Gospel and have committed to pray for them regularly. We know who has committed themselves to this church and we’ve committed ourselves to them. The only reason why churches is because people realize, no church is “OK, perfect. But I’m going to settle in this place and try to prosper here spiritually. I agree with what they teach—their statement of faith—and how they’re trying to live together—their church covenant. So I’ll live life together with them, committed to them.” That’s the kind of commitment that allows us to live out Hebrews 13:17. Putting it all together Now, if you look at your handout, you’ll see how all this fits together. The triangle diagram there has you at one corner, church leaders at the top, and the rest of the congregation on the right. There’s some Biblical commands about your relationship with church leaders along one side of the triangle. You are to submit to them; they in turn will one day give account for you. And there’s some Biblical commands about your relationship with the congregation at large. If you’re a Christian, you need to love other Christians in your church—in ways that are sometimes messy and difficult. You’re to see encouraging them as an important part of your following Jesus. And you’re to let them into your life to hold you to account. And vice versa. That’s all along the bottom of the triangle. Now, if you’re to do this some things need to be true of your relationship with some church.
Gospel and have committed to pray for them regularly. We know who has committed themselves to this church and we’ve committed ourselves to them. The only reason why churches is because people realize, “OK, no church is perfect. But I’m going to settle in this place and try to prosper here spiritually. I agree with what they teach—their statement of faith—and how they’re trying to live together—their church covenant. So I’ll live life together with them, committed to them.” That’s the kind of commitment that allows us to live out Hebrews 13:17. Putting it all together Now, if you look at your handout, you’ll see how all this fits together. The triangle diagram there has you at one corner, church leaders at the top, and the rest of the congregation on the right. There’s some Biblical commands about your relationship with church leaders along one side of the triangle. You are to submit to them; they in turn will one day give account for you. And there’s some Biblical commands about your relationship with the congregation at large. If you’re a Christian, you need to love other Christians in your church—in ways that are sometimes messy and difficult. You’re to see encouraging them as an important part of your following Jesus. And you’re to let them into your life to hold you to account. And vice versa. That’s all along the bottom of the triangle. Now, if you’re to do this some things need to be true of your relationship with some church.
0e5121605_1464274803_03-why-join-a-church-may-2016.docx