Steadfast Faith: The Church's Role in Community

 

Summary

In these turbulent times, both within and outside the church, it is crucial to remain steadfast in preaching the Word of God, regardless of cultural pressures or changing societal norms. The gospel of Jesus Christ is timeless and transcends generations because God Himself is unchanging. Our task is to build the church according to God's instructions, not based on our own ideas of what might be beneficial. The Reformed tradition emphasizes that God saves and sanctifies His people primarily through the ordinary means of grace: the preaching and hearing of the Word, the sacraments, prayer, praise, and church discipline. These means are not just for the beautification of believers but ultimately for the glory of Christ, conforming us to His likeness.

The church, as the fellowship of the saints, is the God-designed context where these means of grace operate. In an age marked by rampant individualism, it is vital to remember the importance of the church community. Christianity is not a solitary journey but a communal one, where believers are brought into the body of Christ and learn together the vastness of God's love. The church is the primary context for spiritual growth and maturity, where believers are equipped for ministry and protected from false doctrines.

The early church understood the necessity of fellowship, as seen in Acts 2, where new believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. This communal aspect is not just a tradition but a biblical mandate that honors the institution established by Christ. The church is the common mother of all believers, nurturing and guiding them in faith. This corporate, covenantal understanding of the church was a hallmark of the Reformation and remains essential today.

In a world that often exalts individualism, the church stands as a testament to the power and safety found in community. Jesus promised that He would build His church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Therefore, we must commit to the local church, where the Word is faithfully preached, sacraments are rightly administered, and God's praise is sung. The church is not just a gathering of like-minded individuals but a diverse family united in Christ, demonstrating to the world the reality of God's love.

Key Takeaways:

1. Preach the Word Unwaveringly: In both good and bad times, the call is to preach the Word of God without being swayed by cultural trends. The gospel is trans-generational because God Himself is unchanging, and our task is to build the church according to His instructions, not our own ideas. [01:36]

2. The Ordinary Means of Grace: God sanctifies His people through the ordinary means of grace, which include the preaching of the Word, sacraments, prayer, praise, and church discipline. These means are not just for our beautification but ultimately for the glory of Christ, conforming us to His likeness. [03:08]

3. The Church as the Context for Growth: The church is the God-designed context where the means of grace operate. In an age of individualism, it is crucial to remember the importance of the church community, where believers are brought into the body of Christ and learn together the vastness of God's love. [05:53]

4. The Necessity of Fellowship: The early church understood the necessity of fellowship, as seen in Acts 2. This communal aspect is not just a tradition but a biblical mandate that honors the institution established by Christ. The church is the common mother of all believers, nurturing and guiding them in faith. [15:35]

5. Commitment to the Local Church: In a world that often exalts individualism, the church stands as a testament to the power and safety found in community. We must commit to the local church, where the Word is faithfully preached, sacraments are rightly administered, and God's praise is sung. [19:59]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:39] - Preaching in Changing Times
- [01:36] - The Trans-Generational Gospel
- [02:30] - Reformed Convictions
- [03:08] - Ordinary Means of Grace
- [04:59] - The Church as Context
- [05:53] - Individualism vs. Community
- [06:43] - Corporate and Covenantal Thinking
- [08:16] - Spiritual Gifts and Church Unity
- [09:50] - Growing Together in Christ
- [11:34] - The Importance of Belonging
- [12:16] - Calvin on the Church
- [13:59] - The Church as Mother
- [15:35] - The Early Church's Devotion
- [17:07] - Resisting Individualism
- [19:59] - Power in Community
- [20:46] - Commitment to the Local Church
- [21:32] - The Church's Role in Grace
- [22:23] - Unity in Diversity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
2. Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
3. Ephesians 4:11-13 - "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the primary reason the gospel is considered trans-generational? [01:36]
2. What are the "ordinary means of grace" mentioned in the sermon, and how do they function within the church? [03:08]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the church in the life of a believer, especially in the context of individualism? [05:53]
4. What example from the early church in Acts 2 is highlighted in the sermon to emphasize the necessity of fellowship? [15:35]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that the church community helps protect believers from false doctrines and individualistic tendencies? [09:50]
2. In what ways does the sermon describe the church as a "common mother" to believers, and how does this metaphor help us understand the church's role? [13:59]
3. How does the sermon interpret Jesus' promise that "the gates of hell will not prevail against" the church, and what implications does this have for our commitment to the local church? [19:59]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between individual spiritual growth and participation in the church community? [11:34]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own commitment to the local church. Are there areas where you feel you could be more involved or supportive? What steps can you take to deepen your engagement? [20:46]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of preaching the Word unwaveringly. How can you support your church leaders in maintaining this focus, especially during challenging times? [00:39]
3. Consider the "ordinary means of grace" in your own spiritual life. Are there any of these practices you feel you need to prioritize more? How can you incorporate them into your daily routine? [03:08]
4. In what ways can you contribute to the fellowship and unity of your church community, especially in a culture that often values individualism over community? [05:53]
5. Think about a time when you experienced the power and safety of being part of a church community. How can you share this experience with others who might be hesitant to commit to a local church? [19:59]
6. How can you encourage others in your church to see the church as a nurturing "mother" that guides and supports them in their faith journey? [13:59]
7. Identify one person in your church community who might feel isolated or disconnected. What practical steps can you take to reach out and include them in the fellowship? [17:07]

Devotional

Day 1: Preach the Word with Courage
In a world where cultural trends and societal norms are constantly shifting, it is essential to remain unwavering in preaching the Word of God. The gospel of Jesus Christ is timeless, transcending generations because God Himself is unchanging. Our task is to build the church according to His instructions, not based on our own ideas of what might be beneficial. This steadfastness in preaching ensures that the church remains rooted in truth, providing a solid foundation for believers to stand upon. [01:36]

2 Timothy 4:2-3 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions."

Reflection: In what ways can you courageously share the gospel in your daily interactions, even when it goes against the cultural grain?


