Individual Responsibilities in the Local Congregation I. Introduction A. Of a truth Jesus came to save sinners (Matthew 20:25-28, Luke 19:9, 1 Timothy 1:15) B. For many years now the main emphasis on salvation has been "personal" 1. First emphasis: God is personal 2. Second emphasis: God wants a personal relationship with you as individual 3. Thus, third emphasis: individual personal relationship with God as pre-eminent C. This paradigm reflects bad theology and heavy Enlightenment and American influence and misses how God has worked with humans as revealed in Scripture 1. It is true that God has personhood -> personality, yet even then as the Three in One, One in relational unity: God is relationship within Himself (John 17:20-23) 2. God wants the "personal relationship," but "personal relationship" with God cannot be between two atomized individuals since God is relationship within Himself: God invites mankind to participate with Him and in Him in His work (John 17:20-23, 1 John 1:1-2:6) 3. Thus the "personal relationship with God" cannot be its own end; as God is one in relational unity, so God's mandate for those who would be His people is for them to be one in relational unity both with God and with each other (John 17:1-26, Philippians 2:1-11, 1 John 1:1-7) 4. At three points in Scripture God works with one man: Adam, Noah, Abraham/Isaac/Jacob (Genesis 2:1-3:23, 6:1-9:28, 12:1-49:33) a. At each point God worked through that one man to build a collective of people b. Working through one person was never seen as an end unto itself c. And yet Eve was given to Adam; Noah had his wife, sons, and their wives; Abraham had Sarah and Lot d. God worked through them in order to get to a nation, a group, a community! 5. Throughout Scripture God works through His people, envisioned as a collective serving Him: Israel, the church, the Kingdom D. To truly serve our God, One in relational unity, we must seek after relational unity among ourselves to be people worthy of the idea of the people of God (John 17:20-23, Philippians 2:1-4) E. In Christ the people of God is the spiritual Israel, the church, the manifestation of Christ's Kingdom on earth (Matthew 16:18, Galatians 6:16, Ephesians 5:22-33, Colossians 1:13) F. The church, the ekklesia, Christ's assembly, has universal and local senses 1. There is one body (Ephesians 4:4), but churches of Christ (Romans 16:16) 2. Nevertheless the New Testament does not make the distinction explicit, and we must keep this in mind as we continue G. It is within the local church that God's people in Christ are to function most prominently as His community, His body, His people (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27) 1. As Christ has but one Body, so all people in Christ are the various parts working together 2. Nevertheless, functionally, the more proximate to one another, the more joint participation and working together that can take place 3. Therefore, the individual Christian's responsibilities to the church take place most prominently and frequently within the context of the local congregation! H. Since we are to share in community and reflect the unity of our God who is one in relationship, we do well to consider how we are to be one in a local congregation 1. Why is association and participation in a local congregation important? 2. What responsibilities does each member have toward their fellow members of a local congregation? II. Defining the Local Congregation and Its Importance A. We do well to begin by seeing how the Scriptures speak of the association within a local congregation B. Anyone who is baptized is automatically added to the Lord's church (Acts 2:41-47) C. Those who were part of the Lord's church would seek to identify with a local group of Christians meeting as a local congregation (e.g. Saul, Acts 9:26-30) D. Christians were at times identified in terms of the local group with whom they associated (e.g. Phoebe of Cenchreae, Romans 16:1) E. Paul would often want to greet or share the greetings of churches meeting in houses or in general geographic areas (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:19, etc.) F. Thus Christians associated in local churches; they were to be shepherded by elders and served by deacons (Acts 14:23, 20:28, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-12, Titus 1:5-8, 1 Peter 5:1-4) G. We do well to note certain differences in time and place 1. For the most part people were far more stationary in the first century than they are now: most would have lived and died within a few miles of the same location, and thus would be part of one local church 2. Those who did move around, like Phoebe, would yet still be identified as a part of their "home" church 3. Itinerant preachers like the Apostles, Timothy, Titus, etc., would jointly participate with whichever congregation they ministered at the time 4. Today we have people who are much more mobile and who may move frequently in life; likewise, many communities have more than one congregation H. The New Testament is clear: God expects participation by individual Christians in local assemblies, identification with local assemblies, and accountability to local assemblies! 1. So much of the New Testament is written to Christians comprising local congregations: Romans through 2 Thessalonians, 1 Peter, 2 John perhaps, Revelation 2. That the local congregations as ekklesiai, assemblies, would meet and to do so frequently is taken for granted (e.g. 1 Corinthians 11:18) 3. Christians were exhorted to join with and share in those assemblies (Hebrews 10:24-25) 4. As Saul wished to join with the disciples in Jerusalem, so Christians are to join with one another (Acts 9:26-30) 5. Elders are to shepherd the flock as those bearing responsibility and accountability (Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:1-4); thus there must be a level of expectation of accountability of members to the elders! 