John 15:12-17 – Love each other

Pastor Odens spoke on John 15:12-17 this past Sunday. He explained and applied Jesus’ command to love each other.

Big Idea: Christ calls every believer to engage in nonstop love for every other Christian.

Three characteristics of that love:

1. Self sacrifice (13)

2. Openness (14-15) you are my friends

3. Commitment (16) I chose you

It would be worth you time to listen to this command that we often neglect. Do so here

Internet Church 2.0

Series Intro: What is a New Testament church? It is not a building. It is not a social club. It is not something you “do.”  Screen Shot 2013-07-16 at 11.12.14 AM

OverviewPart2Part3; Part4Part 5Part 6; Part 7

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

—————————————————

The preceding study has led us to an important question: “Can you have a purely online church?”

This is an important question not only because of where we are headed in this technological age, but where we already are. Believers around the world are coming together online. Are these gatherings NT local churches?

First, let’s consider the positive aspects of an “online church” (Many of these were offered by the technologically savvy at Liberty Baptist)

  • Easy to watch so it can be evangelistic
  • There can be continuity for those who move, have to travel, or are sick
  • Accessible
  • Affordable (no building is necessary to maintain, no expense for gas to drive in)
  • Safer for those in persecuting countries
  • Cross Cultural and Worldwide
  • Discipleship and Missions can be faster and cheaper
  • There is a wider selection to chose from
  • Translated easily
  • Not awkward to have to get up and leave
  • Not as attached

Now, let’s consider the negative aspects of an “online church”

  • No physical contact
  • Power outages
  • No physical outreach to your community
  • What about time zones?
  • Lack of accountability and commitment
  • Government tracking
  • Who leads?
  • How can you fellowship?
  • Church Discipline and discipleship cannot be exercised effectively
  • Some don’t have the technology

Now that we got those out of the way, let’s deal with realities. (So often discussions get clogged up with positive or negative results instead of dealing with truth claims. None of the positive elements make any difference if it can’t be a church, and none of the negative elements should stop us from calling it a “church” if that is in reality what it is.)

According to my definition – which we are still able to argue about if you want – a NT local church is composed of these essential components:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

Now, which of these can we have online and which can we not?

  • You can have gospel believing individuals
  • They could have been baptized, but in order to be baptize the church has to stop being online and has to be physically present at some point.
  • They can covenant together
  • They can regularly meet around God’s Word
  • They can have legitimate leadership
  • In order to administer baptism and the Lord’s Table the church has to stop being online and has to be physically present at some point.
    • Baptism – see above
    • Lord’s Table – How is this distorting the picture of Christ’s death if we mail out the elements?

 

Can you have an actual online “church”? I would answer, No. At some point it has to come offline (baptism and Lord’s Supper). Can you have a church that primarily meets online? Yes, you can.

Now the question is, is that what is best for you?

You can have an online church in the same way you can have an online family. You can have a father who lives in China, a mother in South Africa, and children scattered throughout South America. Is it possible? Yes. Is it healthy, vibrant, and how it is meant to be? No. Why? Because that is not how we were made by God. We were made with physical bodies to be physically present in one place.

Jesus has given this incredible reality called the New Testament local church. It can have spots. It can have wrinkles and warts and less desirable parts, but it His Bride. He died for it and is giving it life.

How would you answer the question?

A picture is worth a thousand words: NT Church.7

Series Intro: What is a New Testament church? It is not a building. It is not a social club. It is not something you “do.”  NT Church.7

OverviewPart2Part3; Part4Part 5; Part 6

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

—————————————————

Let’s take a look at the sixth essential component of a NT local church: Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

We have already considered Baptism here, so this post will focus on the Lord’s Table

A. Different views

  • Real Presence – the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation)
  • Sacramental Union – Christ is supernaturally present along side the bread and wine (consubstantiation)
  • Real Spiritual Presence – the real spiritual presence of Christ is present during the meal
  • Ordinance – Christ is remembered during the meal

B. Paul in 1 Cor 11:17-34 (The following outline was taken from Bauder, Kevin T. Baptist Distinctives and New Testament Church Order. Schaumburg: Regular Baptist Press, 2012.)

The Lord’s Table provides believers with the opportunity for a crucial look:

  • A look back to the cross of Christ (11:23-24)
  • A look up to the risen Christ (1 Cor 15:1-8)
  • A look around at those who are part of the body of Christ (11:17-20, 33)
  • A look within at sin (11:27-32)
  • A look forward to the return of Christ (11:26)

A NT Church has the unique privilege and responsibility of visually enacting the Gospel in two ways – Baptism and Lord’s Table. These cannot be taken lightly. As a body we come together to remember, celebrate, and proclaim Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and return. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. We need to hear and see the Gospel more than we realize.