Day 2: Embrace the Ordinary Means of Grace
God sanctifies His people through the ordinary means of grace, which include the preaching of the Word, sacraments, prayer, praise, and church discipline. These means are not just for our beautification but ultimately for the glory of Christ, conforming us to His likeness. By engaging with these practices, believers are drawn closer to God and transformed into the image of Christ. It is through these ordinary means that God works extraordinary change in the lives of His people. [03:08]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate the ordinary means of grace into your daily routine this week?


Day 3: The Church as a Community for Growth
The church is the God-designed context where the means of grace operate. In an age marked by rampant individualism, it is crucial to remember the importance of the church community. Christianity is not a solitary journey but a communal one, where believers are brought into the body of Christ and learn together the vastness of God's love. The church is the primary context for spiritual growth and maturity, where believers are equipped for ministry and protected from false doctrines. [05:53]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: What steps can you take to deepen your involvement in your church community and contribute to its growth?


Day 4: The Necessity of Fellowship
The early church understood the necessity of fellowship, as seen in Acts 2, where new believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. This communal aspect is not just a tradition but a biblical mandate that honors the institution established by Christ. The church is the common mother of all believers, nurturing and guiding them in faith. This corporate, covenantal understanding of the church was a hallmark of the Reformation and remains essential today. [15:35]

Acts 2:42 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Reflection: How can you prioritize fellowship with other believers in your life, and what impact do you think it will have on your spiritual journey?


Day 5: Commitment to the Local Church
In a world that often exalts individualism, the church stands as a testament to the power and safety found in community. We must commit to the local church, where the Word is faithfully preached, sacraments are rightly administered, and God's praise is sung. The church is not just a gathering of like-minded individuals but a diverse family united in Christ, demonstrating to the world the reality of God's love. [19:59]

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take to strengthen your commitment to your local church and its mission?

Quotes


But we are called principally, and principally, to “preach the word in season and out of season,” or more literally, to preach the word in good times and in bad times, not to be swayed by the culture in which we live, to take note of it, but not to be shaped by it or dominated by it when times are good or when times are bad. [00:01:01]

What we need always to understand is that the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ is trans-generational for one, basic, simple reason. God himself is trans-generational. And so we must therefore learn to build God’s church in the ways God has given to us, and not in ways that we think might best serve the good of the church. [00:01:36]

It’s the conviction of Reformed churches that God saves and sanctifies—that is to say, beautifies—his people, principally and preeminently, by the ordinary means of grace. And these ordinary means of grace as they’re called—although they’re actually extraordinary—have historically been understood as the word of God preached and heard, the sacraments of the gospel faithfully administered, prayer, singing God’s praise, and church discipline. [00:02:48]

In all of these ordinary means of grace, God’s ultimate purpose—and if we miss this, we actually miss what the gospel is ultimately all about. In all of this, God’s ultimate purpose concerns the glory of his Son first, not the beautifying of his children. God is intent on beautifying his children, but his redeemed children’s beautification or sanctification is his proximate and not his ultimate purpose. [00:03:28]

The church is the supreme, if not only, context in which the means of grace operate to our sanctification. Working through the Spirit and by his word, God uses the means of grace for the gathering in of his elect and their subsequent edification and sanctification. To that end, the risen Lord endowed his church with all kinds of spiritual gifts. [00:08:07]

Paul could write to the Ephesians—Ephesians 3, verse 19, that it is only together with all the saints that we can learn how high, and wide, and deep, and broad is the love of God. It is only together with all the saints—not atomistically, not individualistically. Paul is not decrying or dismissing personal individual religion, far from it. [00:07:17]

The early church understood that the Christian life was not to be lived atomistically, but to be lived in communion. It’s interesting that the word, our English word, “fellowship,” or “communion,” is from the Greek word koinonia. And often in classical Greek, koinonia was used to describe the marriage relationship—that intimate union of husband and wife. [00:16:06]

The church is the common mother of all the godly, which bares, nourishes, and governs in the Lord both kings and commoners, or presidents and commoners, if you like, and this is done by the ministry. Calvin is simply echoing the teaching of God’s word. The great means of grace are located within the fellowship and ministry of Christ’s church. [00:14:15]

There is not only safety in community. There is power in community as we embrace the one institution. “I will build my church,” said Jesus, “and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Now some will say, “Well, he’s speaking there of the invisible church.” But the only church we have anything to do with is the visible church. [00:19:51]

If it’s a church where the word of God is faithfully preached and rightly heard, where the sacraments of Christ are faithfully administered, where there is godly church discipline, where God’s praise is sung, and where prayers are offered up to God, then that’s a true church of Jesus Christ. The Lord in his wisdom has set the ordinary means of grace supremely, if not only, within the context of the fellowship of the church. [00:20:46]

Justifying grace, not only brings you into saving union with Jesus Christ, it brings you into the fellowship off his body, the church. You can choose your friends, but you don’t choose your family. And one of the glories of the church—I minister in Cambridge in England and there isn’t a Sunday I don’t look out and see 14, 15 different nationalities, pasty white like me, black, brown, Asian—it’s one of the most thrilling experiences of my life to see how the disparateness of our backgrounds, our cultures, our colors, are unified in Christ. [00:21:52]

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “By this, as you love one another, will the world see that the Father has sent me.” In our next lecture, we will develop this note by considering what are called the ordinary means of grace, which as I hope we will see, they are actually extraordinary. [00:22:42]

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Transcript
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