BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 3

Membership Matters

Belonging Where You Belong

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:37, 41-47

August 16, 2015

 

Have you ever been in a place or situation where you were very uncomfortable? There have been at least two of those occasions that I remember very well where I felt like a complete outsider. When I was a young teenager the church to which I belonged was kind enough to send me to a camp for a few days. It was one of those situations where if I had said no it would seem that I was ungrateful for the opportunity the church had provided. The first day was fine because my pastor was there for the beginning ceremonies but had to leave afterwards. There I was in a strange place not knowing anyone. I was going to be there for the duration of the camp. To say the least I would have rather have been anywhere else of the face of the earth than where I was. Others, who were not as introverted as I was, would have probably have made friends very quickly. To add insult to injury I had forgotten to take swimming trunks and could not join into some of the water activities. As you can see I survived.

 

The second one involved a particular church itself. I was in the process of leaving one church and seeking another place to worship. There is a church very close to where we live and I hoped that I could find a church home there. From the very beginning there was a deep feeling that I just did not belong there. I was not comfortable in Bible Study, choir or the worship service. The people there did not do anything to indicate that it mattered to them whether I was there or not. My wife finally attended a worship service and felt totally out of place. These are two good examples of how an individual might feel being in a strange environment.

 

All of us have experienced going into a church that we would consider unfriendly. There are all kinds of ways a church can present itself as cold and uninviting. One of the things that consultants for churches do before they actually begin the formal consultation is to attend the church in question to see whether they would consider it a place in which they would fit in. Simple things like clear signage, friendly and helpful greeters and the general friendliness of the people speak volumes about the church. The first ten minutes on the property will often determine whether a guest will return for a second time. Those simple things are important if a person will become part of the body.

 

After the initial impression, there are a number of factors that will influence their decision. What we will be looking at today is how does a person connect to a body and continue to grow as a disciple of Christ. Before we get started, I would like to share just one definition of a disciple. It is found in the book, “Real Life Discipleship” by Jim Putman. It states, A disciple is one who is following Christ and is one who is being changed by Him and committed to Jesus’ mission to save people from their sin. A change must take place in the head and the heart to be committed to Christ.

 

 

Matthew 28:18

Jesus had won the victory over sin and death. No longer could the devil have authority over anyone’s life Jesus had claimed it because of the completion of His work. There was no place in the universe to which his rule did not extend.

 

1. What gave Jesus the right to the claim of being the final authority in the universe?
2. What does it mean for a person to have a position of authority?
3. Other than Jesus who are some examples of people in positions of authority?
4. What gives them authority?
5. Who had been in control of the cosmos prior to the death and resurrection of Christ?
6. What does the words of Christ mean to you?

 

Matthew 28:19a

Because of the authority He had been given by the Father, He had the right to command His disciples to go out into the world first to evangelize. The idea of “Telling” was discussed last week so there is no need to cover it further today. The one that can be emphasized is, it shows that it was not a command. The actual translation of the word go literally means that as a person is going about their daily lives they are to make disciples. The command in the verse is make disciples. Disciples are those who are involved in the life-long process of being transformed in mind and heart. That change will lead a person to first serve the Lord in the area of his or her giftedness. As one grows as a disciple he will then have a desire to bring others along with them. It is such a honor to see others grow in their relationship with Christ and others.

 

1. What did the authority of Jesus give him a right to do?
2. What did the word really mean for each of us?
3. What does it mean to become a disciple? (It is the process that begins with salvation, connecting with others, serving and ending with training others to walk with Christ.)
4. Where do you believe you are in the process?
5. Why can none of the steps be skipped? (Each person must grow in their own personal disciples to train others?

 

Matthew 28:19b

As mentioned above there is a process that truly makes a person a disciple. It begins with baptism. Baptism does not save a person but is the outward sign of the inward change of heart that has taken place in the life of a person. It is only the beginning. A person is not to stop growing at the point of conversion and baptism. To be baptized means that a person has become a part of the body of Christ. A new believer is like an ember in a fire that will die if it does not remain where it can draw on the energy from the other logs. Every believer both young and old must stay connected to the body. (See once again Hebrews 10:25)

 

1. What does baptism symbolize?
2. What should happen after a person becomes a believer? (He is to become a physical part of the body.)
3. What happens to those who do not remain in the body?
4. What does becoming part of a church allow to take place in a person’s life?
5. What do you think of the example I used to show what happens to a new believer?

 

Matthew 28:20

Learning cannot take place without one being a part of a group of fellow believers who are actively involved in becoming followers of Christ. They are the ones to whom Jesus commanded His disciples to teach. The teaching involved not only all the things the disciples had heard but, everything they had seen Jesus do. It was to include both knowledge and practical experience as well. Jesus’ final words were the ultimate picture of the relationships people in the body can have. He promised the disciples that He would be with them through the presence of the Holy Spirit for all times.