Who’s Who: NT Church.6

Series Intro: What is a New Testament church? It is not a building. It is not a social club. It is not something you “do.”  NT Church.5

OverviewPart2Part3; Part4; Part 5

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

—————————————————

Let’s take a look at the fifth essential component of a NT local church: Under legitimate leadership

A brief outline of NT references will have to suffice for our short summary here:

A. Led by elders

  • Terms (Titus 1:5-7 and 1 Peter 5:1-2). There are three overlapping terms used for this man: Elder, Pastor, Overseer
  • Responsibilities (Eph 4:11-16; 2 Tim 4:1-5).
  • Requirements (1 Tim 3:1-7).

B. Served by deacons

  • Responsibilities (Acts 6:1-7).
  • Requirements (1 Tim 3:8-13).

Oprah’s Book Club doesn’t cut it : NT Church.5

Series Intro: What is a New Testament church? It is not a building. It is not a social club. It is not something you “do.”  NT Church.5

OverviewPart2Part3; Part4

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

—————————————————

Let’s take a look at the fourth essential component of a NT local church: Regularly meeting around God’s Word

Here is a question for you. What if we treated Tolkien’s work, The Hobbit, like we treat the Bible? We would pick up a portion here and there. We may do a word study on “second breakfast,” or a character study on Gollum. We may take seven weeks to walk with Bilbo through the forest, or have a special seminar on “Giant Spiders in Your Life.” Most likely we would never get around to reading the whole story. What a shame.

What is involved in meeting around God’s Word?

A. Consistent Expository Preaching (from the shepherds)

  • NT Example (Heb 13:7; Acts 20:26-27 [Neh 8:8]; 1 Tim 4:13)
  • Reasoning – If Scripture is sufficient (2 Tim 3:16-17), shouldn’t we take time to know it?
  • Here is where we often go astray. We like to hear the nice stuff. Our ears are itching for keys for the good life, 3 steps to my best life, or living like it were Friday every day. But that doesn’t cut it. Storms will come, and fluff doesn’t last long in a storm.
  • An example can be seen in one of the major food groups, cookies. A sad lesson I had to learn as a child was that you can’t have cookies without bitter ingredients. Take out the baking soda, vanilla, salt, butter, and flower and you are left with sugar and chocolate chips. You don’t have a cookie. However, if you have the right mixture you have what is called “magic.” Consistent expository preaching makes sure you get all the ingredients, imprecatory prayers and all.

B. Dedicated Study of its Theology

  • NT Example – 2 Pet 3:14-18
  • Reasoning – God has revealed himself through creation (Ps 19), Jesus (John 14:9; Heb 1:1-2), and His Word (2 Tim 3:16-17)
  • Don’t short cut deep study for three easy points. Our Sunday Schools/Small Groups/Bible Studies should not be focused on “What does this mean to you?” but on “What does this tell us about our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ?”

C. Inter-Personal Gracious Admonishment (one to another)

  • NT Example – Col 3:16; 2 Thess 3:15; Rom 15:14
  • Reasoning – we are sinners in need of God’s grace in order to grow (Eph 4:12-16)
  • “Admonishment” – telling a brother in Christ that he is either being stupid or sinful, and needs to look to Christ. (You may want to look up “tact” before you do too much of that)

D. Obeying

  • NT Example – 2 Thess 3:13-15
  • Reasoning – Merely hearing the Word is not sufficient (Jas 1:22-25)

What other practices would you add?

“Secret Password, Please.” NT Church.4

Series Intro: What is a New Testament church? It is not a building. It is not a social club. It is not something you “do.” NT Church.4

OverviewPart2; Part3;

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

—————————————————

Let’s take a look at the third essential component of a NT local church: Recognizably covenanting together

A covenant is an agreement. In this case, it is an agreement between believers in Jesus Christ to fulfill the Lord’s commands and the one another passages of the NT. When I covenant with you and others to be part of a NT church, I am stating that I will love you, protect you, admonish you, pray for you, minister to you, confront you, etc. I am also asking the others to do so for me.

Why would we say that there needs to be a recognizable covenant between these baptized believers?

First, because the NT shows this was the case.

