A Model of Church, part three (Sermon)

We have established that the church is a group of believers gathered in Jesus name for a specific purpose, and that purpose is to glorify God in all things. (see Eph. 1: 11-12) How, then, do we glorify God? Through our worship, community, and witness.

Last week we looked at the area of worship, that upward movement into relationship with God. Today we want to focus on the area of community. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 10, verses 24 and 25. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Community is defined as “ a group of believers growing together into the likeness of Christ.” Community can be found throughout the NT, lived out in the many “one another” passages. Community, then, is a movement inward into deeper relationship within the body of Christ. What makes up community? (you’ve probably guessed - three areas):

1. Discipleship: What is a disciple? A disciple is one who is saved, baptized, and taught to obey the commands of Christ. (Mt. 28.19-20. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.") There are two primary questions that we must ask ourselves in terms of discipleship. First, are we growing into Christ’s likeness through community? Second, how do we teach believers, both new and old alike, to obey the commands of Christ. (Some attention needs to be paid to those non-commands that we as the church so often lift up as holy standards over against those true commands, many of which we pass over far too quickly.) Discipleship is the growth of the community into Christian maturity. There is a great need in the church for accountability. Who do you answer to for your spiritual growth?

2. Spiritual Gifts: God equips the Church to fulfill its mission by means of gifts given by the Holy Spirit. (see Ephesians. 4.11-12, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians. 12). It is important for each member of the body to discover their spiritual gifts so that they can use those abilities to strengthen the body. When we first moved into our current parsonage, we had a kitchen table that had been in my wife’s family for several generations. However, as we sat down to dinner one night, one of the legs fell off. To repair it, I needed to cut down one of the corners and drill a pilot hole for the bolt. The entire job should have taken about ten minutes with the right tools, but I didn’t have the right tools. Holding the table leg in one hand, I used and old hand-saw to cut off the corner. Then I drove a nail to start the hole, and then used a couple of screws to widen it enough to allow the bolt to go in without cracking the wood. I did the job with the tools I had, but it took hours. When we do ministry without the gifts that God has placed within the church, we often take more time, energy, and resources to do the job. The reality is that we can do more ministry and do it more effectively when people minister in areas of their gifts. It is important to note that the gifts are not given for individuals to get prideful, but for the purpose of encouraging and equipping the body for ministry and in ministry.

3. Sanctification: God has commanded us, “Be holy as I am Holy.” Sanctification is the other side of repentance. It is refining process which God does within those who love Him; It is the result of our repentance and our desire to see God change us. It is what Paul talks about in 2 Cor. 3.18: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. We are continually transformed. It is within community that we are challenged to go deeper in our faith, as we continue to grow into the likeness of Christ. Scripture commands, “Provoke one another to love and good works.” What is our job in sanctification? It is being open to God’s leading and allowing Him to do the work of transformation within us.

As we seek to glorify God, let us undertake that inward journey. Let us begin to seek genuine discipleship, discover those gifts which God has entrusted us with, and position ourselves for the work of sanctification. And in all of these things, may we find community that glorifies God.