The Church, Part Two – 1 Timothy 5:7
The Church, Part Two – 1 Timothy 5:7
by Pastor Lee Hemen
June 1, 2008 AM
For many in our day and age “church” has become a place where people sit on Sunday mornings, to “worship God.” But how can a person worship the Lord if they are not a believer nor a member? Church is to be more than a place to hear a good “talk”, listen to Christian music, to get away from the kids, to sit back, relax, and to feel, well… you know… kind of “churchy”! Not only it this unbiblical, it is leading many away from what Jesus’ church is supposed be. The church, as defined by Jesus and the New Testament, takes its name from the word "ekklesia." It means an explicit group of individuals that are called out by Him to do a specific task. It is Jesus’ “body,” made up of His people who are called out to do His work and will. It is a sacred and holy thing, His ekklesia.
Jesus taught the importance of His church: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) He established its authority in that “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17) And, the importance of church membership in the day to day organization and spiritual unity of the church when He related, “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18-19) Jesus established His church, yet far too many ignore its importance and the Biblical command to “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” (Hebrew 10:25) Paul continues his teaching on the church with Timothy. Let’s find out what he related…
READ: 1 Timothy 5:7
Paul taught that all believers were to be members of a local ekklesia: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it,” (1 Corinthians 12:27) and, it was Jesus who has given each member specific roles of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastors, and teachers, “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) How? Here in his letter to Timothy, Paul relates that…
I. The church is to disciple its members!
1. Christians are called out of the world and into the body of Christ! Paul relates to Timothy, “Give the people these instructions, too.” Why? Paul simply wanted Timothy to make sure the church he pastored was being discipled properly in the gospel. He knew that just feeling love for one another wasn’t worth a hill of beans unless you were willing to learn how to love one another. Love, for the believer, is not a feeling. It is being active in your faith. The outcome of loving God wholeheartedly and loving others as yourself. It produces a life that is worthy of being called “Christian.” However this loves is sacrificial in nature. It costs the believer something. It takes discipline. It takes personal training in areas that are unnatural for sinful people to do! Paul would write to the Ephesians, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) In fact Paul knew that the church’s task was that “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) They were to watch their “life and doctrine closely” and they were to “persevere in them.” (1 Timothy 4:16) One of the last things Jesus taught His disciples was His marching orders for His church: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19) A disciple of Jesus Christ is to train themselves. The church is to disciple its members.
EXAMPLE: We all hate to be told what to do. I believe that’s why so many dislike going to school because it is such a controlled environment. You have to be there at a certain time, follow a schedule, be graded on what you do, hand in your homework, sit in class, listen, study, take notes, read the textbook, take tests – you know – follow instructions! When I was younger they tried to do school in “new” and unique ways. One was to have classrooms without walls, classes without grades, and the student could pick their own grade! It failed miserably. Why? They found out that you cannot have instruction without structure and a controlled environment. In fact, this is exactly why so many public schools today are failing students. No structure, no discipline, and low expectations for students. Every child is seen as “honored,” with nothing for students to strive for but to feel good about themselves. Simply making someone feel good about themselves does not impart wisdom nor expectations in the life. The same is true for the church. The church is to disciple its members.
Church membership and discipleship are so far removed from today’s church that some become angry at the mere mention of membership. Folks want all the benefits of sitting in a Sunday Service without putting in any of their time, talent, or treasure to make it so. Church is to be more than a free weekend show for spiritual freeloaders. It exists for the work and will of Jesus Christ in the community it exists. It is His body doing His will. Churches can have beautiful buildings, relevant programs, great Sunday Services, and not be the body of Christ as related in Scripture. Paul teaches us that…
II. The church is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
1. Christians are called out to be Jesus’ unblemished people! Paul wrote to the Ephesian church that husbands were to “love” their “wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27) His emphasis was not just on marriage but on the church. How can I say this? Well, he writes that a man should take care of his wife, “just as Christ does the church.” In fact, he continues by saying, “This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32) Paul knew that the church was to be blameless, “a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” in a sin-fallen world! And, just as husbands should love their wives sacrificially, as Jesus did the church, so too should church members love their church in the same way -- sacrificially! Notice why Paul tells Timothy this is so important: “so that no one may be open to blame!” Jesus said Christians were to be the “light of the world” and the “salt” of the earth. Paul would write the Philippian church, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” (Philippians 2:14-16) The church is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
EXAMPLE: Much of what is done in today’s church should be held up to public scrutiny. More and more the church is becoming like the world and less like Christ. It certainly is “open to blame.” Like a the deranged social order found in the book, “A Brave New World,” which describes a “hedonistic society, deriving pleasure from promiscuous sex and drug use, in the form of soma, a powerful psychotropic rationed by the government,” churches today are churning out sated spiritual patrons but lousy disciples. They hate instruction, theology, and chafe at being told what it means to live their faith. So, we have churches that do a lot of religious things, but do little to make sure they are discipling believers. In fact, few churches know if attendees are believers because anyone can drop in or out, and therefore can hide or leave at anytime and not be bothered. We have developed camouflaged Christians. The word for disciple implies discipline of self into the mold of the Lord Jesus. The disciple is to follow the instruction of their teacher, thus becoming like the teacher in every aspect. The church is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
Conclusion:
The church is to disciple its members, and it is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
by Pastor Lee Hemen
June 1, 2008 AM
For many in our day and age “church” has become a place where people sit on Sunday mornings, to “worship God.” But how can a person worship the Lord if they are not a believer nor a member? Church is to be more than a place to hear a good “talk”, listen to Christian music, to get away from the kids, to sit back, relax, and to feel, well… you know… kind of “churchy”! Not only it this unbiblical, it is leading many away from what Jesus’ church is supposed be. The church, as defined by Jesus and the New Testament, takes its name from the word "ekklesia." It means an explicit group of individuals that are called out by Him to do a specific task. It is Jesus’ “body,” made up of His people who are called out to do His work and will. It is a sacred and holy thing, His ekklesia.
