Church Covenant Study Our Church Covenant, Lesson 3 "We engage…to promote its prosperity and spirituality."
1. To promote its prosperity Promote: "to advance, further"
When does a church member "prosper"? a. The church at Jerusalem prospered after Pentecost Acts 2:41,42, 47 " 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." What was happening in this prospering church? 1. Sinners were hearing the Gospel and being saved 2. Saved people were being baptized 3. Believers were coming into church membership in droves 4. They were continuing in sound doctrine 5. The church enjoyed wonderful fellowship 6. They observed the Lord’s Supper 7. They prayed together continually 8. God was being praised 9. The church had the respect of the people b. The church at Laodicea wasn’t prospering Revelation 3:16-17 "16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." What was happening in this church that didn’t prosper? 1. Lukewarm: no real concern, indifference, half-way Christian living and half-hearted service 2. She thought she was rich (prospered materially) 3. She felt no need (self-sufficient) She was actually: 1. Wretched – really unhappy, inadequate 2. Miserable - neither in or out 3. Poor – had the least of what she needed most 4. Blind – couldn’t see the real mission she had in the world 5. Naked – bare of the true righteousness of God – wore fig leaves like Adam & Eve What this church need for her to really prosper: Revelation 3:18-19 "18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." 1. Gold tried in the fire – some tested service (I Peter 1:7)
2. White raiment – some real godly living (Revelation 19:8)
3. Eyesalve for her eyes (Ephesians 1:18)
4. To repent Are you promoting the prosperity of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church? II. To Promote its Spirituality When is a church spiritual? A. Outward emotional activity does not necessarily mean spirituality. There was plenty of emotional activity on Mt. Carmel (I Kings 18:26, 28), but no response (from Baal)
B. Tears do not necessarily denote spirituality (Matthew 26:75). Peter had just denied the Lord thrice, cursed and then wept bitter tears as a result.
C. Church at Corinth called a carnal church I Corinthians 3:1 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." What was going on in this church? 1. There were contentions 2. They were yet babies in Christ – not developing 3. Envyings 4. Strife 5. Divisions over preachers 6. Fornication unrebuked 7. Defrauding each other D. A church is spiritual when her members bear spiritual fruit Galatians 5:22-23 "22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Are you promoting a spiritual environment within Bethel MBC? "We engage…to sustain its worship, ordinances" Sustain: "to support, maintain, keep up." I. Sustain the worship of the church 1. Acts 24:14 " 14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets."
Much of worship is belief – faith in what we are doing. Without faith, it is impossible to please God! Religious activity without faith is mockery John 4:22-24 "22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." 2. How do we sustain worship? a. Be there (Hebrews 10:25)
Can’t have much faith in a thing if we are not willing to be a part of it. b. Take part in its activities Can’t maintain it and expect others to do all the work. Too much talk about what they do down at the church.
Too much talk about what it wrong with the church, etc. c. Take an interest in the condition of the house of worship d. Encourage others to attend its worship services II. Sustain the ordinances of the church Ordinance: "religious rite or ceremony." The New Testament church is not strong on ceremony; only two commanded in the Scriptures. 1. Baptism – a figure picturing the gospel of salvation (I Peter 3:21)
How do I sustain it? a. By urging its scriptural usage. b. By urging its necessity upon believers c. By doing honor to the profession you have made personally via baptism. 2. Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:26)
How do I sustain it? a. By observing it for its scriptural purpose – "to show (declare) the Lord’s death" b. By using scriptural elements (Mark 14:22-23)
c. By observing it in scriptural capacity (I Corinthians 11:18,20)
(There should be no divisions among us) d. By observing it in a proper manner (I Corinthians 11:27) "We engage…to sustain…its discipline and doctrines." I. To sustain discipline in the church Discipline: "to cause church members to render strict obedience to God’s Word and to inflict punishment for disobedience." Matthew 18:17 "17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." I Corinthians 5:12 "12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?" Matthew 16:18-19 "18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." How can I sustain it? 1. By encouraging my brethren in what it right and discouraging them in what is wrong 2. By standing firmly behind my church and pastor when disciplinary action is taken II. Sustain the doctrines of my church Doctrine is important I Timothy 4:12-13"12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." A. What is the doctrine of my church? 1. The Scriptures: The Old Testament are done away with a rule of faith and practice (Luke 16:16), but the New Testament governs the New Testament church of Jesus Christ
(I Timothy 3:16).
2. Any "declaration of faith" is simply a declaration – of what we believe the Scriptures to teach. Our church should be bound ONLY by the Scriptures.
3. Jesus rebuked those who followed decrees of men Matthew 15:9 "9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." B. How do I sustain it? 1. Know it Ephesians 4:14 "14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." 2. Believe it It is virtually impossible to practice what we do not believe and this is not merely a mental matter. Romans 6:17 "17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." 3. Teach it Titus 2:1 "1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:" Titus 1:9 "9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers ."
4. Do it Acts 2:42 " 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Titus 2:7 " 7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity."
Bethel MBC 10/15/08
Lesson # 3
