, alone, for the glory of God alone. Like I believe that. Do you believe that? But I love what Luther said and I'll quote it again and again saving faith is never alone. In other words, there are pieces of evidence and transformation in your life, undeniable transformation if, in fact, you are truly a Christian, if you are saved, converted, born again. And one evidence of you being a true believer is a love and participation, a love for and participation in the church. It's clear so I want to show you that in the scriptures.
Speaker 1:So, when we talk about church, there are two realities that we talk about, or two facets of church that we speak about. The first is what we call the capital C church. Are you with me? So the capital C church is the global body of believers, all who are in Christ. So, right now, if you are in Christ this is so wonderful to think about you are part of a family that stretches across the entire globe. How amazing is that. And the basis for being a part of that family is simply being in Christ Romans 12, 5,. So we, Paul writes, though many, are one body In whom In Christ and individually members of one another. So the basis of our participation, our salvation and participation in the global body of Christ is the gospel, it's Christ himself. But then this is where I want to focus today there is what we call maybe the lowercase c church or the local church, and the word church in the Bible is the Greek word ekklesia, and it literally means gathering, it means assembly. So the very word itself, church, beckons us to gather together, and the word is used several times in Scripture. So here's my point All of us thank God, if we're in Christ, truly saved, we're part of the capital C church. Are you grateful for that? And that reality of being part of that global body is supposed to be lived out in what you're doing here today. So you're here. So this may not be that convicting of a message to you, so just smile on this beautiful Mother's Day.
Speaker 1:But I do have two goals today. One is to encourage you to faithfully attend our Sunday worship gatherings. Make Sunday worship a priority. You know, when I was growing up, we planned our lives and this is still how I am we planned our lives around church, around Sundays. Now people plan church around everything else, so they'll put everything else, every excuse in the world, but Sunday is just not a priority anymore. And on the back of your note sheet there's a little QR code that you can in a website address that you can visit that where I make the case for worshiping on Sundays.
Speaker 1:I don't have time to get into that today, but let me just say that, um, I'm grateful for online church, but it's not a, it's not sufficient. Okay, if you're sitting at home watching on the computer and that's all you do like. If you're sick, that's a great tool and resource, but if you're able to be here, I'm telling you you are not doing what the Bible says. If you were watching online, all right, I wonder how many people just clicked off of the message. I wonder how many people just clicked off of the message. That's all right, the truth hurts.
Speaker 1:But here's a second goal. I want you not just Matter of fact, let me say it like this I think Craig Rochelle said this once I want you to stop going to church Now. Wait, didn't I just say I want you to faithfully attend church. Yeah, here's what I mean In Acts 2.42, 3,000 men, plus women and children, have just been saved, and immediately. Acts 2.42 says that they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship and that's another way of saying the gathering and the word fellowship in the Greek it literally means to participate in. So here's what I mean by stop going to church. Don't just go to church. Participate. We are called to serve one another, to use our gifts, to all, collectively and corporately, worship together our great God.
Speaker 1:This is why I don't turn down the lights in the sanctuary when we worship, because you know you go to a show, you go to a movie, you go to a sporting event, and if you go to a church where the lights are dark out here and the stage is brightly lit, then here's what happens. It gives. It portrays the idea that you're here to watch a show and you are not. I'm not here to sing you happy or to entertain you. Let's say You're not here just to hear a motivational speech. You're here to participate, use your gifts, to bless one another, and you are not the audience. I mean you're, you're listening and you're supposed to get something out of this message. But, like, when we sing, you're not the audience. We're not up here singing to you. We collectively sing to an audience of one, namely God, the triune, god, father, son and Holy Spirit. Amen. That's why we sing songs that are singable. That's one of my big convictions and keys that people generally can sing in, because we want you singing with us. Does that make sense? So I want you to be a participant and watch this, a joyful participant. Oh, I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord Applying this message. Like, if you're already doing all this, you just walk out feeling good. But if you're not applying this message, I don't think this is an overstatement. It will change your life if you apply it.
Speaker 1:So let me start by giving you this biblical argument for participation in the local church. Why is it necessary to be part of a local community as believers? Now again, on your note sheets on the front, I've listed all these scriptures out because I'm going to fly through them, all right, so you don't have to try to write everyone down. So here's my first argument. Participation in a local church is a biblical pattern.
