The Church and the Individual

I. Text:

II. What is the church?

A. The church is simply the body of believers who have been called by the gospel and sanctified by God, Acts 2:47.

B. We have noted its New Testament use in a universal and local sense.

C. Universal – All believers Local – The group of believers who meet together in a geographical region.

D. The church is not the building; the New Testament uses church to refer to the individuals.

III. The individual and the church

A. Sometimes people say, “The church is the people and the people are the church.”

B. This is true in the sense that the church is comprised of individuals, 1 Corinthians 12:18.

C. Chart showing individuals in one body. If there are no individuals, then there is no church. The strength and soundness of the local church is determined by the strength and soundness of its members, 1 Timothy 3:5: “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

D. This is false in the sense that a distinction is made between them and the work each can do.

E. 1 Corinthians 12:14 – The work is a collective action However, God has placed some limits.

F. 1 Timothy 5:3, 9, 16 (Summarize situation)

G. There is a difference between what the individual can do and what the church can do regarding widows.

H. Children and grandchildren should take care of their parents and grandparents before responsibility is shifted to the church. If they will not do this they are violating God’s law. The individual can support a widow under 60 years old who was not hospitable or known for good works; the church cannot. The church should not be burdened with something the individual can do, or is commanded to do, v.16. We cannot give the church a responsibility that is ours to fulfill individually. We cannot give it a work with the justification that it is a good work for the individual so it must be good for the church as well.

I. The difference in the individual’s money and the church’s money is evident in Acts 5:1-4.

J. Their money was in their control before they gave it to the Lord. After they gave it, it left their control.

K. Though the church is comprised of individuals, there is a distinction between their duties and responsibilities.

L. The church has no authority to determine where I will work, how to discipline my children, where we will go on vacation, etc. The individual can start a business, invest its money in ventures for profit, etc. but the church cannot; there is no authority. The individual is to partake of the Lord’s Supper, but he is to do so as part of the collective, 1 Corinthians 11:17; Acts 20:7. Next week, we will discuss the distinction between what the individual and the church can do in regards to benevolence.

IV. The individual’s impact on the church

A. Though there is a difference in what the individual and the church can do, what the individual does affects the work of the church.

B. Example

C. People judge the church by its members. We will be considered a good, bad, active, dead, loving, or indifferent church by how the members react to visitors and act in the community. Sometimes people will not listen to our words but are attentive to our actions. Remember who you are.

D. Assembling

E. Assembling with brethren must be a priority with us above all social and family activities, Malachi 1:13.

F. What if no one showed up?

G. How can we edify other Christians by our absence (it usually discourages others)? How can we teach by singing (Colossians 3:16) by our absence? Hebrews 10:25 must be obeyed like other commandments.

H. Participating in the work

I. More is generally accomplished in evangelism by members other than the preacher. You have the influence with your family and friends. Some are apprehensive of the preacher, feel he has a quota, etc. The load is lighter if we all pick up our part of the load.

J. Participating in the services

K. Worship is not a spectator event We get out what we put into it

L. Be faithful

M. 2 John 4 Philippians 3:17-19 We need God and one another and it is discouraging when someone leaves.

V. We must ask ourselves, what would this church be like, if every member were just like me? (borrowed quote, source unknown)

A. Would it be loving or cold?

B. Would it be growing or stagnant?

C. Would it be holy or hypocritical?

D. Would it be strong or weak?

E. Would it be spiritual or worldly?

F. Would it be financially sound or struggling?

G. Would it be alive or dead?