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Why Should You Join A Church...Should You Attend Church?

Why Join A Church?

by Donald Whitney

An Excerpt...

"Why should I join the church?"

Despite my seminary training and pastoral experience, I was unprepared for this new Christian's question. He agreed from our study of the Scripture that he needed to identify himself as a disciple of Christ through baptism, but then he asked, "Can you show me from the New Testament that I'm supposed to officially join anything?"

Now he really had me.

"If I come and worship as often as the members," he continued, "if I fellowship with these believers as much as anyone else, if I profit from the teaching and other ministries of the church, and if I actively demonstrate love for my brothers and sisters in Christ here, why should I formally join the church?"

His question struck me with an uncomfortable logic.

I began to realize that many of my conclusions about church membership were actually nothing more than previously unchallenged assumptions. These assumptions were now melting into questions of my own. Can I give reasons from Scripture why anyone should join a church? Did the Christians in New Testament times formally join churches or did they more of an informal relationship? Did the churches in the days of the Apostle Paul have a membership list? How do I respond to the rising tide of opinion that says church membership is merely an unchallenged, but unbiblical tradition and an unnecessary formality?

Here's what I found.

Click here to read the whole article.

ALSO...

Here's a corresponding article by the late Greg Bahnsen entitled, "Is It Our Moral Obligation to Attend Church?"

Prayer for Today

I DRAW NEAR TO YOU, GOD

O Lord, I am deeply grateful for Your wonderful acts, for Your abundant promises, and for the gift of my relationship with You through the merits of Christ.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make His deeds known among the nations. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Tell of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. (Psalm 105:1-3)

Take a moment to express your gratitude for the many blessings that you have received from the Lord.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE

Your word is settled in heaven forever, O Lord. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. They continue to this day according to Your ordinances, for all things serve You. (Psalm 119:89-91)

Blessed is the Lord, who has not left His people without a kinsman-redeemer. (Ruth 4:14)

I LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS OF TRUTH

A natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14, 16)

MY RESPONSE TO YOU, LORD

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchmen stay awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

He who is faithful with very little is also faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. If one is not faithful in handling worldly wealth, who will trust him with true riches? And if one is not faithful with someone else's property, who will give him property of his own? (Luke 16:10-12)

Lord, I thank You for the faithfulness of Your word and for providing Your Son as our kinsman-redeemer. I thank You for Your Holy Spirit who illuminates my mind, and I ask that I would labor in Your strength and be faithful in my use of the things You have entrusted to me.

from KenBoa.org

Tozer Devotion for This Lord's Day

COMPROMISE IS COSTLY

Christianity today is so entangled with this present world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere-but actually no real union between the world and the Church is possible. When the Church joins up with the world it is the true Church no longer but only a pitiful hybrid thing, an object of smiling contempt to the world, and an abomination to the Lord! Nothing could be clearer than the pronouncements of the Scriptures on the Christian's relation to the world. The confusion which gathers around this matter results from the unwillingness of professing Christians to take the Word of the Lord seriously. This whole thing is spiritual in its essence. A Christian is what he is not by ecclesiastical manipulation but by the new birth. He is a Christian because of a Spirit which dwells in him. Only that which is born by the Spirit is spirit, no matter how many church dignitaries work on it!

Prayer: Lord, I pray that you will strengthen my resolve not to compromise my spiritual life with worldly values. Help our churches to be separate from the world as you command us.

Scripture: pray... that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.— John 17:15

Thought: When the Church joins up with the world it is the true Church no longer but only a pitiful hybrid thing, an object of smiling contempt to the world, and an abomination to the Lord!

from Tozer Devotional

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 35

The Ten Commandments

96. Question: What does God require in the second commandment?

Answer: We are not to make an image of God in any way,[1] nor to worship Him in any other manner than He has commanded in His Word.[2]

[1] Deut. 4:15-19; Is. 40:18-25; Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:23. [2] Lev. 10:1-7; Deut. 12:30; I Sam. 15:22, 23; Matt. 15:9; John 4:23, 24.

97. Question: May we then not make any image at all?

Answer: God cannot and may not be visibly portrayed in any way. Creatures may be portrayed, but God forbids us to make or have any images of them in order to worship them or to serve God through them.[1]

[1] Ex. 34:13, 14, 17; Num. 33:52; II Kings 18:4, 5; Is. 40:25.