Speaker 1:So we're going through, in our Sunday morning services, the book of Acts, right, and we're getting ready to go into chapter 10. So we've done one through nine. So I just want to take you on a quick journey. Where we've been so far, I'm going to go back to chapter one. We're just want to take you on a quick journey. Where we've been so far, I want to go back to chapter 1. We're just going to do a quick journey. I'm going to preach 14 messages real quickly. No, I want to show you how being part of a local church is the norm in chapters 1 through 9, and then we'll see this as we finish going through the book of Acts.
Speaker 1:So we're going to start with Acts 1, 14 through 15. So Jesus has just been ascended into heaven. He's just ascended and he sends his disciples, his apostles, out on mission, these 12 men to take Christ to the nations, as it were. And then here's what Luke tells us, immediately after Christ ascends All these this is the disciples with one accord, so they're together, were devoting themselves to prayer, together with women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days, peter stood up among the brothers. The company of persons was, in all about 120. So the disciples after Jesus' ascension, they don't just go their own way. What do they do? They join together, the 12 with another 108, and they pray and they worship God. Then, in chapter 2, verse 1, when the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place, not watching online.
Speaker 1:Acts 2.42,. They devoted themselves to prayer and the fellowship Acts 2.46, and day by day, attending the temple together I mean every day and breaking bread in their home. So what I'm asking you to do, to be part of a local church, it even extends outside of Sundays, beyond Sundays you need to be a participant. Acts 4, 23 and 24,. When they, peter and John, were released, they were just brought before the Sanhedrin and threatened. They went to their friends these would be believers and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and they began to pray. Acts 4.32,.
Speaker 1:Now, the full number of those who believed were of one heart and one soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. Early church was so committed to one another. They were in such fellowship, that they would sell land and houses just so nobody went without. Pretty remarkable, how you doing Acts 9, we move on to the apostle Paul, and I'm not reading every verse in this section that relates to this. So Paul has just been converted, and immediately next verse it says for some days he, paul, was with the disciples. These are other believers, not the apostles, but other believers at Damascus. And then you go down to 31 and 32 of chapter 9. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. It multiplied, the church multiplied and as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints plural who lived at Lydda.
Speaker 1:So do you see a pattern in the book of Acts? I mean, this is a history book. It serves as a model for the way that we should be functioning as believers, because the church was at its purest and most faithful form right after Jesus' ascension and the Holy Spirit came. So it's a biblical pattern. But not only is participation excuse me, participation in the church a biblical pattern, but it's also a biblical assumption. So here we go?
Speaker 1:Romans 12.10,. Love one another, other believers, with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. How can we do that if we're not together? Outdo one another in showing honor. How can we do that if we're not together? Romans 12, 16, live in harmony with one another.
Speaker 1:1 Corinthians 5, 4, when you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 14, 26,. What then, brothers, when you notice that word? It's not. If, when you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. You see that here we're supposed to sing. There's revelation, spiritual gifts when you come together. Same thing in many other places. There's just this assumption. Let me just read you a couple more. Colossians 3.16,. Let the word of Christ dwell in you, richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. He's not saying worship leaders, get up there and sing. He's saying every one of you encourage, sing, participate. 1 Thessalonians 5.11,. Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you're doing. 1 Peter 4.9,. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Listen to me.
Speaker 1:All of the epistles, all the letters in your New Testament are written to churches or individuals who are supposed to deliver the letters to churches. It assumes I mean the Bible just assumes if you're a Christian, you're going to be connected to a local community of believers. The book of Revelation, jesus instructs John to write seven letters to seven individuals, no, seven churches. So if you stayed home and watched online that week, man, you missed out. So Christianity demands that we go to church. It's a biblical pattern, it's a biblical assumption. But then, if that's not good enough for you, it's also a biblical command. And we know this.
Speaker 1:Number one because the Bible talks about submitting to pastoral leadership. All right, hebrews 13, 17,. Obey your leaders, how you doing, and submit to them. Man, I just take an offering right now or close the service out. Four they are keeping watch over your souls. Boy, that's heavy. You know, as pastors, we're here to keep watch over your souls. We are under shepherds of the great shepherd to keep watch over your souls. We are under shepherds of the great shepherd, and so you're to have pastors. Well, how can you do that? How can you do that if you're not involved in church. Listen, let me just go on, because I love this part. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Somebody take a note right there. No, you're a joyful church to lead.
