We have been looking at the marks of a healthy church member and, so far, we

have seen five marks:

1. First, a healthy church member is an expositional listener.
2. Second, he or she is a biblical theologian.
3. Third, gospel saturated.
4. Fourth, genuinely converted.
5. Fifth, a biblical evangelist.
Here, we are going to look at the sixth mark: a healthy church member is a
committed member.
The ideas regarding this mark come from the following sources:

 Joshua Harris, Stop Dating the Church

 Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member
 Wayne Mack & David Swavely, Life in the Father’s House
==
Today, many professing Christians have this ide a that to be a faithful believer in
Christ one only has to make sure that he or she has a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, be faithful in doing his Quiet Time, and, finally,
fulfill his calling in the best way he can whether it be in the family, school,
government, business or community.
If a Christian neglects the local church or has a half-hearted commitment to it, one
does not to be very concerned about it as long as he does all the three things I
just mentioned.
Joshua Harris, bestselling author of the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, calls a
Christian who has such a shallow commitment to the body of Christ, a church-
dater. As a former church-dater, he describes his own experience when he was a
young Christian.
When I graduated from my church’s high school youth group, I started
visiting around. I loved God and had big dreams for how I wanted to serve
Him, but I didn't see any reason to get too involved in one church. By then,
I thought I knew all there was to know about church, and I wasn't
impressed. Most churches struck me as out-of-date and out-of touch.
There had to be better, more efficient ways to accomplish great things for
God.

I was perfectly happy to keep playing [the dating game] with the church. I
liked attending on weekends, and I enjoyed the social benefits of church,
but I didn't want the responsibility that came with real commitment. I
wasn't interested in settling down. So though I gave the appearance of
commitment, I mostly just flirted with different churches and kept my
options open.

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Those words were taken from his book, Stop Dating the Church.
Thabiti Anyabwile commented on this:
It wasn't that [Joshua Harris] didn’t love God or God’s people. He just
didn't think that belonging to a particular local church was important, and
might even be a hindrance.
Joshua is not alone. Many people think that church—especially church
membership, that is, actually signing up and joining—is a spiritual relic
destined to hinder spiritual freedom and fruitfulness.
To give us a clearer picture of what dating the church means, let us look at a
profile of a church-dater. These insights are still from Joshua Harris. (As we listen
to this, it would be good to ask ourselves if we see one or more of these
characteristics in our own lives.) So how does a church-dater look like?
First, our attitude toward church tends to be me-centered. We go for what
we can get—social interaction, programs, or activities. The driving question
is, “What can the church do for me?”
A second sign of a church-dater is being independent. We go to church
because that’s what Christians are supposed to do—but we’re careful to
avoid getting involved too much, especially with people. We don’t pay
much attention to God’s larger purpose for us as a vital part in a specific
church family. So we go through the motions without really investing
ourselves.
Most essentially, a church-dater tends to be critical. We are short on
allegiance and quick to find fault in our church. We treat church with a
consumer mentality—looking for the best product for the price of our
Sunday morning. As a result, we’re fickle and not invested for the long-
term, like a lover with a wandering eye, always on the hunt for something
better.
Take my friend Nathan. He attended two churches on Sundays—one
because he liked their music, the other because he liked the preaching.
And his involvement in both went no deeper. At the first church he’d slip
out just before the last song wound down and drive to the other church
five minutes away. He even factored in time to stop by McDonald’s for an
Egg McMufflin. He timed it so that he’d be walking into the second church
just as the pastor started to preach.
If you see yourself in any of those descriptions, you may be saying to yourself
that you are only enjoying spiritual freedom, but what you do not realize is that
you are on a path that is leading to serious loss for yourself and others. Unless
you join a local church and become committed to it as a member, you are going
to miss God’s purpose for your life as a Christian and forfeit the profound
blessings that come with living a life committed to the church. In short, you are
not going to be a healthy Christian.

II. Reasons for Church-dating

Now let’s explore some of the reasons why Christians have this shallow
commitment to the local church. Let me read to you the reasons suggested by
Thabiti Anyabwile in his book, What is a Healthy Church Member?

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 The reasons for this view of church membership are many. Some
Christians are just plain indifferent to church membership. They can take it
or leave it; they’re neither excited nor negative toward the church. It just
doesn't matter to them.
Others are ignorant. They are uninformed. They’ve never considered the
Bible’s view of the local church.
Still others are indecisive. They can’t make up their minds about joining.
Perhaps they’re the kind of people who never really make decisions;
decisions tend to happen to them.
And there are the independent types. They are “Lone Ranger Christians”
who don’t want to be saddled with the burdens of church membership.
They want to come into a church, consume what they need, and leave
unattached.
There are those who are slow to commit to a local church because their
affections are inverted. They have strong attachments to a “home church”
in the town they grew up in, and yet their bodies are hundreds of miles
away. They cant bring themselves to join a church where they live because
they’ve never emotionally left a church from their past.
Finally, ill feelings. Joshua Harris says, “For some, I know, just the
idea of committing (or recommitting) to a church stirs up unpleasant
feelings and memories. You may think you’re doing just fine on your
own. Or you may have had a bad experience at church in the past.
Perhaps you’ve seen a church torn apart by greed, arrogance, or a
lack of moral integrity. Any talk of commitment makes you balk or
want to run. You don’t want to give your heart and have it broken
again.”
At root, all of these perspectives on the local church stem from the same
problem: a failure to understand or take seriously God’s intent that the
local church be central to the life of his people. People don’t become
committed church members—and therefore healthy Christians—because
they don’t understand that such a commitment is precisely how God
intends his people to live out the faith and experience Christian love.
And so, if being a committed member of a local church is vital to spiritual health
and Christian maturity, we need to have a right perspective towards the church.
So in the rest of our time today, I want us to look at God’s view of the local
church. I pray that this will stir us up to seriously consider being member of a
church and being passionate in our involvement in it.

III. God’s View of the Church

[The insights in this section are from Wayne Mack & David Swavely, authors of
the book, Life in the Father’s House.]

 The biblical meaning of the word “church.”

The church is defined in the dictionary in this way:
Church (noun) 1. A building for public worship 2. Public worship; a
religious service 3. A particular sect or denomination of Christians 4.
Church government, or its power, as opposed to civil government
5. The profession of the clergy 6. A group of worshipers.

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 Those definitions of the word church, taken from the Student
Edition of Webster’s New World Dictionary (1981) betray the
confusion that exists in our day regarding that institution. We reflect
the first five definitions when we say things like, “It’s about time to
redecorate the church,” “I enjoyed church today,” “My church is the
Lutheran church,” and “I believe in the separation of church and
state.” But not one of those meanings of the term church can be
found in the Bible. Rather, the Greek word translated in that way
(ekklesia) is used over a hundred times in the New Testament, and
it always refers to “a group of worshipers,” which is the last
definition mentioned in Webster’s.
The church, according to Scripture, is not a building, a
denomination, or an activity—it is a group of people. This is true of
both the universal (or invisible) church, which is the group of people
throughout the world who truly believe in Jesus Christ (Matt 16:18;
Eph 5:25-27), and also the local (or visible church, which is the
group of people who profess to know Christ and meet together in a
particular location for worship (Matt 18:17; 1 Cor 1:2). The word
ekklesia is used in both ways in the New Testament, but the latter
meaning is much more prevalent.
Technically speaking, those people do not worship “at a
church” or participate “in church”—they are the church! And if you
are a member of the body of Christ, you do not “go to church” or
“sit in church”—you are part of the church who comes together for
worship with the rest of the body. This is important to understand
because the quality of a church is therefore not measured by the
condition of its buildings or the appeal of its services, but by the
state of the people themselves. They are the church, so the church
is only as good as they are.