98. Question: But may images not be tolerated in the churches as "books for the laity"?

Answer: No, for we should not be wiser than God. He wants His people to be taught not by means of dumb images[1] but by the living preaching of His Word.[2]

[1] Jer. 10:8; Hab. 2:18-20. [2] Rom. 10:14, 15, 17; II Tim. 3:16, 17; II Pet. 1:19.

God's Treaure

God’s Treasure

Deuteronomy 14:2

…for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

Israel was not the largest, richest, or most powerful group of people on the planet when God chose them. Nor were they the most righteous and obedient. And yet, God chose them. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1 that this is God’s usual mode of operation. He manifests his wisdom and power by choosing and then raising up the unwise and weak to serve him. It’s been a fairly effective plan thus far. There was a fairly well known empire that was turned upside-down by the “dregs of society” a couple thousand years ago. It seems to still be working.

What is also striking about this verse is that Israel is referred to as God’s “treasured possession.” What a wonderful way to see oneself – as a treasured possession – something incredibly valuable to God.

When we think of ourselves as such, our first impulse is to attribute such worth to ourselves. “Of course I’m treasured by God,” we think. “I have so much raw talent, drive, character, etc. Why wouldn’t I be invaluable to God?” And yet, this sort of thinking is antithetical to biblical truth. There is nothing in ourselves, which compels God to choose us. Instead, it is his own good, perfect, and pleasing will that leads him to first love us.

But to think that those who are in Christ are God’s treasured possessions is amazing. For that’s what we are as heirs of the new covenant.

How ought we respond to such news? Humility comes first to mind. There is no room for pride in the biblical worldview. How about gratitude and joy? Yes, there should be plenty of both to be sure. There’s also obedience. We mustn’t forget that. Lives lived in humble, grateful, joyful, and obedient response to the God who first loved us is essential…and should be natural. It should register as an “of course” response from us.

But does it? Does your life reflect that sense of chosen-ness in which God regards you as his treasured possession? If not, why not make today the day that you begin living in humble, grateful, joyful, and obedient response to who God is and what he has done on your behalf.

Stand Firm,
Dale

The Ten Commandments

Since the post of the Heidelberg Catechism today is on the Ten Commandments, I thought it would be a good idea to also post a sermon/study on the Ten Commandments as well (specifically on the Heidelberg Catechism's questions and answers regarding the Law).

Here's a snippet...

I. The Three Uses of the Law

A (HOLD UP MAP) A map can prevent you from taking the wrong road, from going down the wrong path. When you are lost, a map can show you where you've gone astray. But most importantly, a map can also be a positive guide, showing you which road to follow.

B Reformed Christians have long recognized that the Law of God is like a road map (HOLD UP MAP). First of all, it can prevent you from taking the wrong road, the road of sin and evil. People, for instance, come across a tempting situation – they can take a hundred dollars without anyone noticing, or cheat on their income tax without getting caught, or commit adultery without their spouse being the wiser – but the Law of God tells them this is evil so they don't do it. I don't know who first said this, but when God tells us to do something it is not a suggestion which we can take or leave; rather, it is a commandment! I'm sure you've noted that the Ten Commandments are not called the Ten Suggestions.

The Apostle Paul tells us "that the requirements of the law are written on human hearts" so that even those Gentiles "who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law" (Rom 2:14-15). This explains why unbelieving individuals or pagan societies are very rarely as bad as they can possibly be – the requirements of God's Law, written on everyone's heart, restrains or prevents evil.

Among Christians it goes even a step further than this. The book of Hebrews tells us that God established in Christ Jesus a new covenant first spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf Heb 8:8,10). In this new covenant God says, "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts." In this new covenant relationship born-again Christians intimately know and want to obey God's Law. In this new covenant relationship born-again Christians are sorry for sin, hate sin, run away from sin, and take great delight in obeying God's laws and commandments.

Among both believers and unbelievers, then, the Law of God restrains or prevents evil.

C Secondly, when you are lost the Law of God, like a map (HOLD UP MAP), can show you where you have gone wrong, where you have gone
astray. The Law shows you that you have gone wrong when you rebelled against God. The Law tells you that you took the wrong way or the wrong turn when you sinned against God. In other words, in light of God's Law we come to realize that we are lost in sin and desperately need Christ Jesus to save us. The Law is a teacher of sin.

D Thirdly, the Law of God, like a map (HOLD UP MAP), is a positive guide showing you which road to follow. From this viewpoint, God's Law is a guide for grateful Christian living, a model for doing and being good. This is a distinctly Reformed understanding of the Law. This is the usage emphasized by the Catechism.