Speaker 1:1 Peter 5, 1 and 2. So I exhort the elders among you, pastors as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that's going to be revealed shepherd or pastor, the flock that's among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly so. You're commanded in the Bible to send under the leadership of pastors. Can't do that at home. Then there's a more explicit command that warns us and commands us not to forsake gathering together Hebrews 10, 24 and 25.
Speaker 1:Let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day. This would be the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day. This would be the return of the Lord drawing near. So when we look at the early church. It's like we shouldn't fall back on meeting together. We should be more committed to this. We should be meeting more often. That's why you need to join a small group and you need to come to game night. There's a plug for you guys. You know, youth group. We need to be together even more as the return of the Lord draws near. So participation in the local church is a biblical pattern, a, not a back-breaking command.
Speaker 1:It is a privilege to be a part of a church and so many of you know this Psalm 133.1, how good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity. The local church one is a means of encouragement. 1 Thessalonians 5.11,. Encourage one another and build one another up. Is anybody in this church grateful just that you have other encouragers that can pick you up when you're down? Amen, man, I love that about this church. You guys live this out and I know this. People are dying for encouragement. They're just downtrodden and heavy laden and in the dumps so much, and they just need encouragement and this is the place to get it. The local church is also a means of comfort. Second Corinthians 1, 3 through 4, blessed be the God and father of a means of comfort. 2 Corinthians 1, 3-4,. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us all in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Speaker 1:When you go through any situation, a particularly troubled situation, it is best in those moments to talk to somebody who's been through that specific thing and come out on the other side. Isn't that encouraging? You know, if you are here and deal with mental health problems, be it anxiety or depression or whatever, we've got people here, including myself, who've dealt with that. And listen. I remember years ago when I was trying to navigate this issue in my life, I would go to a therapist who'd never been there. Give me somebody off the street that's just been there before, a therapist who's never been there, somebody that's been there, and come out on the other side. You know, one of the the hands down hardest thing people say that you could ever go through in life is the loss of a child, and if you've been there, I don't know your pain. My heart goes out to you, but I know at least four families in this church who have been through that very thing, and God forbid if someone ever goes through this or if you hear out there of somebody going through this. This is a great place for comfort because those people have, by God's grace, come out on the other side and they're helping other people who've dealt with similar situations. It's a place of comfort.
Speaker 1:It's also the church, a place of equipping. Ephesians 4, 11 and 12, christ gave the church apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors or shepherds and teachers for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. Every one of you we've talked about this throughout Acts, especially that you are called to ministry, not vocational ministry necessarily, but you are called to use your gifts to bless others in this community. And how do you do that? You come to church. You sit under pastors who are here not just to preach at you, but we're to come along you and help you. Help you use those gifts, equip you to better serve other Christians and to take the gospel to the lost and dying world.
Speaker 1:And the last one I'll mention. It's not an exhaustive list of benefits, but the local church is a means of accountability, something we don't take advantage of enough. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another Boy, that's something we don't do enough in the church that you may be healed. You know, we very intently named this church Real Life Community Church because we don't want to act like we have it all together when we simply don't. We want this to be a place of transparency, a safe transparency, where people can share sin with one another, not so that you can stay in that sin, but so that you can pray for one another and God can use others to lead you to repentance and restoration, as James says, that you might be healed. It's a place of accountability. What I want you to see before moving on is that the church is not just an obligation, it is a gift of grace, it is an absolute gift of grace.
Speaker 1:Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a wonderful pastor and theologian who was taken captive, arrested under the Nazi regime during World War II, and he was taken from prison to prison, concentration camp to concentration camp and when he was locked away he was eventually executed. But when he was locked up, his greatest desire, the thing that he missed the most, was being with other Christians More than any other commodity. He so longed to be back in the church. He loved the church so much that he wrote a book called Life Together, and I think he wrote it while he was imprisoned. Now I just want to quote you an excerpt from there.