 The church is central in the teachings of the NT.

Even a quick reading of the New Testament makes clear the centrality of the
church in the bible.

 In Mt 16:18 Jesus proclaimed, “… on this rock I will build my church and

the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
 In Mt 18:17-20 our Lord Jesus has given the church the authority to act
on his behalf in removing from their assemblies anyone who is unwilling
to repent of sin: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.
And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a
Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in
heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I
among them.”
 In Eph 5:25-27 Paul wrote that “Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by
the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the
church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.”
 In Eph 3:20-21 Paul talks about the God’s power that is at work in the
church and the glorious eternal existence of the church: “Now to him
who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the

Page 5
 church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and
ever. Amen.”
 Most of the epistles are written to local churches, and three of the
others written to individuals (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) discuss how
the local church should function.
 Out of the 110 times the Greek word ekklesia is translated “church,”
only 17 are clear references to the invisible universal church. 90 times
undoubtedly denote the local church. Even in those few times when
the NT writers are referring to the universal church, the idea of the
local church cannot be eliminated from the word because the two are
so inextricably linked, the one being the visible manifestation of the
other.

 The NT metaphors for the church show that that Christians should be joined
not only to God but to His church as well.
The church is defined in Scripture as:

 a holy and royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to God

 a chosen race belonging to God
 a separate nation whose King is the eternal God
 a temple indwelt by the Spirit of God
 a set of branches connected to Jesus Christ as the Vine
 a flock led by the Good Shepherd
 a household or family sharing the common life of the eternal
Father
 a body of which the Lord Jesus is Head
All these metaphors feature the common characteristics of unity and
shared life and fellowship. Believers compose one priesthood, one nation,
one race, one temple, one plant, one flock, one family, and one body. We
are commanded not to forsake “our own assembling together,” so that we
can “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24-25).

 Paul’s description of the church in 1 Tim 3:15.

No single verse proclaims the importance of the local church more powerfully
than 1 Tim 3:15. There Paul says to Timothy, “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 the truth.”
Paul wanted Timothy to understand the gravity and significance of his
instructions, and so he referred to the local assembly of believers by four
descriptive terms designed to emphasize its importance to God. An
understanding of them should help us to share Paul’s love and respect for the
church.

 The household of God.

The word “household” comes from the Greek oikos, which can mean
either a dwelling place (“house”) or an immediate family (“household”).
Both meanings are applied to the church in Scripture, and both provide
profound testimony to its divine origin and significance.
If Paul used the word in the sense of a dwelling place, then it testifies to
the fact that God Himself lives in and among His church. The church

Page 6
 itself is the house of God (not the building but the people). The term is
an allusion to the OT tabernacle and temple. Yes, God is present
everywhere but in a special way, He manifests Himself in certain places.
In the OT, God dwelt in the temple in a special way. This is the reason
why when the Israelites prayed, they faced the temple. They did not
just offer their sacrifices anywhere but in the temple. Throughout
history, God has chosen to work with groups of people and to manifest
His presence in a [special] way when they assemble together.
If we want to be where God is, we need to be in His church, for that is
where He dwells. And the way we relate to Him is largely dependent
upon the way we relate to His church.
The more likely meaning of the word “household” in 1 Tim 3:15 is that of
a family, because Paul used it that way in Ephesians 3:5: “for if someone
does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for
God's church?”

The idea of being a part of God’s family is not new to most Christians—
we speak often speak of being “born again” into it, refer to God as our
heavenly Father, and praise Him for adopting us as sons and making us
His heirs ((Rom 8:15-17).
No doubt Paul used this phrase in order to convince Timothy of the
importance of right conduct in the church. If elders and deacons are
required to have their households in order (vv. 4,5, and 12), how much
more does God’s own household need to be in order!

 The church of the living God

The emphasis in this second description of the church falls on the words
“of the living God.”
1. of God—it emphasizes the fact that God is the Originator and
Owner of the church.
2. living God—This is to show the contrast between the living God
and dead pagan idols. At all times, God is personally and actively
involved in the church’s operation and enterprises.
Throughout the NT, God makes it clear to us that the church is His
dearest creation and possession. In fact, each member of the Holy
Trinity is repeatedly portrayed as treasuring it above all other earthly
institutions.
God the Father
 The Father has revealed His love for the church by His sovereign
election of it before the foundation of the world. (Eph 1:4-5)
 The Father paid the ultimate price for the church by sending His
beloved Son to die (John 3:16 cf. Acts 20:28)
 The Father participates continually in the fellowship of the
church (1 John 1:3)
 The church functions primarily for the purpose of bringing glory
to the Father (Eph 3:21).

The Son of God

Page 7
  Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Eph 5:25;
Acts 20:28).
 Christ is called the head of the church (Col 1:18)
 Christ gave gifts to the church so that it may be built up and be
mature to the whole measure of His fullness (Eph 4:7-16).
 Jesus has promised to be personally present when the church
meets to enact His process of loving discipline (Mt 18:20).
 Paul said that the Lord Jesus will return to present the church to
Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish (Eph 5:27)
The Holy Spirit
 The H.S. initiated the NT church at Pentecost through marvelous
signs and wonders (Acts 2:1-4)
 The H.S. brings each member into the body of Christ through
spiritual baptism and regeneration (John 3:3,5; Titus 3:5)
 The H.S. works to promote unity and peace in the body (Eph
4:3).
 He also provides the various spiritual gifts that enable it to
function properly (1 Cor 12:7-11).
 He guarantees the church’s eventual glorification (Eph 1:13,14).
If the blessed Trinity is deeply and intimately involved in the origin,
operation, sanctification and future glory of the church, we who are
“called sons of the living God” (Rom 9:26) must also be involved in His
church.

 a pillar of truth
Paul’s next description for the church is “a pillar.” The church is a
support that actually holds up the truth. If the pillar of a building is
removed, as Samson proved in his last act in the Philistine temple (Judg
16:29-30), the building will topple and the people inside will be injured or
killed. The implication of Paul’s words is that the truth would fall into
disaster if the church did not exist.
Of course that fearful event will never occur, because God has
promised that His church will always endure (Mt 16:18). But as Paul’s
words were designed to help Timothy grasp the gravity of right
conduct in the church so they are meant to convince us of the
indispensable role that the church plays in our individual lives. Our own
relationship to God and His truth is in mortal danger if the church does
not occupy its intended place in our lives. So when we consider those
who abandon the church as a means of spiritual growth, it is highly
unlikely that they are truly holding to the truth or cultivating a
meaningful relationship with God by themselves. In the light of 1 Tim
3:15, it is much more likely that their faith has crumbled— because they
have torn away the pillar that holds up the truth.

 a buttress of the truth

The Greek word for “buttress” (meaning support) can also be translated
“foundation.”
“Foundation” speaks of stability and permanence. Paul wanted Timothy
to know that the church is the one institution God has promised to
preserve throughout all time. It will always endure, and even succeed,

Page 8
 regardless of the many assaults that threaten it. Jesus affirmed this fact
in the most definite terms when He said, “I will build My church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18).
The truth that the church will always be built and blessed by God
Himself provides a tremendous source of hope and confidence to us as
Christians. It also presents a convincing argument for the idea that we
should direct our energies and efforts primarily toward the edification
and growth of the local church rather than organizations and institutions
outside of it. God has promised to preserve and bless the church, but
endeavors of Christians in those other arenas will not necessarily bear
lasting fruit. Because the church acts as a permanent foundation for the
truth of God, it will always remain an exciting and fulfilling place in which
to serve Him.
What more could be said about the importance of the church than what Paul
communicated in these four vivid descriptions? The church is

 the dwelling place and family of God

 the assembly that is greatly loved by each member of the Trinity
 the indispensable pillar of Truth and
 incomparably stable, timeless foundation holding up the truth of the
Scriptures,
No wonder the ancient Christians had a very high regard for the church.

