Various Passages

Below is a sermon manuscript from November 2, 2025. Watch the sermon here.

Introduction

We saved this for the last one to focus on specifically. Throughout the series, we have said that our Christian lives are more than just for the church. This is true, but it’s also not less than life in the church. We have also said that many of our callings are situated adequately in creational realities and how we work alongside those who disagree with us on a variety of issues, and can bring a positive impact in doing so. But the church —and we would include elements of the home —are redemptive communities. The church is comprised of those whom Jesus has rescued; its very foundation is redemptive. 

The Bible uses the imagery of adoption. We are adopted into a new family. The church reflects this reality.

Read Ephesians 4:1-16

The Gathered Church Encourages and Equips

It is most unfortunate that this calling, meant to encourage and build up Christians, has been a source of harm. This has been true of abusive pastors and bully pulpits. Of course, the other side of this often goes overlooked as well, that is, churches can be the cause of great harm to pastors and church leaders as well. The result of this kind of culture can be Christians who avoid and rob themselves of the blessing of church community and church leaders who tell people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. Both fall into the error. The church and its leaders are not above critique, for sure. We will talk about this more in a bit. But abuse does not take away use. Sin can obscure the beauty and wonder of the church. But God can and still does work in gracious ways through His church.

As we hear in the words of the prophet Isaiah (5:20), woe to those who call evil good and good evil. We should rightly call out sin when it exists in our midst, but we should also be careful not to throw the church as a whole into the category of evil. We are warned not to neglect meeting together, listen to the words of Hebrews 10:24-25,

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ 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.^[1]

The gathered church gathers

Look at the words of 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

¹² 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. ¹³ 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. 

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? ¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, ²⁴ which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, ²⁵ that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. 

And I will show you a still more excellent way.^[2]

First, one of our callings as church members is to gather with other Christians. There is a sense where every Christian is a church member. We see in Ephesians 4 that we are placed into the body of Christ by the Spirit. This is often referred to as being a part of the universal church. The universal church refers to all Christians everywhere. But those who are a part of the universal church are called to gather with other Christians in local expressions of the universal church, the local church. Blue Course Community Church is one example of that. We will talk more about church membership in a local church later, but for now, I will say that being a member of the universal church is a spiritual reality that is made evident in the local church.

Some claim to belong to the universal church but never gather with other Christians in local expressions of Christ’s church. Some of this may be because of hurt or difficulty, as we mentioned, and it may be appropriate for a season for those deeply wounded, but the goal is always to reengage. Some use the image of marriage as an analogy. It doesn’t make sense for someone to say, “I’m married, just to no one in particular.” 

The gathered church encourages.

Another aspect that we see throughout the Hebrews passage is that the church is to encourage one another. How does this take place practically? There are almost countless ways that we can encourage one another. But think about something that every Christian can do. Show up. Being present for one another is an encouragement. It also proclaims the worthiness of Jesus to one another. It is worth showing up to worship Jesus. He matters. Do you get encouraged when you see similar faces each week? I know I do. C.S. Lewis wrote a book called The Screwtape Letters. It is an older demon giving advice to a younger demon. It’s a creative look into spiritual realities. One of the letters he addresses to the local church. He says that it can be used as a weapon when people don’t recognize it for what it is. When they see their neighbors in all their flaws in seats next to them instead of precious members of Christ’s Kingdom. When we recognize the church for what it is and one another for who we are as fellow members of Christ’s body, it is powerful.

The church encourages being present and also actively pursuing the Lord. We can undermine this beauty in how we act and behave. The church, like a Christian family, is unique in our callings. It is a redemptive and grace-filled community. But when we lack grace, when we don’t desire to live for the Lord, this can detract from this calling. But when we are all pulling in the same direction, regardless of how well we are doing personally, it can encourage and challenge us.

But we can also have specific actions of encouragement as well. Taking time to notice and personally encourage the good in another. Writing notes of encouragement. Letting someone know we are praying for them and then following up with the prayer request.

The gathered church equips

Ephesians 4 in verses 11-12 states, And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,^[3]

Certain offices were given, today the office of pastor/elder, in order for Christians – that is what the word saints is getting at – for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ. We could say it like this: church leaders operate as coaches, getting the team ready to play. The way the church is built up, as we see, is in the truth of God and avoiding error. 

The church is built up by one another.

Each of us is called to be a part of this, and each of us brings something unique to the table. The church isn’t a business united in a slogan or objective. It is Christ-bought people who are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and bound together in the love of God. God gave us one another – on purpose – for our good. 

The Gathered Church Supports and Holds Accountable

Leaders support and serve the church, and the church supports and serves the mission.

Leadership in the church, like in the home, is sacrificial servant leadership. Leaders in the church do not lord over others, but lead by their example – in Scripture, we are given character qualifications for church offices. They are also called to be able to teach; this does not mean that they are experts in the latest teaching methods, but that they understand the Word of God enough to teach it accurately. One of the qualifications for elders, specifically, is to be able to guard the church from false teaching. We see this in Titus 1:9. As we saw in Ephesians 1, we have unity in the Spirit, and we are called to maintain that unity. We don’t create it, but we can wreck it. One way that unity is corrupted is through false teaching. False teaching divides the body of Christ. False teachers were among the churches even as Scripture was being written. Some crept in and tried to gain audiences for themselves and undermined the Apostle Paul. What’s important to note about these false teachers is that it doesn’t appear they had much accountability structure. 