Speaker 1:Listen to this One of the most precious gifts in life was fellowship with other believers. So he doesn't have this anymore. He's arrested. So one of the most precious gifts in life was fellowship with other believers, which after his arrest, he would never experience again. And he writes which after his arrest, he would never experience again. Okay, and he writes the physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy. How many have ever felt that Like I can't wait to get here on Sundays, and I mean this with all my heart. It's not because I'm preaching, it's because I get to do life with you, One of the most. He says the physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer. It's easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift in the kingdom of God that any day he writes may be taken completely from us. Kingdom of God, that any day he writes may be taken completely from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed. Therefore, let him, who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians, praise God's grace from the bottom of his heart. Let me thank God on his knees and declare it is grace, nothing but grace, that we were allowed to live in community with other Christian brothers and sisters.
Speaker 1:We call this real late church. It ought to be real early church, because you ought to be every Sunday morning chomping at the bit to get here Because you so love these people. I loathe the question do I have to go to church when somebody plans to be the Christian? When they ask me that, I want to slap them. I'll just be honest with you To be sure, you have to go to church, but that's a dumb question. No, you get to go to church, but that's a dumb question. No, you get to go to church. It's a means, it's a privilege, it's a means of grace, it is a gift from Almighty God, hallelujah. So it's a biblical pattern going to church, an assumption, a command and a wonderful gift of grace.
Speaker 1:And what are the dangers of neglecting the local church? What are the dangers? Well, there are many. I'll just list a few here. Number one neglecting the local church can lead to apostasy. That means falling away from the Lord can lead to apostasy. That means falling away from the Lord. Hebrews 3, 12 and 13. This is man. If you don't hear anything else, I said listen to this verse. Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you he's talking to Christians an evil, unbelieving heart leading you to do what? Fall away from the living God, but exhort one another when Daily, live life together, worship together while it's still called a day, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. It is much easier to walk in sin when you're isolated from the church and it could cost you your spiritual life.
Speaker 1:Not long ago, I confronted a professing Christian, a precious, precious friend, one of my dearest friends, who has given in, regrettably, to habitual sin. So out of great love for this person, and love only, I sent a text to them and asked to speak with them about it, and here's the general reply. It's a rough version of the reply as to protect this person's identity. Here's the response. Ultimately, my decision to live this way is between me and Jesus, not me and the church or anyone else for that matter. Wrong, wrong, wrong Pastors and other believers in your life are here to be a grace in your life so that when you are starting to dabble in sin or move away from truth, we can lovingly bring you back. I've asked our other elders if you see pride or lust or greed or anything else come into my life. I said if you don't tackle me to the ground, I will cut you if I fall away, and I mean it. Tackle me, do whatever it takes.
Speaker 1:You see, the heart, the Bible says, is deceitful above all things. And the heart sometimes wants what the heart wants. Right, the heart wants what the heart wants. And so what happens is, when the heart desires sin, the heart will get us to rationalize the sin, to reinterpret the scripture or think, oh, it's not really that big of a deal. Or, like Adam and Eve, did God really say this? Did he really mean this? And so our hearts and I've seen this so many times can convince us that we can love Jesus and live our own way. But Jesus said if you love me, you will obey my commands.
Speaker 1:That's why we need brothers and sisters in Christ James 5, 19 and 20. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, like this happens, and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. To be ultimately saved and to receive eternal life, we have to do what the Bible calls persevere. Persevere. And God, to be sure, is the one who's able to keep us from falling. He's the one who keeps us, but he uses very ordinary means to do it, and one of the means that he uses is His church, brothers and sisters in Christ, which is why, by the way, talking about accountability and apostasy, you need to be part of a church and you are if you're here that believes sin is still sin and will give you the truth.
Speaker 1:Secondly, neglecting the local church is a sign of counterfeit faith. So this really backs up what I was saying on Easter Sunday, 1 John 3.10,. By this it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God. So if you live in the same old way, your faith isn't genuine. Nor is the one who does not love his brother. So that is. Think of that. Think of that. Who's he talking about? Brother? He's talking about brothers in Christ, sisters in Christ. And it's not just love and like, oh yeah, some airy kind of feeling, it's no, we serve each other, we love each other, we commit to each other, we want to be together. Does that make sense? In 1 John 3, 14, we know that we have passed from death to life. How? Because we love the brothers.