 The believers of the past did not only believe in the blessed Trinity but
they also believed in the church. For them, being part of the body of Christ
was part of believing in Christ as Lord and Savior. This is what is implied in
the portion in the Apostles’ Creed “I believe… the holy catholic (universal)
church.” They did not just believe in the universal church but also in the
importance of the local church.
1. Augustine in the 4th century said, “He cannot have God for his father
who does not have the church for his mother.”
2. Martin Luther wrote, “Apart from the church, salvation is impossible.”
3. And John Calvin wrote, “The Lord esteems the communion of his
church so highly that he counts as a traitor and apostate from
Christianity anyone who arrogantly leaves any Christian society,
provided it cherishes the true ministry of Word and sacraments.
It only remains to ask ourselves whether the church is as important to us as it is to
the Lord, and to those early believers. If we really believe what the God says
about the church, then the only appropriate response would be to join a true
church and be passionate in our commitment to it.
Reflection:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your commitment to membership
in your local church? If your rating is not a 10, why?
2. Do you see yourself as a church-dater?
3. What should you do to make this study practical in your life?

Page 9
One Sunday morning, a first time visitor in a church service was asked by the
pastor, “What church are you a member of?” The visitor answered, “The
universal body of Christ.”
Technically, what that visitor said is right. Every genuine Christian does belong to
the invisible universal body of Christ. The Bible teaches that once a person
repents of his sin and trusts in Christ as Lord and Savior he is not only saved but
also becomes part of the universal body of Christ.

Gal 3:25-28 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a
guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no
male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

1Co 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or
Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

And so, yes, it is right to say that all genuine Christians belong to the universal
body of Christ.

However, anyone who claims to be saved and does not formally join and commit
to a local church, a visible, tangible, real-world expression of the body of Christ, is
disobeying Christ.
Chuck Colson writes: “Of course every believer is part of the universal church, but
for any Christian who has a choice in the matter, failure to cleave to a particular
church is failure to obey Christ.”

In the NT the word church basically means an assembly or congregation of

Christians. Church is used in the Bible in two ways: in the sense of (1) universal
church and (2) local church.
The UNIVERSAL CHURCH refers to the whole body of Christians scattered all
over the world and already with the Lord in heaven. This is composed of all born-
again Jews and Gentiles who have repented of their sins and put their trust
Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice and surrendered to Him as their Lord. Whatever
race you are or whatever may be your social status, if you have trusted Christ as
Savior then you are a member of the Body of Christ.
The term “church” is also used in the sense of a LOCAL CHURCH. The local
church is a group of believers in Christ, whether small or large in number who are
in covenant relationship with one another, who subscribe to the essential
doctrines of Christianity, who meet regularly at a specific location for worship,
fellowship and ministry, and who manage their own affairs in an orderly way.
From the beginning of Christianity, the New Testament records that men and
women gathered in local churches.

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As I mentioned last week, out of the 110 times the Greek word ekklesia is
translated “church,” only 17 are clear references to the invisible universal church;
90 refer the local church.
Active local church membership was essential to living the Christian life. A
believer is not left alone to look after and provide for himself, without any help
from others just as a family member is not left alone to grow on his own. The
Bible is not simply about “Me and Jesus,” doing our devotions, praying, reading
the Bible, etc. These are all good but they are not sufficient.
Here are questions I want us to think about seriously?

 If a Christian who is not a member of the church comes and worships as

often as the official members, if he fellowships with these believers as
much as anyone else, if he profits from the teaching and other ministries of
the church, why should he formally join the church?

 Isn’t church membership nothing more than an unchallenged, but unbiblical

tradition and an unnecessary formality?

 Did the Christians in New Testament times formally join churches, or did
they have more of an informal relationship?

 Is there Biblical support to the concept of formalized church membership?

Today I want to focus our study in answering only the last question, “Is there
Biblical or New Testament support to the concept of formal church
membership?”
You will never find the phrase “formal church membership” or any term to that
effect in the NT, just as you will never find the word Trinity in the Bible. But the
absence of the term does not mean absence of concept. It is difficult to imagine
how the early church could have accomplished many of the things they did if
there was no formal organization among the churches.
When John MacArthur first addressed the issue of Membership in his church, it
was a time when half of his congregation were not members. MacArthur said that
some of the things that caused others not to want to be members were the
following: Ignorance, indifference, fear of being exposed or some sin in your life,
reluctance of being given any form of ministry responsibility.
Let me just try to elaborate on the ignorance issue. People are reacting
negatively when we start to introduce the subject of formally joining a church and
being committed to it perhaps because of ignorance.
They object to it strongly because they think that there is no Biblical support that
tells us that membership was formalized.

There is no verse that says, “And the apostles gathered all of those who
attended their worship services and announced that from that moment on they
were going to undergo a process to identify who were the formal members of
the church etc.”
However, there is too much circumstantial evidence to deny that. If the church
membership was formalized, what would we expect to read in the Bible.

 It would have a founder.

Page 11
  It would have a foundation day.
 There would be qualification for members.
 There would be an initiation process for membership.
 They would have a list and know how many members they had.
 The local churches would be in recognizable groups.
 They would have recognizable leaders to whom the flock submitted to.
 They would have a process of appointing their leaders.
 They would have regular meetings for worship and fellowship.
 They would have a mission statement.
 They would have their articles of faith or something to that effect.
 They would have their church manual or at least something to that effect.
 They would have a process of recruitment.
 They would have some system of collecting funds to support their
workers and their work.
 We would expect that they had basic officers like secretary and treasurer.
 They would have official representatives recognized by other
organizations.
 We would find formal correspondences between established local
assemblies.
 They would have a process for their transferring members.
 They would have church discipline.
As in any good and well-established organization, you would expect its members
to manifest certain distinguishing character. They know what their mission is.
They are able to tell you how they are different from other organizations. They
would know if another person belonged to their organization or not. They lived to
a certain standard. They had a way of removing those who did not live up to that
standard.
Now when we turn to the Bible, what do we see? Reading the book of Acts and
the epistles, you will assume that the believers were gathered into communities
and not running around loose. The NT clearly indicates that believers were
baptized, and assembled and they gathered in recognizable groups, their names
were put on a list, they were identified as the flock, and the shepherds knew who
they were. And when they moved from one place to another, some letter went
along with them in order that a transfer might be effected to another local
assembly of believers. Letters of the NT were written to those gathered
believers. There was never any assumption that some Christian would be floating
around loose all by himself. There was a real spiritual unity of saved souls. And
that real spiritual unity was manifest in local groups of believers gathered
together for the purpose of sanctification, and worship and witness. It’s a biblical
pattern.
Let us look at some of these in detail.