6. The commands of Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:16, 19-20 demand accountability of members to one another even if no eldership exists! I. Unfortunately, demands of identification, participation, and accountability to a local congregation have been abused at times; the abuse must be censured but must not detract from their Biblical imperative! J. Identification with, participation in, and accountability to the local congregation are important because of the importance of the local congregation in God's purposes for each individual Christian! 1. Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, Ephesians 4:11-16, Revelation 21:1-22:6 2. God, in His wisdom, established the church so that His people would not be isolated, scared, alone, and easily ensnared by the Evil One 3. Despite the lies of society and culture, none of us are truly independent and self-sufficient; we need other people for strength and joint participation to accomplish more and better than each individual can do on their own! 4. Body, Temple, Family: all the illustrations God uses for the church denote health in joint participation and weakness, alienation, despair, and even death in separation! 5. All these illustrations are true in a universal sense, yet all take place most functionally in the nearest proximity: the local congregation 6. Social media can never replace physical proximity; the local congregation retains its purpose and meaning in the 21st century! K. Therefore, we either join and participate with a local congregation and be subject to the accountability inherently demanded in the enterprise, reflect God's purpose for His people, and live, or we attempt to do it on our own, struggle, remain weak, and most likely spiritually die L. A "personal relationship with Jesus" has never been and never will be sufficient: Jesus drew strength from His relationship with the Father and Spirit and died and was raised again to establish a Kingdom in which all could find strength and edification together (Philippians 2:1-11)! M. We cannot do this alone: we must do it together! III. Responsibilities of Individual Members of Local Congregations A. So what is it that we must do together? B. We must identify as part of one another (e.g. Acts 9:26-30) 1. A local congregation is only as strong as the willingness of its members to identify themselves as part of one another 2. This involves the willingness to say that you wish to be identified as a member of the local congregation, and to own that identification 3. Yet it also demands that each constituent member owns up to the functioning of that local congregation: "they" or "it" are not separate from "you"! 4. Where do you fit and how do you identify with the local congregation? C. We must be accountable to one another (Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:16, 19-20) 1. As each part of the body needs connection to other parts to function and not die, so parts of the body of Christ need to have connections with other parts 2. A big part of that connection is accountability: the expectation that you are part of the local church and therefore will strive to strengthen it as you are strengthened within it (Ephesians 4:11-16) 3. As each part of the body needs to accomplish its own work so that the whole can function, so each member of the local congregation must do what he or she ought and to be exhorted and prompted to do so when necessary 4. Americans have automatic skepticism and resistance to accountability; that is a cultural defect, for we are all accountable to God and also to His people (so Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 15:12-13) D. We must work together and all that entails (Philippians 2:1-4) E. We must assemble together (Hebrews 10:24-25) 1. What is an ekklesia, an assembly, that does not assemble? 2. How can you really have joint participation in an assembly if you're not there and in it? 3. How are you sharing in the body and blood of the Lord in His supper if you are not there sharing it (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)? 4. How can unity prevail in a local body in song, prayer, and exhortation and instruction in the Word when its members are not there to share in it (Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 14:14-17, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 2:16, 2 Timothy 4:1-2)? 5. How is the collection really a joint participative contribution if many of those who are supposed to share in that work are not there and/or not giving (2 Corinthians 8-9)? 6. The assembly is not the end of believers' joint participation but it must be part of the foundation of that joint participation: the least of what we do together, but yet still there! F. We must care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25-26) 1. To care for one another demands knowledge of one another (Galatians 6:2) 2. Such is how we demonstrate preference for one another, love for one another (Romans 12:9-10, 1 John 3:16-17, 4:7-21) 3. To care for one another demands openness to one another, trust among each other, and real commitment to support one another G. We must show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9) 1. You cannot care for people you do not know 2. You cannot get to know one another merely through joint participation in an assembly 3. The work of relationship building takes place in joint participation in life and through the conversations and considerations inherent in showing hospitality 4. Thus hospitality is not optional; it is imperative for the strengthening of the connections among members! H. So much of the functioning of joint participation in the faith are summarized in the "one another" exhortations in Scripture 1. One can see responsibilities to "one another" beyond the local assembly but certainly never exclusive of it 2. As with all we have discussed, the greater proximity, the greater priority and emphasis! 