Jesus taught the importance of His church: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) He established its authority in that “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17) And, the importance of church membership in the day to day organization and spiritual unity of the church when He related, “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18-19) Jesus established His church, yet far too many ignore its importance and the Biblical command to “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” (Hebrew 10:25) Paul continues his teaching on the church with Timothy. Let’s find out what he related…
READ: 1 Timothy 5:7
Paul taught that all believers were to be members of a local ekklesia: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it,” (1 Corinthians 12:27) and, it was Jesus who has given each member specific roles of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastors, and teachers, “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) How? Here in his letter to Timothy, Paul relates that…
I. The church is to disciple its members!
1. Christians are called out of the world and into the body of Christ! Paul relates to Timothy, “Give the people these instructions, too.” Why? Paul simply wanted Timothy to make sure the church he pastored was being discipled properly in the gospel. He knew that just feeling love for one another wasn’t worth a hill of beans unless you were willing to learn how to love one another. Love, for the believer, is not a feeling. It is being active in your faith. The outcome of loving God wholeheartedly and loving others as yourself. It produces a life that is worthy of being called “Christian.” However this loves is sacrificial in nature. It costs the believer something. It takes discipline. It takes personal training in areas that are unnatural for sinful people to do! Paul would write to the Ephesians, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) In fact Paul knew that the church’s task was that “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) They were to watch their “life and doctrine closely” and they were to “persevere in them.” (1 Timothy 4:16) One of the last things Jesus taught His disciples was His marching orders for His church: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19) A disciple of Jesus Christ is to train themselves. The church is to disciple its members.
EXAMPLE: We all hate to be told what to do. I believe that’s why so many dislike going to school because it is such a controlled environment. You have to be there at a certain time, follow a schedule, be graded on what you do, hand in your homework, sit in class, listen, study, take notes, read the textbook, take tests – you know – follow instructions! When I was younger they tried to do school in “new” and unique ways. One was to have classrooms without walls, classes without grades, and the student could pick their own grade! It failed miserably. Why? They found out that you cannot have instruction without structure and a controlled environment. In fact, this is exactly why so many public schools today are failing students. No structure, no discipline, and low expectations for students. Every child is seen as “honored,” with nothing for students to strive for but to feel good about themselves. Simply making someone feel good about themselves does not impart wisdom nor expectations in the life. The same is true for the church. The church is to disciple its members.
Church membership and discipleship are so far removed from today’s church that some become angry at the mere mention of membership. Folks want all the benefits of sitting in a Sunday Service without putting in any of their time, talent, or treasure to make it so. Church is to be more than a free weekend show for spiritual freeloaders. It exists for the work and will of Jesus Christ in the community it exists. It is His body doing His will. Churches can have beautiful buildings, relevant programs, great Sunday Services, and not be the body of Christ as related in Scripture. Paul teaches us that…
II. The church is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
1. Christians are called out to be Jesus’ unblemished people! Paul wrote to the Ephesian church that husbands were to “love” their “wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27) His emphasis was not just on marriage but on the church. How can I say this? Well, he writes that a man should take care of his wife, “just as Christ does the church.” In fact, he continues by saying, “This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32) Paul knew that the church was to be blameless, “a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” in a sin-fallen world! And, just as husbands should love their wives sacrificially, as Jesus did the church, so too should church members love their church in the same way -- sacrificially! Notice why Paul tells Timothy this is so important: “so that no one may be open to blame!” Jesus said Christians were to be the “light of the world” and the “salt” of the earth. Paul would write the Philippian church, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” (Philippians 2:14-16) The church is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
EXAMPLE: Much of what is done in today’s church should be held up to public scrutiny. More and more the church is becoming like the world and less like Christ. It certainly is “open to blame.” Like a the deranged social order found in the book, “A Brave New World,” which describes a “hedonistic society, deriving pleasure from promiscuous sex and drug use, in the form of soma, a powerful psychotropic rationed by the government,” churches today are churning out sated spiritual patrons but lousy disciples. They hate instruction, theology, and chafe at being told what it means to live their faith. So, we have churches that do a lot of religious things, but do little to make sure they are discipling believers. In fact, few churches know if attendees are believers because anyone can drop in or out, and therefore can hide or leave at anytime and not be bothered. We have developed camouflaged Christians. The word for disciple implies discipline of self into the mold of the Lord Jesus. The disciple is to follow the instruction of their teacher, thus becoming like the teacher in every aspect. The church is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
Conclusion:
The church is to disciple its members, and it is to strive to be blameless in a sin-fallen world!
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
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