THE CHURCH’S RESPONSIBILITY TO THE BELIEVER
ACTS 2:41-47
Introduction: We have addressed the Christians responsibility to the local church. The local New Testament church has an obligation to every part of the body of Christ. There is no part of the body that is not important and vital. The church has a responsibility to each and every member, to every believer who enters its fellowship. The Church has a responsibility to…
I. Provide sound biblical teaching for spiritual growth and maturation
A. …they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
B. Pastors are charged in Titus 2:1 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”
C. Unfortunately we live in a day in which many are forsaking sound doctrine.
D. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (MKJV) For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths.
E. 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us that the church of the living God is “the pillar and ground of the truth.”
F. Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
G. Preachers are exhorted in 2 Timothy 4:2 to “preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.”
H. The local church must provide a place for the individual believer to become doctrinally sound.
I. John MacArthur said, “Many Christians today are vague about doctrine. Many pastors offer sermonettes for Christianettes – little sermons that are nice and interesting. Sometimes they make you feel warm, fuzzy, sad, or excited. But seldom do we hear doctrine taught or discussed. Very few preachers explain the truth about God, life, death, heaven, hell, man, sin, Christ, angels, the Holy Spirit, the position of the believer, the flesh, or the world. We need truths that we can hold on to. ...people need solid doctrine to build their lives on. (The Master’s Plan for the Church [Chicago: Moody, 1991], 27).
II. Provide an avenue for relevant, meaningful worship
A. ...they continued... in fellowship and in the breaking of the loaves, and in prayers... continuing with one accord in the temple.
B. To worship God is to recognize his worth or worthiness; to look God-ward, and to acknowledge in all appropriate ways the value of what we see. The Bible calls this activity "glorifying God" or "giving glory to God," and views it as the ultimate end, and from one point of view, the whole duty of man.
C. Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
D. Psalms 149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints.
E. The church must provide opportunities for participation in corporate worship that are less directly tied to encouraging performance. Too often the worship services are really geared with the attitude that people are there to be entertained. Congregations are not audiences, and worship leaders are not performers. They are not there to win man’s approval but to glorify God and encourage corporate worship. The role of the worship team should be to enable the congregation to participate in meaningful worship.
F. The church needs to provide for transforming worship that focuses our hearts and minds on God and not on feelings or self.
III. Provide love, acceptance, support, and shelter to fellow believers from the world
A. Acts 2:44-46 And all who believed were together and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. And continuing with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they shared food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
B. Whether the need is spiritual – Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if a man is overtaken in a fault, you the spiritual ones restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the Law of Christ.
C. Whether the need is temporal – 1 John 3:16-18 By this we have known the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God dwell in him? My children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
D. Whether the need is emotional - 1 Corinthians 12:25 that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
E. Frightened by the clamor of thunder in the night, a little child cried out. Holding her securely in his arms, her father explained that she needn’t fear. God would take care of her because He loved her greatly. "I know God will take care of me and love me," she replied. "But right now, Daddy, I want someone with skin on to love me." We are to be God’s love, with skin on!
IV. Provide the means to exercise one’s spiritual gift(s)
A. Christianity is not a spectator sport!
B. Romans 12:5-8 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shews mercy, with cheerfulness.
C. The church exists as a training center whereby people can grow through the application of teaching and the utilization of their spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 12; Eph. 4)
D. The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. (Bits & Pieces, June 25, 1992.) Spiritual gifts that are not used are of no value.
E. When a church neglects the spiritual gifts of its members it robs the church of its strength.
V. Provide a training ground for evangelistic outreach.
A. The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
B. Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lamp stand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.
C. The roots of evangelism are embedded in the local church which derives its life from Christ, as he is set forth in the whole of Scripture. The members evangelize as they are nourished by the preaching, strengthened by the corporate prayer and worship of the church and encouraged by fellowship. Christians who abide in Christ by abiding in a true local church will evangelize spontaneously... Evangelism does not produce life in the church. Rather, life in the church produces evangelism. – Erroll Hulse, The Way Ahead: Papers Read at the Carey Conference, 1975
D. "There are two types of Christians: soul-winners and backsliders." - Adrian Rogers
E. Matthew 28:19-20 (ISV) Therefore, AS YOU GO, disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age."
F. True evangelism is a way of living. It is sharing your faith with all you come in contact with.
G. As a church we must train believers how to articulate or present a verbal witness of their faith.
H. The law of reproduction - 2 Timothy 2:2 (MKJV) And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
I. "When the church goes into the homes with its message, then we can expect the homes to come to church." - W. Werning
