Prayer Meeting 14/1/2025

The Spirit Of Membership

Watch the full sermon HERE

Tonight I want to share something that has been in my heart a while. I spoke to my fellow elders at the start of new year, and also prior, but in more detail at the start when we had our meeting, and I shared my heart with them on this topic, as well as what we could do better and need to learn more.

So tonight, I want to talk about the heart of membership.

John MacArthur, in his biblical doctrine book - you may know as the ‘big white book’ (our own nickname) - this is what he says in the opening lines on the subject of membership:

In a day when commitment is a rare commodity, it should come as no surprise that so many believers make church membership such a low priority. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for Christian’s to move from church to church, never submitting themselves to the loving oversight of elders, and never committing themselves to a group of fellow believers.

Macarthur adds:

To neglect, or refuse to join a church as a formal member, however, reflects a misunderstanding of a believer’s responsibility… …and also cuts one off from the many blessings and opportunities that flow from this commitment.

The church over the years, and now at an alarming rate, has ran from membership.

Why? - Well for a few reasons.

Most churches have more unbelievers than believers in them. Or at best: carnal Christians. That is, people who don’t want to be accountable. This is following suit from the world who does not want to be accountable - they see it as control, or being controlling.

Also, it must be said, there is a huge fear among people. One is: I don’t want and I’m not ready to live a life of scrutiny, or give up some sins.

Secondly, there is a fear that you might be found out as not as devoted as you would like others to think; especially the elders.

To be saved is to be part of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

So when we are saved, we become part of the body of Christ. However, to be become part of the church is how we become active and effective within that body. Again, this is becoming less and less in church. So many are not a part of the church.

This was what I said when we were in this verse last year:

I’ve yet to meet a believer who has become more mature and more Christlike, and more sanctified while not being united within the body, and attached themselves to a local church.

I often meet these street evangelists, whom I speak to, and I tell you it’s more common than not that they get offended when I ask what church they are part of.

They often say: ‘I’m not here to tell you what church I’m part of’. The truth is, many, many, street evangelists (not all), fly solo. They are not connected to a home church. They are accountable to no one.

To be part of the body, and to not be part of a local church, will inevitably damage the body sooner or later. Thats a fact. Either by not dealing with sin, or starting to take the Word out of context, or starting to resent the body.

Almost all solo believers end up, or are resentful towards the overall body. Every time they step away from the church, they step away from the Word, and start to make up their own version of Christianity; who God is, what He requires and what is acceptable to Him.

Every single person who has taken a resentment in church against the elders (or in our case: mostly me), always says like a broken record that we are trying to control them. It’s the ‘swan song’ for commitment and their accountaphobia - that’s a new word, the real word is hypengyophobia, meaning a fear of responsibility. But I prefer accountaphobia.

Another reason there is no accountability in church is that the pastor and elders, if they have any, are either not following the Word, or it does not have complete authority, but only partial.

Or else they have ‘offendaphobia’, (anthropophobia) - a fear offending the mostly uncommitted and accountaphobic.

So we have the offendaphobic who are too frightened and intimidated by the accountaphobic (I give you what plays out between many parents and kids).

As a church we in the past, before the Word took both authority and sufficiency, had such a poor view of membership. Driven by much of what I’ve said, coupled with seeker-sensitive ideologies, that cared more for the heathen and the unsaved than the saved.

However, as we know that changed in October 2017. This is what our membership booklet says:

Whilst in preparation for a vision offering in October 2017, Pastor Mark Ralston studied a scripture from 2nd Kings 22, about king Josiah’s reformation, which revealed that the Word of God had been lost in God’s house.

This brought a significant and immediate change in focus and theology for hope united and our members, from one of pragmatism and conceptual thought, and concentration on psychology, to the exposition of the word of God alone, which is the sole authority by which our church is now guided and governed.

It is safe to say that no other event in the life of hope united church has held such significance than when God’s word was found. God leading us to understand that his word is not only authoritative, but is sufficient for every area of life and ministry.”

2 Tim 3:16-17

All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Where do we devise our beliefs about membership? From God’s Word. Although that Word membership is not used, its modelled through the book of Acts and in Paul’s letters.

Acts 2:41-47

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Our booklet says:

Therefore, membership defines the flock of God; it answers the question of who is part of the flock in a local assembly of believers, allowing the elders to know specifically who they have care over and who they are responsible for before God.

By becoming a member, you are saying that you are joining yourselves to the local body of Christ here at hope united church, and by doing so, that you want to come under the spiritual and pastoral care of the elders of our church.

God, as we also read in Corinthians recently, appoints overseers and elders to that church body. To help bring it both into maturity and maintain unity and holiness.

This is Paul writing to elders here:

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.

In our booklet it says:

More specifically, Apostle Peter tells us that the elders have care over a specific group of people who are ‘in their charge’.

I’ve often been asked advice from believers concerning things in their church. The most healthy answer is that you need to speak to one of your elders in your church.

Again to elders:

1 Peter 5:2-4

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being Lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Nothing an elder does, or should do, is for, or should be for selfish gain. You are to trust that - therefore what’s been instructed and advised is for your own, and the body’s gain.

Yes many have abused that. And elders will be held account for that.

We are to be examples, not by compulsion, but by our heart’s willing deep desire to serve others. We don’t serve because we have to, or are told to, but we serve because it’s our heart and passion, and purpose to do so.