1. Christ is the founder.

If the church membership was formal, we would expect to see this religious
assembly to have a founder.

 Mt 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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  1Co 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ
2. It had a foundation day.
When Peter explained to the Jewish Christians why he went to the Gentiles to
share the gospel with them he explained that it was God Himself who revealed
to him that he should not consider them unclean but that he should go and
minister to them. What is interesting is how he described what happened to
them.
Ac 11:15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the
beginning.
In other words the birth of the church was on the day of Pentecost as
described in Acts 2:1-4:
Ac 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one
place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty
rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And
divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of
them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

3. There was more or less a formal ceremony to identify those who would
belong to the church.

They could not be considered as part of the church if they did not submit to
the following requirements: (1) They had to accept the gospel, (2) be serious
about living holy lives, and (3) be baptized before they could be added to the
church (Acts 2:36-41):

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has
made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter
said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for
all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort
them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those
who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day
about three thousand souls

The first thing you will note in that verse is that Peter warns and pleads with
them to save themselves from this corrupt generation. You cannot be part of
the church if you do not desire to live a holy life. You would be removed from
the church if you persist in your sin.

The next thing you see here is the practice of baptizing all of those were
saved. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus
Christ (Mt 28:19) to be the visible and external sign to the baptized of his
identification with Christ, in his death, and burial, and resurrection (Ro 6:3 Col
2:12), of remission of sins (Mk 1:4 Ac 22:16), of his giving up himself to God
through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life (Ro 6:4,5), and of his

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 being included into the body of Christ. (1Co 12:13--For we were all baptized by
one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were
all given the one Spirit to drink.) This is the reason why it is by this ordinance
that believers are received into the local church.

4. They knew how many members they had.

Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company
of persons was in all about 120)
Ac 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were
added that day about three thousand souls.
Someone was taking a note of how many were added to the flock. They must
have at least a secretary who took the number and perhaps even the names
of these people who were added to the church.
5. The local churches were recognizable groups.

 Ac 5:13 - None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in
high esteem.
 Ac 9:1-2 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the
disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for
letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any
belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to
Jerusalem.
 Ac 14:23 - And when they had appointed elders for them in every
church…
 Gal 6:10 - So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
 1Co 5:12-13 - For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not
those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those
outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.
 The final greetings of Paul in his letters to the churches implies clear
membership
- 1Co 16:19-20 - The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila
and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you
hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you
greetings
- Phil 4:21-22 - Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers
who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you,
especially those of Caesar's household.
- Romans 16: (exx: Ro 16:4-5 all the churches of the Gentiles give
thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house…)

6. There were recognizable church leaders to whom the flock submitted.

 Ac 14:23 - And when they had appointed elders for them in every
church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in
whom they had believed
 Php 1:1 - To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the
overseers and deacons:

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  1Th 5:12-13 - We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among
you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem
them very highly in love because of their work.
 1Ti 5:17 - Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double
honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
 1Th 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the
evidence of two or three witnesses.
 Heb 13:17 - Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping
watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let
them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no
advantage to you
 Heb 13:24 - Greet all your leaders and all the saints. …

7. Likewise, there were identifiable members the leaders watched over.

The opening statements in many of the epistles showed that the believers
were identifiable.

 Ro 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be
saints.
 1Co 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth.
 Gal 1:2 To the churches of Galatia
 Eph 1:1 To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus
 Phil 1:1 - To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the
overseers and deacons:
 Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae
 1Th 1:1 - To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ
It would have been very difficult for the leader of a local church to obey Acts
20:28 if he did not know who his flock is.
Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in
which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of
God, which he obtained with his own blood.
How can a pastor shepherd a flock to which he must give an account to God if
he doesn’t even know where the sheep are or who they are?

Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping
watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.

8. There was a process of appointing their leaders.

For Elders:

 1Ti 3:1-7 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of

overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober- minded, self-
controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard,
not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He
must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his
children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage
his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not
be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall

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 into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well
thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a
snare of the devil.

 Tit 1:5-9 - This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what
remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed
you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his
children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or
insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above
reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick- tempered or a drunkard
or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-
controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the
trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction
in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
For Deacons:

 1Ti 3:8-13 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double- tongued, not
addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must
hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them
also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove
themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not
slanderers, but sober- minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each
be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own
households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good
standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in
Christ Jesus.
9. They had regular set times of meetings for worship and fellowship.
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud
voice like a trumpet...
Acts 20:7 - On the first day of the week, when we were gathered
together to break bread
Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and
good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
drawing near.

Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles ' teaching and the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

10. They had a mission statement.

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

11. They had their articles of faith or something to that effect.

Eph 4:4-5 - There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to
the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith (i.e., the
doctrinal truths Christians commonly confess.)

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 Gal 1:8-9 - But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a
gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As
we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a
gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Jude 3 - Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our
common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to
contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
2Jn 9-10 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the
teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching
has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not
bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any
greeting.
12. They had a church manual or something to that effect.

2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the
man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
1Ti 3:14-15 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to
you so that, 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 the truth.
13. They had a process of recruitment for membership.
Mk 16:15-16 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the
gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
14. They had some system of collecting funds to support their work and their
workers.
1Co 16:2 - 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.
2Co 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
15. There were authorized messengers to represent churches.

Ac 15:22-23 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the
whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas,
leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: …
2Co 8:23 - As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your
benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the
glory of Christ.

16. They had formal correspondences between established local assemblies.

 2Co 3:1 - Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we

need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you.

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  Ro 16:1-2 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church
at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy
of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she
has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

 Ac 18:27 And when [Apollos] wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers

encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him.

 1Co 16:3 - And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by
letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
17. There was church discipline.
This could not be administered properly without clear membership.
Mt 18:15-17 - “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,
between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,
that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three
witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he
refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a
tax collector.

1Co 5:9-13 - I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually

immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world,
or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go
out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with
anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality
or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat
with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not
those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those
outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

18. A list of beneficiaries of special support and privileges implies clear

membership.
1Ti 5:9 - Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age,
having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good
works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed
the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself
to every good work.

19. Acts 15 is a test case. It had many of the ingredients of a formal

organization. There were formal correspondences to other organizations. It
had representatives. It had an official decisions to be passed on to other
churches. Other churches acknowledged the legitimacy of that council.
1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you
cannot be saved.” 2 … Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were
appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this
question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church,…

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4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and
the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with
them.
5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up
and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep
the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together
to consider this matter.
7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to
them, … 12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas
and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through
them among the Gentiles.
13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a
people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just
as it is written… 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble
those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to
abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and
from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient
generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is
read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole
church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with
Paul and Barnabas.
They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the
brothers, 23 with the following letter:
“The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers
who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us
and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we
gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having
come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent
Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by
word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to
us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29
that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from
blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual
immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.”
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having
gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And
when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and
strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by
the brothers to those who had sent them.