3. Love one another (John 13:34, 15:12, 17, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:11, 23, 4:7, 11, 12, 2 John 1:5) 4. Serve one another (John 13:14, 1 Peter 5:5) 5. In honor prefer one another (Romans 12:10) 6. Edify/build up one another (Romans 14:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:11) 7. Receive one another (Romans 15:7) 8. Teach and admonish one another (Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16) 9. Salute one another (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Peter 5:14) 10. Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) 11. Forbear/forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13) 12. Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18) 13. Exhort one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, 10:25) 14. Consider how to provoke one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) 15. To this we could add pray for one another (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, 1 Peter 5:8-9) 16. Likewise, to do good to one another, provide assistance in times of need (Galatians 6:10) 17. With whom are we the closest and can do these things? Fellow members of the local church! H. Our ability to accomplish our individual responsibilities toward one another is proportional to the strength of our relationships with one another 1. The stronger our internal relationships, the more likely we will be to know each other's needs, maintain each other's trust, be more effective in our exhortations, instructions, and efforts 2. The weaker our internal relationships, the less likely we will be to know each other's needs, to maintain trust, and thus prove less effective in our exhortations, instructions, and efforts IV. Specific Roles in the Local Congregation A. As there are different parts of the body accomplishing different functions, so it is in Christ's church B. The New Testament does spell out some specific roles for certain individuals C. Elders are to shepherd and oversee the local congregation, equipping saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 3:1-12, 1 Peter 5:1-4) D. Deacons are to serve the congregation at the direction of the elders (Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:8-12) E. Evangelists are to strengthen all people in the Gospel of Christ, help equip saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12, 2 Timothy 4:1-2) F. These roles are necessary to exhort the local congregation toward the function God desires, but the work of the local congregation is not theirs alone: so much of their function is to empower and equip the saints for ministry! V. Conclusion A. As God is One in relational unity, so relationship with God cannot exist independently of the people of God (John 17:20-23, 1 John 1:7) B. If God's people were to be autonomous individual units He would be denying Himself, for He is no such thing! C. Therefore we must take seriously the importance of joint participation with the fellow people of God in the Body of Christ D. The closest people of God we have is the local congregation, and God expects Christians to identify with, participate in, and be accountable to a local congregation of His people E. The functioning of that local congregation is entirely dependent on its constituent members, the strength of the relationships among them, and their commitment to follow through with God's commandments given to "one another" F. Let us jointly participate with the fellow people of God in a local congregation to encourage and edify one another unto the day of the resurrection of life! G. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me" (John 17:23). God is One in relational unity; thus, He desires for our salvation in Him and in the community of His people. As there could be no Jesus without His body, so there can be no true Christianity without His Body, the church. Let us work together in the Church of Christ! 2: And when [Saul] was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple (Acts 9:26). God's people ought to want to join themselves to one another. This relationship exists universally in the church throughout time and place but is most concretely seen in a local congregation. If we want to participate in God, we must participate in a local body of His people! 3: What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying (1 Corinthians 14:26). All things Christians do together ought to be done to build one another up, or to edify. This is true in the assembly but should be true in the rest of life and particularly among members of a local congregation. Let us build one another up in Christ! 4: That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25). As a body is only as strong as its weakest parts and connections, so it is with Christ's church. Members of a local congregation must work to care for one another; that demands getting to know and trust one another and to rely and depend on one another for strength. Together we prevail; divided we grow weak and die. Let us jointly participate in God's work in Christ!