Accountability is voluntary

So many today voluntarily sign up and pay for a trainer to hold them accountable. But we can miss the importance of doing this in our spiritual life. 

One aspect that we need to stress when it comes to local churches is that accountability is important, but is gained through voluntary action. Here is what I mean. You can attend a church without becoming a member. But doing so means less opportunity for the church to hold you accountable. God has given the church the ability to practice church discipline. But in order for this practice to be more fully lived out, church membership is important. In church membership, an individual is voluntarily placing themselves under the authority of the doctrine and leadership of a particular local church. Elders know who they are accountable to before God, and members know to whom they are accountable and have the ability to hold the church accountable through the power of membership. 

Church membership is our opportunity to grasp hold of each other in responsibility and love. By identifying ourselves with a particular church, we let the pastors and other members know that we intend to be committed in attendance, giving, prayer, and service. We allow fellow believers to have greater expectations of us in these areas, and we make it known that we are the responsibility of the local church. We assure the church of our commitment to Christ in serving with them, and we call for their commitment to serve and encourage us as well.^[4]

 Accountable to the doctrine and leadership

I mentioned that you are placing yourself as accountable to the doctrine and leadership. This does not mean you will agree with everything that is said. But it does mean that you are voluntarily submitting yourself to the doctrine of the church. It also means that in areas where the doctrine statement intentionally gives latitude, you are disagreeing with charity and love. 

Leaders are accountable to God and the congregation

Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

One of the benefits and beauties of God’s design for the church is the mutual accountability. We see the Bereans searching the Scriptures to make sure that what Paul taught was true. We also see in James the charge that teachers in the church will be held to a greater account. Since they have a great influence, it can be used for good or it can be leveraged for evil. Many, perhaps even in this congregation, have experienced spiritual abuse. We should be clear that leadership or even church discipline isn’t abuse, some expand this to mean any exercise of authority as we have said before, absus no tollit usum. Abuse does not take away use. But on the opposite side, just because this can be overplayed, doesn’t mean it can’t happen. 

Here are a couple of ways that I am trying to be held accountable. The annual sermon schedule is ran through the elders. I am working on transferring my ordination to the EFCA, our association, so that my credentialing is contingent on alignment with the association to which this local church belongs. This means that if I step outside the bounds of what is permitted in the EFCA, not only are there measures that can be taken as a local church, but this can also be brought to the association so that my credentials are stripped. You can ensure that I can’t damage or lead other EFCA churches astray with my teaching. 

The Gathered Church Sends

Most of what we have looked at so far has focused on the church gathered. But each week we end the service by saying “Blue Course Community Church, you are sent.” There is a distinction that can be made between the church gathered and the church sent. This is closely related to the idea of the church as an institution and the church as an organism. The church, unlike the state, is redemptive. It shares the good news of Jesus. It lives according to the Spirit, thereby transcending the law. Martin Luther wrote, “Tell a Christian to do good works, you might as well tell an apple tree to bear apples, it’s just what they do.” This is normative for Christians, and we are also invited to share about the freedom that is found in Jesus. But, as we have seen in this series, we live as Christians not only in our proclamation, but in our concern for those in need, for our good work, for our various involvements in this life. Still, the distinctiveness should not be undersold, either. We do have an everlasting hope. Our sending includes good works, and it includes being ambassadors of the good news. 

Sent for good works

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

We are sent to live for Jesus in all of life. This is what the local church does as we are equipped. As we love one another and learn from one another, we then go into all the areas of life where God has us, and we live for Him. Others are praying for us as we do this. Others help us in our tasks. 

I think of even one particular calling for some in this room and how others have helped them. The young families are not sent alone. There are so many within this congregation who volunteer time, tasks, and so much more to support the families in our midst. Not only that but many of the older members of our congregation have made prayer lists of all the kids in the congregation so they can pray for them by name. 

Sent to share good news

We are also sent to share good news. We see a prototype of this in Luke 10, where Jesus calls the 72, gathers them, equips them, and sends them out. We see this in the call of Christians to be witnesses in Acts 1:8 and to make disciples of all nations in Matthew 28. Without people being sent, we see in Romans 10, how can anyone know the good news of Jesus Christ? But the beauty of the local church is that we gather to worship the God who saves, and we are equipped, supported, encouraged, and held accountable. But that is not all. We are sent out so that all might know the hope that exists in Jesus. 

We desire that more and more people will come to a local church to praise the God who saved them. This is what we celebrate this morning. Jesus paid it all. He laid down his life for His bride, the church.

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^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 10:24–25.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Co 12:12–31.

^[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 4:11–12.

^[4] Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Fourth Edition, 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 135.

^[5] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Co 15:58.