When the Catechism, in Q & A 3 & 4, teaches us about our sin, it turns to the summary of God's Law as found in Matthew 22: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and ... your neighbor as yourself." And, when it teaches us how to lead and live before God the life of gratitude, the life of thankfulness – because of all God's mercies and benefits – it turns to the Ten Commandments.

Click here to read the whole sermon.

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 34

The Ten Commandments

92. Question: What is the law of the LORD?

Answer: God spoke all these words, saying: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
3. You shall not take the Name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
5. Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. you shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, 10. or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor’s.[1]

[1] Ex. 20:1-17; Deut. 5:6-21.

93. Question: How are these commandments divided?

Answer: Into two parts. The first teaches us how to live in relation to God; the second, what duties we owe our neighbor.[1]

[1] Matt. 22:37-40.

94. Question: What does the LORD require in the first commandment?

Answer: That for the sake of my very salvation I avoid and flee all idolatry,[1] witchcraft, superstition,[2] and prayer to saints or to other creatures.[3] Further, that I rightly come to know the only true God.[4] trust in Him alone,[5] submit to Him with all humility[6] and patience,[7] expect all good from Him only,[8] and love,[9] fear,[10] and honour Him[11] with all my heart. In short, that I forsake all creatures rather than do the least thing against His will.[12]

[1] I Cor. 6:9, 10; 10:5-14; I John 5:21. [2] Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:9-12. [3] Matt. 4:10; Rev. 19:10; 22:8, 9. [4] John 17:3. [5] Jer. 17:5, 7. [6] I Pet. 5:5, 6. [7] Rom. 5:3, 4; I Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:14; Col. 1:11; Heb. 10:36. [8] Ps. 104:27, 28; Is. 45:7; James 1:17. [9] Deut. 6:5; (Matt. 22:37). [10] Deut. 6:2; Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10; Matt. 10:28; I Pet. 1:17. [11] Deut. 6:13; (Matt. 4:10); Deut. 10:20. [12] Matt. 5:29, 30; 10:37-39; Acts 5:29.

95. Question: What is idolatry?

Answer: Idolatry is having or inventing something in which to put our trust instead of, or in addition to, the only true God who has revealed Himself in His Word.[1]

[1] I Chron. 16:26; Gal. 4:8, 9; Eph. 5:5; Phil. 3:19.

Accountability and Accountability Questions

2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?"

In light of the accountability questions that I asked you this morning, I thought I would provide some additional resources for you to read on the subject of accountability.

Brothers, examining yourself a couple of times each year (as well as weekly or bi-weekly check-ups) is key in your Christian growth. It helps you assess whether or not you moving forward, just treading water...or actually drifting backwards.

To continue the metaphor, if we are not swimming with all our might toward our goal (which is our Christlikeness) then we are either swimming toward the wrong goal, remaining in the same place, or drifting backwards...all three of which are harmful to our spiritual health. But rejoice, if you are truly in Christ then there is good news. The apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:6 that he was confident that "he [God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

So pray for a fresh filling of God's Spirit in your life so that you can persevere in running the race set before you. And rejoice that you don't have to run it alone. There is, first and foremost, the Spirit of God giving you the power, desire, and direction to run the race. But there are also brothers who are invested in seeing you finish well in your journey with Christ. And, as always, let me know what I can do to help you. It's why I'm here at Southside.

(PS - I really mixed my metaphors, didn't I)

Your Brother,
Dale

Accountability Resources

Accountability by Ken Boa - Great article on the subject. A must read.

Are You Leading A Hazardous Life? by Jeff Miller - These are the questions/statements that I read aloud this morning.

How to Conquer a Secret Thought Life by Pat Morley - Morley knows men. This is a great article on dealing with the garbage that's already in your head...and how to keep more garbage from finding its way into your head.

How to Have an Accountable Relationship by Pat Morley - Good practical tools on how to gather with other men for the purpose of holding one another accountable in your faith...which includes every sphere of your life.

Nothing "Safe" About Secret Sin by John MacArthur - This was an article sent to me yesterday by one of our brothers. MacArthur has gone from preaching to stepping on our feet in this article. A great read.