 

1. Where does the greatest learning experiences take place? (In small groups where people are transparent and accountable to each other.)
2. What is the problem with many of classes today? (They are a one-way street of providing information. Small groups are just the opposite with interaction among the participants.)
3. When do the things we learn become important in our lives? (When we are able to put them into practice.)
4. What was the promise that Jesus made that gives us assurance? (That He is always going to be with those who are His followers.)
5. When can we expect this to happen? (We are united in Worship and small groups learning to become His disciples and helping others along that path.)

 

Acts 2:37-38

When the people in Jerusalem heard and understood the part they had had in the death of Jesus and learning of His resurrection they only wanted to know one thing. It was what they could do to be saved from judgment. The answer given by Peter was, “Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Before anything else could happen in their lives they needed to deal with the issues of sin and conversion.

 

1. What struck at the heart of the people upon hearing the sermon preached by Peter in the preceding verses of chapter 2? (They understood their role in the crucifixion of Jesus.)
2. Why did they ask what they needed to do about their situation? (The Holy Spirit convicted them of their sin.)
3. What was the only answer to their dilemma?
4. What is the first step you need to take to become a Christian?
5. Why do some fail to ever grow in their faith? (They have been unwilling to deal with their sinful nature and therefore do not understand why God is not doing anything in their lives.)

 

Acts 2:41

Luke wrote they were willing to begin the process of becoming a part of the body. Believing the word that had been preached to them and were baptized. On the day of Pentecost three thousand souls were added to the body of Christ.

 

1. How were those early Christians just like us? (They heard and believed)
2. What does it mean to truly hear? (It results in believing the word of God.)
3. What is the result? (One believes and wants to become part of the body.)
4. In what ways is this only part of the picture? (One may respond based on emotion and not faith according to fact of the resurrection of Christ and soon drop away.)

 

Acts 2:42

Conversion was only the beginning of a life in Christ for the people who believed. They had a real hunger first of all for the teaching of the word of God. Because there was no place to hold three thousand people they began small groups in the homes of fellow believers. The basis of this new life was a devotion to the words of the apostles. Two other aspects that were important were the participation in common meals and prayer.

 

1. What do you consider the important elements of growth in your spiritual walk?
2. What do we see in the life of the early church that should be a model for our own fellowship?
3. What if anything, do you think may be lacking in the priorities that we set for the church today? (We all too often emphasize programs over real discipleship.)
4. What does a real fellowship look like?
5. What you believe is your part in helping people to grow as disciples?

 

Acts 2:43

There was in the midst of the believers a sense of awe as they witnessed all that was happening in their midst at the hands of the apostles.

 

1. What would it take for you to have a sense of God’s moving in our midst?
2. What part can you play in seeing it happen?
3. What part do you think that the fellowship found in small groups encourage such a sense of reverence and awe?
4. Would you be willing to be a part of a group that was devoted to God’s word and each other’s spiritual well being?

 

Acts 2:44-47

In the church of Jerusalem there was such a oneness of spirit in everything they did from worshipping in the temple to spending a great deal of time together in joyful celebration. The writer indicates that they shared all they had even if it meant selling property to help those in need. Because of their attitudes and actions many others wanted to become a part of that special fellowship.

 

1. What does it mean for there to be unity in the church?
2. What does it take for this to happen?
3. When have you, if ever, been involved in a church that had this oneness of spirit?
4. If not what do you think was missing?
5. In what ways was the church in Jerusalem different than any you have ever experienced?
6. What can happen in an atmosphere like that? (People will grow and others will want to be a part of such a church.)

 

• Do your part in making sure that the first 10 minutes that a guest is at Bethany Place will make them feel at home.
• Understand that being a church member is not enough. Jesus expects each of us to become disciples that make disciples. Matthew 28:19-20
• Understand that for each of you that being a disciple is a process beginning with conversion and going through connecting with other believer, being discipled by someone, ministering to others and becoming a discipler yourself.
• Be willing to take part in a small group that is helping you to take a leadership role in discipling others.
• 2 Timothy 2:15 is a good verse to learn and put into practice.

 

Making disciples who make disciples is the vision of the church. This will not happen unless we take seriously the command of Jesus “to make disciples.” This will take not private study and meditation on God’s word but involving yourself in a corporate fellowship that believes that its role in the world is to not only bring people to a saving grace, conversion, but to help them grow into productive followers of Christ. The word disciple carries with it both the idea of following but also being transformed by that relationship with our Savior and Lord. This can only happen as we gather together to grow and then go out to carry the good news to a dying and confused world. For years the Southern Baptist Convention emphasized evangelism. We have come to realize along with many other church leaders that it is not enough. A person must be helped to grow to bring him to the point of being a mature follower who is able to help others into the kingdom. The question for each of us is do we want to be part of that tremendous movement that began with the apostles?