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There is no way the church today can apply the commands or principles found in
the NT if the local church did not have any clearly identified membership.
In NT times coming to Christ meant coming to a local church. Any idea of coming
to Christ without commitment to the church is totally foreign to Scriptures. Any
idea of experiencing salvation without belonging to the church is totally foreign to
the New Testament.
Let us pray that many who see themselves to be Christians would see that
formally joining a church and being committed to it is biblical.
For those who are not yet members of any local church and you are not
committed, consider the things I just shared with you and pray for grace that you
may respond in obedience to God’s call.

Reflection
1. Though not explicitly taught in Scripture, do you agree that a formalized
membership is biblical?
2. What might be some reasons that are holding back a Christian from joining
a church even if he knew that church membership is biblical?
3. Without condemning or judging one another, pray for Christian who are
not yet members to join a church and be committed to it. (It does not have
to be JICC!)

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1. Being a committed member shows that we treasure what God treasures.
There is no question that God treasures the universal church. This is clear
most especially in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he talks about the
universal church.

 In Eph 5:25, Paul said that “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up
for her.”
 In Eph 5:27 One day, Christ will present the church to himself in
splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.
 Ephesians 3:10 …through the church the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly
places.
 In Ephesians 3:21 Paul shows that God’s glory will be displayed not only
in Christ but also in the church forever.
But God not only treasures the universal church but also the local churches as
seen in the following passages:

 Act 20:28 - Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in
which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of
God, which he obtained with his own blood. (“The flock,” did not refer
to all the churches in Asia Minor or Judea, or Samaria, or Spain, or
Rome, or Macedonia. This referred only to the area of responsibility of
the Elders which was the local church of Ephesus.)

 God is concerned how one behaves inside the church and so Paul says
in 1 Timothy 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 the truth.”

 The metaphors used for the local church show God’s intimate
relationship and concern for the visible body of Christ.

 1 Peter 5:2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, …

 1 Corinthians 3:9 … You are God's field, God's building.
 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple
and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

 The Lord’s promise of his very presence when a local church

implements church discipline shows Christ’s great concern for the local
churches.
Mt 18:15-20 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,
between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with
you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or
three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.

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 And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a
Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in
heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am
I among them
If each member of the Holy Trinity is repeatedly portrayed as treasuring the
local churches, then so should all Christians.

2. Being a committed member proves our obedience to God’s command.

The Bible clearly commands every believer to be deeply involved in the lives
of other believers. And this involvement takes place most especially in the
local church. Heb 10:24-25 says,
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good
works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
drawing near.
The meaning of this passage is not only that we must attend church services
regularly. It implies formal membership.
To prove this to you, turn to chapter 5 of the book of Acts. In Acts 5 we read
of the reaction both of church members and outsiders after a husband and
wife named Ananias and Sapphira died on the spot when it was revealed by
the Holy Spirit that they had lied regarding their donation to the church. In
Acts 5:11 we read that, “great fear came upon the whole church and upon all
who heard of these things.” We also read in Acts 5:13 that “None of the rest
dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.” Verse 13 tells us
that the unbelievers had great respect for the Christians, but for a while after
the incident of God’s severe discipline of the church, unbelievers and perhaps
superficial believers wanted to join the church unless they were truly
converted.
The Greek word that is translated join in verse 13 is the word kollaō. It comes
from the word kolla which is the word “glue” in Greek. In Tagalog the word
for glue is also “kola” or “pangkola.”
According to the Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary the Greek word that is
translated “join” means “to glue, to glue together, cement, fasten together, to
join or fasten firmly together, to join one's self to, cleave to.”

What this means is that the word join in Acts 5:13 doesn't refer to an informal,
merely assumed sort of relationship, but one where you choose to "glue" or
"join" yourself firmly to others. This language makes sense only in the context
of membership (Kenneth Kantzer).
That same "glue word" is used in the New Testament to describe the
following:

 In Mt 19:5 it is used of a man being joined together to a woman in a

married relationship.
 It 1Co 6:16 it means to be joined together in a sexual relationship with a
prostitute.

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  In 1Co 6:17 it means to be joined together with the Lord in salvation.
 In Acts 9:26 we read that about three years after Paul’s conversion,
that, “…when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the
disciples.” This refers to intimate association with the Jerusalem
believers and not just informal relationship with them.
 In Acts 17:34, we read that those who heard the preaching of Paul
“joined him and believed.” Their attachment to Paul here was with the
intention of joining to be a disciple.
 Rom 12:9 says, “hold fast to what is good.” The phrase hold fast is
“kollaō” and here it has the significant to be attached or devoted to
what is good or to cling to it with deepest sympathy.
And so going back to Ac 5:13, the implication is that if you are a genuine
Christian, it is expected that you would want to have this glue-like attachment
and devotion to the church that involves deepest sympathy for its leaders and
members. This unmistakably refers to a recognized church membership. Not
to do so is to act like an unbeliever or to show that you are unwilling to make
yourself accountable to God and to others.

3. Being a committed member gives us the best opportunity to prove we are

Christians.

The book of 1 John was written to help people identify the evidence of
true salvation in their lives. One of the most important signs that we are
truly born of God is genuine love for other Christians.
1Jn 2:9-10, Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still
in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him
there is no cause for stumbling.

1Jn 3:14-17, We know that we have passed out of death into life,
because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that
no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought
to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's
goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him,
how does God's love abide in him

Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC and the
author of 9 Marks of a Healthy Church, says,
I don't care how much you cry during singing or preaching, if you do
not live a life marked by love toward others, the Bible has no
encouragement for you to think that you’re a Christian. None.
Do you want to know that your new life is real? Commit yourself to a
local group of saved sinners. Try to love them. Don’t just do it for three
weeks. Don’t just do it for six months. Do it for years. And I think you’ll
find out, and others will, too, whether or not you love God. The truth
will show itself.
This is the reason for so many “one another” exhortations in the New
Testament.

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  Romans 12:10 ESV Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo
one another in showing honor.
 Romans 15:7 ESV Therefore welcome one another as Christ has
welcomed you, for the glory of God.
 Galatians 5:13 … through love serve one another.
 Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
 Colossians 3:16 ESV 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.
 Hebrews 3:13 ESV But exhort one another every day, as long as it is
called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the
deceitfulness of sin.
 Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another
to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you
see the Day drawing near.
Wayne Mack and David Swavely, in their book Life in the Father’s House, write,

You cannot obey those passages that show your responsibility to other
Christians unless you are committed to a local church. Almost all the “one
another” and “each other” passages of the NT are given directly to local
churches and are intended to help those churches be what God wants them
to be. It is not enough for us to say that we are merely a part of the universal
or invisible church (all those who believe throughout the world, regardless of
church affiliation). We must also commit ourselves to a local or visible group
of God’s people

4. Being a committed member is essential to an orderly administration of the

church.

a. Being a committed member makes the duty of the leaders to shepherd

the flock attainable.

 In Acts 20:28 Paul told the elders to keep watch over God’s flock to
shepherd them. It is very difficult to shepherd if its leader did not know
who his flock is. Acts 20:28 ESV Pay careful attention to yourselves
and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
 Hebrews 13:17 adds that church leaders are keeping watch over your
souls, as those who will have to give an account. How can a pastor
shepherd a flock to which he must give an account to God if he doesn’t
even know where the sheep are or who they are? It’s very difficult.

b. Being a committed member makes the obligation to honor and to

submit to church leaders practicable.