Accountability Questions by Ramesh Richard

More Accountability Questions from the ministry, "Men of Integrity"

ACCOUNTABILITY:Pursuing Vital Relationships, Part One: Getting Ready by Jim Clayton

ACCOUNTABILITY:Pursuing Vital Relationships, Part Two - Play Ball! by Jim Clayton

What is a mature and equipped follower of Christ? from Perimeter Church in Atlanta

I hope these resources will serve you well as you pursue the likeness of Christ in your life...for every sphere of your life.

Stand Firm,
Dale

Jesus washes the disciples' feet...

Our lesson this week in Baxter Boys is John 13:1-17. To go along with that, here's a message by Robert Deffinbaugh on "menial service" which focuses on the text and draws out some important lessons for us on serving others, humility, etc.

Prayer for Today

I DRAW NEAR TO YOU, GOD

As I approach Your throne of grace today, I am grateful that You care about the things that concern me and that You want me to offer them up to You.

Whatever I do, may I do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

May everything I do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)

Take a moment to share your personal needs with God, including your physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual concerns.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE

Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your renown, O Lord, through all generations. (Psalm 135:13)

The Lord made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. (Jeremiah 51:15)

I LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS OF TRUTH

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

MY RESPONSE TO YOU, LORD

I will guard my heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and has given us eternal consolation and good hope by grace, comfort our hearts and strengthen us in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

Lord, I thank You for the glory of Your name and for creating the heavens and earth through Your power and wisdom. I thank You that godly sorrow leads to repentance, and I ask that I would guard my heart and be strengthened in every good work and deed.

from KenBoa.org

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 33

Repentance

88. Question: What is the true repentance or conversion of man?

Answer: It is the dying of the old nature and the coming to life of the new.[1]


[1] Rom. 6:1-11; I Cor. 5:7; II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:5-10.

89. Question: What is the dying of the old nature?


Answer: It is to grieve with heartfelt sorrow that we have offended God by our sin, and more and more to hate it and flee from it.[1]


[1] Ps. 51:3, 4, 17; Joel 2:12, 13; Rom. 8:12, 13; II Cor. 7:10.

90. Question: What is the coming to life of the new nature?


Answer: It is a heartfelt joy in God through Christ,[1] and a love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works.[2]


[1] Ps. 51:8, 12; Is. 57:15; Rom. 5:1; 14:17. [2] Rom. 6:10, 11; Gal. 2:20.

91. Question: But what are good works?


Answer: Only those which are done out of true faith,[1] in accordance with the law of God,[2] and to His glory,[3] and not those based on our own opinion or on precepts of men.[4]


[1] Joh. 15:5; Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:6. [2] Lev. 18:4; I Sam. 15:22; Eph. 2:10. [3] I Cor. 10:31. [4] Deut. 12:32; Is. 29:13; Ezek. 20:18, 19; Matt. 15:7-9.

Get Wisdom

Excerpt from message preached yesterday...

You see, the purpose of James’ letter is not to make new converts for Christ, but to encourage the folks who already are Christ’s disciples. He wants them to run the whole race of faith and discipleship… and not to give up. Therefore, they’ll need to see all the things they go through in this world… with God’s eternal perspective. They’ll need to see that this test of their faith… is to actually strengthen them… so that they can make it the whole way.

I know this is an over-used illustration, ‘but diamonds are nothing more than lumps of coal, which have been subjected to intense pressure over a period of time. And without that pressure, coal simply stays coal.’ I think James is saying this: “the testing of your faith is the combined pressure that life brings to bear on you.” And he’s saying that the result of that pressure… is the diamond of your perseverance…so that you can endure whatever else is going to come down the road.

You all know this verse in Hebrews about our Lord…

Hebrews 12:2 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Cross wasn’t an enjoyable experience to our Lord. He didn’t whistle his way through it. But he had his Father’s eternal perspective and saw the joy that was set before him…the joy to come…and therefore, he was able to endure it. That’s what James is saying.

I always try to be careful not to ever convey any idea that we are the center of God’s universe. Because God is the center of God’s universe. And whatever he does, he does first and foremost for his own glory. But in an important sense, we are still God’s masterpieces and he’s taking great pains and great care to turn us into that great work… instead of being content to leave us as mediocre thumbnail sketches.

C.S. Lewis said that we’re like a painter’s canvas, which is made up of countless hyper-sensitive nerve-endings. And every scrape of the Painter’s tools on the canvas may cause pain at the time. But the Artist sees the big picture. He has in mind to make us into a magnificent piece of art…and not a collection of insignificant stick-figures. And yet, having said all that, the trials and tests are real…and they’re not pleasant and enjoyable to go through at the time.

Click here to read the whole message