A. In the NT, ”Disciples” and “Church” were interchangeable (1 Cor 1:2,10; 1 Thess 1:1,4; 2 Thess 1:1,3; Phil 1:1; 4:15 Col 4:15,16). When Paul addressed a church he was addressing individual believers. When he was addressing believers, he was assuming they were in the church.

B. In the NT, The Disciples were part of specific churches (Acts 13:1; 3 John 10; Rev 1:4,11; 2:10,23; etc.).

C. In the NT, The elders were responsible for specific churches (Acts 13:1; 14:23; 20:17; 16:4; Jas 5:14; 1 Pet 5:1-3; Phil 1:1 cf. 3:17; 4:9). This demonstrates that the elders had certain individuals over which they had to exercise care. They would have to give an account (Heb 13).

D. In the NT, Churches accepted members from other churches (Paul – Acts 9:17-29; 11:25,26; 13:1-3; Barnabas – Acts 4:32, 34-37; 9:27; 11:22-26; 13:1-3; Apollos- Acts 18:27,28; General- 2 Cor 3:1; Rom 16:1,2)

Second, without a recognizable line, one cannot restrict access or expel those who Christ has restricted.

A. Logically: A boundary clarifies those who are in, and clarifies those who are out. Try kicking someone out of a group that doesn’t exist.You have to have a group to kick them out of it.

B. Biblically: The NT demonstrates the existence of a boundary marker Acts 2:44-45; 2:41, 47; 4:4 (Acts 5:1-11); 6:1-2; 11:22, 26; 12:5; 13:1; 14:27; 15:3, 4; Heb 13:17; 1 Cor 5:13

 

The church is the Body of Christ made up of those individuals who have been redeemed, baptized, and are now covenanting together.

What other evidences of this would you add?

 

Helpful resources:

Anyabwile, Thabiti M. What Is a Healthy Church Member? Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.
Leeman, Jonathan. Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus. 1st ed. Crossway, 2012.
Harris, Joshua. Why Church Matters: Discovering Your Place in the Family of God. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Multnomah Books, 2011.

Spritzing, Splashing, Dunking, and other forms of getting wet: The NT Church.3

Series Intro: What is a New Testament church? It is not a building. It is not a social club. It is not something you “do.” NT Church.3

OverviewPart2

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

—————————————————

Let’s take a look at the second essential component of a NT local church: Baptized in demonstration of their conversion

A common questions is as follows: “Should someone who has been sprinkled be re-baptized?” Lets take a look at what baptism is, and then answer that question afterwards.

Kevin Bauder did an excellent job at succinctly defining these points in Bauder, Kevin T. Baptist Distinctives and New Testament Church Order. Schaumburg: Regular Baptist Press, 2012. Much of the following outline, if not taken from, was influenced by that work.

To be baptized according to the New Testament, you need the:

A. Right Subject: those professing belief (Acts 16:31-34). One is not baptized for their salvation, but in demonstration of their salvation. It is an outward action symbolizing an inward reality.

B. Right Meaning:

  • I am in Christ – As Christ Died, was buried, and rose again, so am I. (Rom 6:3-5; Gal 3:27 [water baptism is a picture of spiritual baptism])
  • I am with Christ (his disciple) (John 12:23-26 [following Jesus])
  • I am obedient to Christ (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; 10:48) In, following, and obeying Christ

C. Right Mode:

  • Immersion (John 3:23; Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38)
  • Symbolism: All other forms – sprinkling, pouring, or trine immersion do not convey the picture baptism was meant to symbolize, so cannot be considered a true, or real, baptism as adopted by the NT church.

D. Right Administrator: the Local Church

  • Jesus commanded baptism from his disciples and the disciples of his disciples (Matt 28:19-20).
  • Because the local church is the way in which the Universal Church can be seen, it confuses the matter when baptism is performed outside the local church. (If you are baptized but not part of a local church, how can you really claim to be part of Christ’s Body?)

So, “Should someone who has been sprinkled be re-baptized?” If the above evaluation is correct, there is no such thing as “re-baptism.” The individual should be baptized, what they did the first time was get wet.

The church is the Body of Christ made up of those individuals who have been redeemed and publicly baptized in demonstration of that belief. Let’s not forget that.

What other evidences of this would you add?

Paul wasn’t writing to babies, bunnies, or blasphemers: The NT Church.2

Series Intro: What is a New Testament church? It is not a building. It is not a social club. It is not something you “do.”