You are not a burden that we don’t want to care for, never ever.

Even in those trying times, where you have been directed a million times and you don’t take heed - we will as an elder be back the next day to help.

It’s the duty and care, and heart of an elder to be in it for the long game. No matter how much you struggle.

No, that does not mean you will never receive correction - it’s the duty and care of the elder at times to correct and even rebuke. However, that rebuke, unless its belligerent unrepentiveness towards sin, has no bearing on their heart to keep serving, and guiding, and feeding, and nurturing.

Yes there may be times when you feel you’re not being fed, or being ignored. Or been given up on. That is not the case - ever. Even in the lack of care and attention is actually still part of the serving and feeding.

Elders don’t give up on their people ever.

The people who leave, who are asked to leave, give up on God and truth, and church, and the elders, but it’s not the other way round. However, does that mean you’re never burdening people? No ! It does not.

We burden people when we allow sin to take over our life, and in turn infect others through our actions and behaviours. Your damage to the body needs treated, sometimes with kisses, sometimes with more straight talking.

Apostle Paul in one chapter of 1st Corinthians said: “I don’t say this to shame you.” And in the next “I say this to shame you”. Both were loving and caring, and serving.

So we need elders, we need those who watch after our souls.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Why trust? Because we watch after your souls, can you do that alone? No, we need that help. But as elders, again the writer of Hebrews speaks to the elders and says: ‘do it with joy’. I’ve seen elders making hard work of serving; do it with joy.

So we need both a relationship and to be submissive to elders. But we also need each other. This is vital, and those who are not members miss such blessing.

I do life with the elders, we are in each other’s faces, hearts, minds and lives all the time.

You might not have that at first, and it takes time to grow relationships. However, you have a ready-made spiritual family. You joined it when you got saved. And being part of a local church brings you into close companionship with your spiritual family.

Fellowship is vital. To be of one mind, one heart:

1 Corinth 1:10

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (this is a vital to the health of the church):

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

This unity, this oneness, this mutual care and loving, is also vital as we take communion. We come as one to the table, we join in a remembrance of what has joined us - the blood of Christ.

Communion therefore has become a vital part of our church. Biblical communion. Where we bring the death of Christ and His sacrifice, and in turn our salvation through that, again to the forefront of our minds. In that we also take inventory of our own lives.

Acts 2:42

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

This is why we only permit either members, or those that are known to us as believers who are under that guided-ness , whose soul is truly being watched over, to take communion.

As I bring this in, I want to share one more thing.

Here is one of the most argued, and maybe one of the main reasons many never become members.

It’s the ‘m’ word:

Money.

They don’t want certain areas of their lives touched. And money is that ouchy touch for so many.

Again I say it. The church and elders are not after your money. It’s your soul.

I would say this: giving is maybe one of the greatest indications of your commitment to membership, and unity, and oneness.

Why do I say so? For this reason: If you’re sitting here tonight in the heat, in light that makes you see, inside a building, in a church with a hymn book, with words on a screen, with free food and free cakes, and free meals, in a cleaned building with clean toilets - fellow brother and sister has paid for your privilege.

Now you as a member are held to be part of that. That’s not after your money. That’s called fair. That’s called unity, that’s called decent. That’s called helping your soul get well and free from idolatry. Serving would be in that bracket also.

Let me ask a rhetorical question: Who do you think serve the most in church, those who give the most, or the least?

Acts 5:1-4

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the holy spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Verse 5:

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.

It wasn’t about money, it was that he was getting all the benefits but sacrificing none himself. He and his wife were lying about their lives, while acting like they never had it going on. That was the death of them both.

Yes, many people have different circumstances, and even problems. Taking care of your soul is to guide that towards health, away from insecurity, away from idols. Away from money’s grip.

It won’t happen overnight but I can tell you, your Ananias and Sapphira spirit is not good for your soul. And that’s why we care.

If you fear that care, then maybe one day sooner than you think, it will be the death of you.

This is why we need that care, that accountability, that level of transparency. Without it we will never overcome our idols and weaknesses.

Our membership declaration: 

As part of your choice to join the local body of Christ here at hope united church, we want to encourage you to remember the responsibilities that church membership brings. With the aid of the Holy Spirit:

• will you be diligent to walk worthy of your calling, so that your life exhibits both true Christian love and personal holiness? [devotion to apostles teaching, growth…]

• will you faithfully assemble with this body of believers, striving to maintain unity, and doing all you can to stimulate love and good deeds in others as you seek to exercise your spiritual gifts in faithful service?

• will you consistently contribute to the work of the ministry here in this church, as a good steward of God’s blessings, such time, talent, and resources, in the measure that God prospers you?

• will you teach biblical truth to your family and acquaintances, as God gives you opportunity, with a desire to see them come to trust Jesus Christ and be saved?

• will you always be willing to both give and receive admonition and instruction with meekness and in love?

• will you commit to praying for the ministry here in this church, your brothers and sisters in Christ, the elders and pastors; and for the lost who need the saviour?

Membership doesn’t make you stop sinning. It will, however, make you accountable for it.

Membership won’t make you not take resentments. It will, however, make you accountable for it.

Membership won’t automatically make your devotional life better, it will, however, bring accountability and guidance to it.

Membership won’t stop you making bad choices, it will however first make you accountable for them - give guidance and wisdom, and the support to make you more Holy.

Amen.