 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV We ask you, brothers, to respect those

who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish
you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
Be at peace among yourselves.

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  1 Timothy 5:17 ESV Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy
of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and
teaching.
 Hebrews 13:17 ESV Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they
are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an
account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that
would be of no advantage to you.

c. Being a committed member clarifies the difference between believers

and unbelievers and makes obeying the command for church discipline
doable.

The Bible clearly delineates between those who are inside the church and
those who are outside. On one hand, a Christian is called a “brother” or a
“sister.” They are referred to as “those who are of the household of faith”
(Gal 6:10). On the other hand unbelievers are called “outsiders.”

 1Co 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it

not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God
judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among
you.”
 Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best
use of the time.
 1Th 4:12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and
be dependent on no one
 1Ti 3:7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so
that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Wayne Mack and David Swavely, in their book Life in the Father’s House,
write,
If a “brother” or a “sister” is living a sinful lifestyle and refuses to
respond to private confrontation, then the church is commanded by
God to deal with the sin. [This we see in Mt 18:15-17 and in many
other NT passages.]
But how do we know whether a particular attendee is a “brother” or
a “sister” without a system by which the person can officially join or
reject the church? And how can we officially put the offending party
out of the church if he or she has never officially entered into it?

This is the reason why those who want to become members of the Church go
through an interview process and be placed on a roll or some other kind of formal
membership process.

5. Being a committed member provides special benefits and advantages to its

members.
Ministry Opportunities
Leadership, teaching, evangelism, handling of funds, music, ushering,
nursery care and grounds keeping should be performed by those who
love Christ and are committed to the church. That is because the members
of the body are gifted by the Spirit for the purpose of accomplishing the
works of the ministry (1Cor 12; Eph 4:11-16). One way to make sure that
takes place is by making membership a requirement for such service.

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 Many other churches do that; so in many cases those who refuse to
become members are basically saying that they are not willing to fulfill the
ministries for which they may be gifted by God. On the other hand, those
who are members have the freedom to obey God in any way He calls
them to serve.
Ordinances
Lord’s Supper and baptism
Helpful services
Weddings, dedication,
Increased Knowledge
Membership provides an opportunity to educate people about many
topics that may not be regularly discussed from the pulpit. You have
parenting seminars, spiritual gifts, discipleship, church distinctives and
particular doctrines that are discussed in membership classes and doctrinal
or discipleship classes.
Special Benefits
1 Timothy 5:9-10 ESV Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty
years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a
reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown
hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted,
and has devoted herself to every good work.
Loving Accountability and discipline
Another benefit of belonging to a local church is that its leaders and
members can hold us accountable according to the process of church
discipline found in Mt 18. The possibility of being confronted for our sin or
put out of the church is not something we naturally view as beneficial, but
that is only because our viewpoints are clouded by our sinful flesh.
Actually we should welcome and even seek such accountability, because it
is a powerful tool that God uses to mold us into the image of His Son.
Confrontation is an act of love that greatly benefits the one confronted,
and even the harshest discipline is enacted for the good of the offender.
Consider these verses.
 Galatians 6:1 ESV Brothers, if anyone is caught in any
transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit
of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
 1 Timothy 5:20 ESV As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them
in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
 1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV you are to deliver this man to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day
of the Lord.
 1 Timothy 1:20 ESV among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander,
whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to
blaspheme.

Accountability and confrontation from other believers may take place in

our lives even if we are not members of a church, but the later stages of
the process often cannot. So if we should persist in some sin (God
forbid), all of the means that God has designed to pull us away from it are
not available to us. So in effect, an unwillingness to join a local church is
tantamount to saying we are not interested in divine accountability in our
lives.

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6. Being a committed member delivers us from many of the disadvantages of
an open membership.

In an “open membership” system attendees are considered members if they

regularly join the Sunday worship gatherings for a few months. They are
considered members even without determining their spiritual condition.
Problems to this approach:

 The unconverted who is regarded as a church member will tend to

have false assurance of salvation.
 God’s name will be dishonored. The more unconverted people
become members of the church, the more sin will be committed.
Outsiders will then think that sin is not a big issue for members of the
body of Christ, and this could result in the mockery, not only of the
church but of Christ Himself.
 If an unconverted member is confronted for his sin and he does not
want to submit, the local church can be put to a great disadvantage
legally.
 Unconverted members can be a source of grief to the leadership
because of their “consumer” mentality. Just imagine what would
happen if the church is composed of a majority who only think of what
they can get out of the church and not of what they can contribute for
its welfare.
This is not to say that when you have formal membership that all its members
will automatically become spiritually mature. Of course not, but because it is
God’s will that Christians must join a local church and be committed to it,
joining a church out of obedience to God will create a mindset and
environment that is more conducive to spiritual growth.

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If you want to be a spiritually healthy Christian, you have to be a member of a
local church and be committed to it. There is no way you can reach the level of
spiritual maturity God desires for you unless you become identified and
committed to a specific local assembly of believers following the leading and
direction of God. This commitment is manifested by your attitude, attendance,
involvement, giving, accountability and submission to that assembly.
As I said before, although the Bible does not contain any explicit command for
Christians to become official members of a church, “we believe that to properly
and effectively fulfill the expected functions of a local body of believers, formal
commitment by every member is assumed.”

If you are already a Christian and you are just dating the church, then I exhort you
to stop living independently or having the “consumer” mentality and start to
submit yourself for membership in a local church. Present yourself to the church
for baptism as a symbol of identification with Christ and His church. Be identified
as a member of the church. Make yourself accountable to the members and
submit to its leaders. Now if you are already a member of a church, reaffirm your
commitment in your present church. Discover your spiritual gifts and through that
church begin to serve. Don't just attend to be served but begin serving others
and love them. Also make yourself accountable to others and submit to the
leaders.
Don't make that excuse that the reason you are not joining the church is because
it is imperfect. There is no perfect church today, just as there was no perfect
church during New Testament times. The NT church faced the same problems we
face today.

 In Acts 5 we read of hypocrites in the church. Remember the incident

about the husband and wife whom God killed because they lied about
the sale of their lot.
 In Acts 6 we see complaining and grumbling among groups in the local
church. Greek-speaking Jewish Christians vs. Hebrew-speaking
Christians because of unfair distribution of food and funds.
 In Acts 15 we read legalistic members of the church. These church
members claimed that people need to be circumcised and obey the
Law of Moses in order to be saved.
 In the latter part of chapter 15 we find church leaders quarreling that
resulted in a separation of ministry.
 In chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Galatians we read of the church
leaders Peter, Barnabas and others living in hypocrisy and compromise.
 Read 1Corinthians, and you find a whole assortment of problems:

o Divisions over Christian Preachers (1–4)

o A member having sexual relations with the second wife of his
father (5)
o Members of the church bringing other members to court (6:1–11)
o Sexual immorality and going to temple prostitutes (6:12–20)
o The wealthy shaming the poor during the Lord's Table (11:17–34)
o Elevating speaking in tongues above others spiritual gifts (14:12-
14)
o Questions re: the resurrection (15:1–58)

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The NT shows that the early churches had their own share of moral and doctrinal
problems but the Lord Jesus nor the apostles did not say to the believers to
reject the church or to stop joining it. The instruction of the Lord Jesus and the
apostle Paul was to remove unrepentant sinners from the local church. They
never told Christians to live independent of the church because there was no
perfect church. In fact, despite the problems of the church of that period, the
author of the book of Hebrews wrote that believers should not neglect to meet
together, as is the habit of some, but encourage and to stir up one another to
love and good works, and all the more as they see the day of Christ's return and
judgment drawing near (Heb 10:24-25).