Speaker 1:I've heard people say well, you know, I love God, but not people. It doesn't work, sorry. And so you got to like everybody. You got to love them and serve them and try to like them. So I just say if you're not part of a local church, man, it's just a big sign that your faith is counterfeit. Sorry, not sorry. Neglecting of the local church thirdly, diminishes our witnessing efforts. John 13, 35,.
Speaker 1:By all this, people will know that you're my disciples, not by how much scripture you quote, not because you use some spiritual gift, not because you're charismatic or whatever. It's simply it's your love one for another. And this is radical, because what this means is this listen in the world. When somebody hurts your feelings, you just walk away. You go to another club, you go to another family, whatever it is, you just walk away. But in the church it's a unique gathering. How many know? Church is messy and in church you're going to get hurt sometimes and it is a radical witness to the watching world. When we get hurt time and time again we say, hey, we're sticking with these guys, we're not going to another church just because somebody hurt us. We're staying, we're forgiving and it's a picture of Christ's love for us. Aren't you glad he hasn't walked out on you? Amen, bottom line. It is unbiblical, unwise and extremely dangerous to attempt to live as a Christian apart from the church. In closing, I want to ask you don't give up on the church Again. I know it's messy. I know it's messy. Don't give up on the church.
Speaker 1:Imagine if people treated sports like they do the church. This is good. Some pastor made this comparison and I would give him credit. I don't know who it was. I found it online, but listen to this Football in the fall, basketball in the winter, baseball in the spring and summer. This pastor, talking about himself, has been an avid sports fan all his life, but I've had it. I quit this sports business once and for all. You can't get me near one of those places again Want to know why this is so good. Every time I went they asked me for money. This is so good. The referee made a decision with which I could not agree. I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites. They came to see their friends and what others were wearing rather than to see the game. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home. The band played some numbers that I had never heard before, songs I didn't like. It seems that the games are scheduled when I want to do other things. I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up and I don't want to take my children to any games because I want them to choose for themselves what sports they like best.
Speaker 1:What if we treated sports like the church? When you read that, I mean, yeah, I'll just leave that there. So I want to say I'm grateful for so many of you that are committed to this local body. I brag on you all the time. Just for God's grace in your life. Sunday is the highlight of my week, every single week. I love Wednesday nights, I love small groups and I just want to say thank you for participating in this fellowship if that's you. For those of you who are, maybe you come here and there to church but you're kind of aloof to it. You use every. You know it's warm out. I'm going to do this. It's too cold out. I don't want to get out. It's raining, I might melt, whatever it is. You know, listen, I hope today that you see the importance of what we do here and that it's a privilege. I want to plan your week around Sunday.
Speaker 1:I saw a couple that used to go to this church and, god willing, they'll be coming back. We saw them at Outback a couple weeks ago and this couple, when they were here, they would leave from vacation Like if they were out of town. They would drive all night long Saturday night just so they could be in church Sunday morning. Make it a priority.
Speaker 1:If you're not yet a member of this church, I don't have time to get into why I believe in membership, but come into covenant membership. Make a covenant with us. Don't just be on the fringe, just come into our body officially. And we have, by the way, a membership class beginning next week. It's two weeks after church. We're even going to feed you and we'll make a case for membership and tell you what that looks like in our church. And finally, if you're not here, or if you are here and you are watching online and you do not know Christ, you're maybe sitting in here, but you're not part of the fellowship because you're not Listen. Coming into the building does not make you part of the fellowship. It's Christ who makes you part of the fellowship. So I pray today that you would be born through Him, by His Spirit, you would come to Him as Lord, that you would be brought in to His church. It's the greatest thing in the world.
Speaker 1:Is it necessary to go to church? Well, I agree with R Kent Hughes, who penned these words. The bottom line is this the church is not an option for believers, nor is supporting it an option. He writes I'm not saying that you have to go to church to be a Christian, but you also don't have to go home to be married. However, if you don't frequent your home, your relationship will be in jeopardy. That's an understatement. Attendance and participation in your local church is not an option.
Speaker 1:Paul's gospel was Christ and the church, so today may we just thank God. We're going to close the service out today after communion, with there's joy in the house of the Lord, and maybe you've sang those words and not meant them. I hope today that God has raised your affections for the church and you would say along with me I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. So may we give God gratitude for his gift of the local body of believers here. May we appreciate one another, love one another, serve one another, commit to one another, all for the glory of God, the good of one another and the witness to the world.