NT Church.2

Overview

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table

—————————————————

Let’s take a look at the first essential component of a NT local church: Gospel believing individuals

A. Gospel:

  • The reason this is the first word of the first sentence of the description is deliberate. The church is centered on the Gospel.  Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection on behalf of sinners is the foundation of faith. It is the bond which is deeper than race, thicker than blood, and stronger than any other tie.
  • Galatians 1 is clear. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by God the Father (1) after giving himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age (4). If any man or angel attempts to preach another gospel besides that of Jesus Christ, let him be accursed (6-9).

B. Believing Individuals:

  • Not unbelievers. It is true that we cannot tell the heart and therefore cannot judge the soul, but we are commanded to judge actions (1 Cor 5). They must profess Christ as Savior and practice obedience to Him. Paul routinely called those in the church to whom he was writing, “Saints” and reiterated their partnership in the gospel (Eph 1; Phil 1:1-11; Col 1:1-8; etc.)
  • Not pre-believers. It may be true that our children will grow up to be believers, but they have yet to believe. Saul (later Paul) was not accepted into the church until he had professed Christ. It was in God’s foreordained plan to save him, however there had to be a point in time where he went from unbeliever to believer.
  • Not non-humans. This may seem ridiculous, but not in light of our definitions of other institutions. (Plus, at my grandfather’s funeral someone showed up and tried to check their dog into the nursery. True story.) Christ came to redeem all things, but not all things are accepted into our church. I squish spiders and set traps for mice. They may be “in” the church building, but they are not allowed “in” the church.

The church is the Body of Christ made up of those individuals who have been redeemed. Let’s not forget that.

What other evidences of this would you add?

Why you don’t just “do” church: Essential Components of a New Testament Church

 “My family and I are our own church.” “I will be having church with my buddies on the golf course this Sunday!” “I am the church.” “I am going to church.” All of these statements reveal something about what an individual believes a church to be.

Many believe that a church is defined by a building – so they go to church. Some would suggest that a church is such because it has been given that title by the government, or some other entity. Some would call any gathering of believers a church. Others see the universal church as the only reality, and therefore any visible local gathering is just an extra.

IMG_2085

But is this the picture that the New Testament paints?

I would suggest that there are certain components which must be part of any assembly which would call itself a biblical “church.” Without these you cannot have a church:

  1. Gospel believing individuals
  2. Baptized in demonstration of their conversion
  3. Recognizably covenanting together
  4. Regularly meeting around God’s Word
  5. Under legitimate leadership
  6. Administering Baptism and the Lord’s Table 

 

I would like to go to one passage to demonstrate the existence of these. The dangerous part of this endeavor is that I am selecting a passage that shows the church in it’s seminal form. At this point the seed has just burst, and the seedling is beginning to grow. As of yet the branches, leaves, and fruit cannot be clearly distinguished. I believe, however, that this early description of the church points us in the right direction as we continue to study the New Testament.

Acts 2:37-47: “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ 38 And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’ 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

  1. Who is the “they” in vs 42? Those who had believed the Gospel (37-41)
  2. What had they done following their belief? They were baptized (41)
  3. How did they view themselves? As being added to a group (41)
  4. What was their focus? The apostles’ teaching (42)

What we don’t find specifically mentioned here are the final two components: legitimate leadership and administering the Lord’s ordinances. If we look further, however, I believe there is reason to believe they are present.

In the context, who is exercising leadership by teaching? The apostles. We see as well in chapter 6 that the apostles were in leadership over the growing church. A complaint came to them, they were involved in preaching the word of God, and they led the rest of the believers to make a decision.

What was a common practice of the early church? fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. The reference to the breaking of bread is not restricted to the Lord’s Table, but is most likely includes it. We also have seen in this passage the administration of baptism.

These are the six components of a local church. You can have one of these, and still not have a church. You need each of them.

This is not to say that every element must be present at every gathering. For example, if there is no baptism or celebration of the Lord’s Table at a given gathering, the assembly does not cease to be a church. So also when a church loses a pastor, it does not cease to be a church. But to continue without these, and the intention of once again returning to them, the church quickly becomes simply a Bible study group.

It also does not mean that these components look the same in every context. In North America, membership is often a written record. In persecuted cultures, however, this is extremely unwise and dangerous. In my situation, a building is often associated with the congregation, but I have a feeling that will change in the coming years.

What is this all suppose to mean? I want to clarify the essential components of a local church so you can be sure to be part of a key factor in your sanctification. This will be expanded upon in future posts.

What do you think? Would you add any or subtract any as you understand the New Testament?