Today, I want to conclude this series connected to committed church

membership with some guidelines on how to discern a good church. In order to
do that we need the instruction of the Word of God. On the basis of the Word of
God alone we will be able to discern to which local church we must join ourselves.

HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE A GOOD CHURCH?

[Note: Though not quoted verbatim, most of the words or ideas in this study are
from Richard W. De Haan, former president and teacher of RBC Ministries from
1964 to 1984.]
Many people are drawn to a church by its beautiful buildings. Others are more
interested in the size of its membership. Still others are attracted by its choir or
musical program. Many are attracted by the personality or the ability of the
pastor to communicate or entertain the listeners. Some look for a church with a
good program for young people and children. There are also others who are
drawn to a church because of loyalty to a denomination, its location, or friends or
business prospects who attend. Others look for a church that make them feel
special.
But, none of the reasons I gave you are biblical reasons for recognizing or
choosing a good church. The most important thing to consider in choosing a
church is what does it believe and teach. As someone said, “I’d rather be in a
church that meets in an old broken-down building with no choir, an out-of-tune
piano, and a stammering preacher who teaches the Word of God than to attend
a church that’s proud of its beautiful buildings, magnificent choir, or eloquent
minister yet denies or ignores the clear teaching of Scripture and lacks the
presence and power of the Spirit of God. What is believed and preached in a
church is all-important!”

The very first thing you look for in choosing a good church is its doctrine.
A good church holds fast to the essentials of the faith.

 Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.

 1Ti 4:13,16 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of
Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. … 16 Keep a close watch on
yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will
save both yourself and your hearers
 2Ti 4:2-4 says, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of
season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and
teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound
teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves

Page 29
 teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening
to the truth and wander off into myths.”
I want to give this clarification. Let me repeat what is common knowledge.
There is no perfect church. And, I’m sorry to disappoint some of you, but you
may never find a church with which you agree on every belief and practice.
So it is important to point out the essential doctrines that all true churches
should believe and if they are present, you can confidently identify with that
local church, work in it, and worship there with enthusiasm and joy. But if
these fundamentals are missing or denied, beware!
What are the essentials of the Faith?

 Bible
 Trinity (beliefs about God, Christ, HS)
 Man
 Salvation
 Church
 End times

Scriptures Alone (Sola Scriptura)

A good church will be correct, first of all, in its beliefs about the Bible. It will
believe and teach that the Bible is the inspired Word of the living God. The
Lord has given us the Scriptures, His infallible written revelation to man.
2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
work.

A true church believes that the Bible is entirely trustworthy, sufficient,

infallible and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. A true
church believes that all the 66 Bible books are equally inspired and that
they are the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind
the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our
salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must
be measured.

Trinity
The second way to recognize a good church is to examine its belief about
God. No church can possibly be sound in doctrine if it rejects the teaching
of the Bible regarding the Trinity. The Bible teaches that God is one (Dt.
6:4) but at the same time, in this one God is three distinct persons: Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is God. The Son, Jesus Christ, is God. The
Holy Spirit is God. And each of these three members of the Trinity is a
Person. They have always existed. They are equal in power and
knowledge. Yet they are so unified in their essence that they are not three
gods but one God.
The Bible presents the first person of the Trinity as the Father. He is light
and there is no darkness in Him. He is love, but he is also a consuming fire
(Heb 12:29) who punishes the evildoer. No teaching about God can be
called biblical if it fails to recognize His holiness as well as His love. It must
acknowledge His hatred and judgment of sin as well as His pleasure of
righteousness. A minister who preaches God’s love without ever
mentioning God’s wrath is not presenting the whole truth.

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 The Bible also presents the second person of the Trinity as Jesus Christ,
the Son of God. A true church presents the full deity and humanity of
Christ. The Bible teaches that Christ is truly God and truly man. The deity
of Christ, for example, is explicitly stated in the opening verse of the
gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). Paul says in Col 2:9 that in Christ,
“the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”
But Jesus is not only God, He is also man. The fact of our Lord’s deity and
humanity is clearly indicated in Philippians 2:5-8. He was born of the virgin
Mary. During His life on earth, He as a man became weary, He was hungry,
and He suffered physically. Nevertheless, He was truly God. This is a
mystery which we accept by faith. If a church denies the absolute deity
and genuine humanity of Christ, then it is not a true church.
A church that is correct in its Christology will also believe in the virgin birth
of Jesus. It will teach that Mary was a virgin when Christ was born. A
church that is correct in its Christology will also believe in the atoning
death of Christ. It will teach that Jesus, the sinless One, died on the cross
for sinners. Yes, He died as our substitute. A church that is correct in its
Christology will also believe that Christ literally arose from the dead.
The Bible also presents the third person of the Trinity as the Holy Spirit.
Some people think of the Spirit is some force or just an influence that
comes from God. But the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a Person and
He is God. And since He is God, He is also co-equal and coeternal with the
Father and the Son. So beware of those who deny the personality and
deity of the Holy Spirit.

Man
A good church will also be correct in its understanding of man. A good
church teaches that man was directly and literally created by God and that
man was created in the image and likeness of God. A good church
believes that Adam and Eve fell into sin and that in Adam's sin the whole
human race fell and therefore all human beings who are born into this
world are born with original sin, with the exception of Christ. Man is
spiritually dead and he is totally incapable of any spiritual good nor can he
repent and believe to be saved, except by the grace of God. Only through
regeneration by the Spirit of Christ can salvation and spiritual life be
obtained.

The Way of Salvation

A good church will be correct in its understanding of the way of salvation.
It will proclaim the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ
alone (Eph. 2:8-9). A good church will deny that salvation is in any sense a
human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves
cannot accomplish man’s salvation. Now in saying that salvation is by
grace— completely apart from human effort—we are not denying the
importance of baptism, church attendance, or living a good life in
obedience to the commands found in God’s Word. Not at all! All of these
things are vitally important. But they are not done in order to be saved.
Rather, they follow as the fruit, the result, the evidence of a genuine
conversion experience. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

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The Church
A good church will be correct in its belief about the church. The word
church may refer to either the invisible universal church or to a visible local
assembly of believers. The universal church consists of all who have
received Him as Savior, regardless of color, race, standing, or
denominational label. It’s the one true church. The visible local church
refers to local assemblies of believers—groups of Christians who meet
regularly for worship, instruction, fellowship, evangelism, and the
observance of the ordinances.
A good church will recognize the distinction between a local and the
invisible church. Its members will acknowledge that their assembly or
denomination is not the only true church. They will not exclude from the
body of Christ those believers in Him who don’t have their particular
ecclesiastical label. Rather, they will see all who have placed their trust in
Christ as fellow members of His body, the one true church. They will
accept them as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Endtimes
Finally, a good church will be correct in its understanding of the endtimes
and the coming of Christ.
Richard De Haan, a well known Bible teacher in the 20th century said:
The most momentous and far-reaching event in human history was
the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago. There is
much more to the story of Jesus, however, than His first coming. His
virgin birth, His sinless life, His bodily resurrection, and His ascension
into heaven are all facts of history—but they are not the end of the
story. There’s much more. That which lies ahead is glorious! The
Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is coming again. When He does, we
shall see the complete unfolding of God’s great plan of the ages.
I realize that even within evangelical circles, people disagree about
the endtimes. But our differences must never become occasions for
division and strife. Rather, let’s remember that in spite of our
various convictions, as brothers and sisters in Christ we can love
one another just the same. The important thing is this: We agree
that Jesus Christ is coming again. Any church that denies His
personal return as an actual, future event falls short of the
standards for measuring a good church.

In addition to its belief in the second coming of Christ, a good

church will also recognize the reality of both heaven and hell.

Bible-believing Christians are looking forward to a beautiful place

called heaven. Based on their faith in God’s Word, they anticipate
with delight the joys that await them in their eternal home. And this
hope brings healing to the wounds of their earthly existence and
quenches their sorrows.

A good church not only believes in a place called heaven, but it also
warns unbelievers of a real place called hell. If you believe the Bible,
you simply cannot avoid the fact that there is a heaven to be gained
and a hell to be shunned. One of the marks of a good church is its
belief in and its scriptural teaching about both places.

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A good church is characterized by biblical preaching.
It is not enough for a church to hold on to the essentials in order to be
considered a true church. Some churches will claim that they are true church
because they keep a document that tells them what they believe informally.
You may find this in their Statement of Faith yet in practice, they deny these
cardinal and orthodox doctrines. Keeping an orthodox statement of faith while
at the same time hiding it from the congregation by not preaching it or
burying those truths, will cause a true church to degenerate into a false
church.
A good church will have a biblical message. It will be a place where the Bible is
believed and faithfully preached. Paul wrote to Timothy:
2Ti 4:1-5 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to
judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:2
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke,
and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming
when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they
will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and
will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As
for you, always be sober- minded, endure suffering, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
From Richard De Haan:
Paul said, “Preach the Word!” And that’s one of the first things you should
listen for when looking for a church home. Is this a place where the Word
of God is preached and practiced? Or are the messages from the pulpit
mere moral sermonettes intended to tickle the ears of fickle Christians?
Are the messages mere expressions of the preacher’s opinion, or are they
proclaimed with the authority of the Scriptures behind them? Is there not
only “milk” for spiritual infants but also “solid food” for those who have
matured in the faith? Paul said, “Preach the Word!” And that’s exactly
what is done in a good church.
a good church administers the ordinances as Christ instituted them.
The Lord Jesus Christ has sovereignly instituted and appointed two
ordinances to be observed by the church to the end of the world. The one is
water baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19-20).
The other is the Lord's Supper (1Co 11:26).
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the
believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to
sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in
Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church
membership and to the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the

church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize
the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

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A good church worships and prays.

o Col 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.

o Eph. 5:18-19 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but
be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart

o The early Church was devoted to prayer. 1Ti 2:11-4 First of all, then, I urge
that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for
all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a
peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good,
and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to
be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
A good church exercises genuine fellowship.
From Richard De Haan:
Five qualities that are characteristic of a church that exercises genuine
fellowship:
1. The members of an ideal church are loving. Speaking to His disciples,
Jesus said in Jn 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By
this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another.”
True fellowship involves loving with a selfless desire for the good of
others. It’s reaching out to those who need the encouragement of genuine
love.

2. The members of an ideal church are caring.

1Co 12:25-26 that there may be no division in the body, but that the
members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one
member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all
rejoice together.
Caring includes such activities as praying for one another, visiting the
lonely, ministering to the sick, and comforting the bereaved. Through
prayer and the practical demonstrations of loving and caring, we fulfill the
biblical admonition, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ” (Gal. 6:2). Sorrows are lessened and joys are increased when
others share them. It’s encouraging for a believer to know that his brothers
and sisters in Christ are praying for him. How wonderful it would be if
every member of the church really felt cared for!
3. The members of an ideal church are forgiving. Believers in Christ
should be ready at all times to forgive those who have wronged them. Be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in
Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:32).

4. The members of an ideal church are forbearing. The apostle Paul,

writing to the Ephesians, indicated to believers that they were to walk
“with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one

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 another in love” (Eph. 4:2). If we are really “bearing with one another in
love,” we are patiently making allowance for the weaknesses of others.
Irritability and impatience are selfish responses, totally out of keeping with
Christian character.
5. The members of an ideal church are submitting.
Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping
watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let
them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no
advantage to you
A good church is evangelistic in spirit.
From Richard De Haan:
A good church will recognize the importance of bringing lost souls to
Christ. The Lord Jesus Himself announced “the Son of Man has come to
seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). A good church will have
an evangelistic mission. It might also have a deep social concern for the
physical and material needs of people; but if that becomes its primary
mission, and evangelism is given a back seat, then its priorities have been
confused. A sure sign of a good church is a burden for lost souls.
This is not to say that the right kind of church should have an invitation for
unbelievers every Sunday without exception. Evangelism can be
demonstrated in other ways such as through home Bible studies, personal
witnessing of its members, radio and television outreaches, home visitation
programs, and other ministries that may be appropriate to a church in its
own community.
Evangelism also goes beyond getting people saved. A good church will have
a concern for promoting Christian discipleship and growth.
Closely related to evangelism is missions. A good church will have a strong
missionary outreach. It will have a global concern. Jesus told His followers to
“go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15).
Also, in Acts 1:8 our Lord said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
A good church has a regenerated membership.

From Richard De Haan:

A good church will have a regenerated membership. If a church
membership includes unsaved people (good as they may be, and of the
highest reputation and respect in the community), beware! If it welcomes
into its membership men and women who have never been born again, it
is not a good church.
Again, please don’t misunderstand. We should encourage the unsaved to
come to church, to hear the Word, and to be confronted with the good
news of God’s saving grace. But to receive them as members before they
are saved and to give them a voice and a place in the affairs of the church
is to stain its purity, compromise its principles, and diminish its power.
Paul commanded in 2Co 6:14-16:

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 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership
has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with
darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does
a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the
temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as
God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
A good church has biblical church leadership.
Elders or overseers have a very vital role for the well-being of churches. This
can be seen in the following passages:

 Act 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church
and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom
they had put their trust.
 Tit 1:5 --The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out
what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed
you.
 Ac 20:17,28 –17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the
church... 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of
God, which he bought with his own blood.
 Heb 13:17 --Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep
watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that
their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no
advantage to you.
They should therefore be chosen according to the principles laid down in
Scriptures such as those found in Titus 1:5-9 and 1Ti 3:1-13.

A good church applies biblical discipline to correct its faults.

A true church administers biblical discipline in order to preserve pure doctrine
and holy living.

 Mt 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, [c] go and show him his fault,
just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your
brother over. 16 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.' [d] 17 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.

 1Co 5:9-13 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually
immoral people-- 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are
immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would
have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not
associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral
or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such
a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those
outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge
those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

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