2020 NATIONAL EASTER RETREAT WORKSHOP
PRESENTED BY REV ALEGU JR INNOCENT DT AWKA DISTRICT @ AFENMAI ZONE
TOPIC: COMMITMENT TO THE CHURCH
TEXT COLOSIANS 4:17; 1 COR 16:13-19 : PHIL 4:14 -19
Introduction:
The church is the people who believed on the saving work of the Son of God at the Cross, people who, by faith, believed they were sanctified by the blood of Jesus, and people who adhered to the claims and message of Jesus Christ. By this definition, we understand that we are the church. This congregation is the church of God, a local visible part of the universal invisible church.
Commitment is more than attendance on Sunday. It's about involvement in the mission of the church. It is about engaging in kingdom work, the most important work on earth. Only the church can share the gospel, only the church can minister in Jesus' name. Heads of state cannot do it. Powerful governments cannot do it. The UN cannot do it. Jesus has entrusted that task to the church. The church is the only agency God has on earth for doing his will.
The way to be ready is to be committed. Each of us is a part of this church family, of this church organization, and of this church army. We must each one love, serve, and fight with a deep commitment. We are members of the Family of God. How do we live up our commitment?
What do a successful marriage, a successful business and a successful expedition have in common? They all possess clearly defined goals. The people in them are focused, they know what they want and they will remove any obstacles that would prevent them reaching their goal.
Similarly, a successful local church is composed of people who are committed to Christ and who understand that when Christ called them to him, he called them to his church. The local church then needs leaders who have a clear vision for the church and its calling to proclaim the gospel and to build up the faith in the body of believers. When no opportunity for spiritual development, growth or meaningful fellowship is provided, poor commitment is inevitable. We are saved in community. Together we are members of Christ's body, we belong to a family, we are citizens of a kingdom, and we are joined together. "Together" is a dominant theme when Paul is writing about the church. (Ephesians 2:14-22; 3:6; 4:16) God's eternal plan to save the lost is realised in the thousands of local churches of his people. The church is the centrepiece of God's grace, God's love and God's eternal purpose. Every baptised believer is called upon to live out the reality of this truth through commitment to the life of the church.
A.PEOPLE COMMITTED TO THE CHURCH
1. Paul said of Timothy, "I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 2:20-21) Timothy was genuinely committed to the Philippian Christians.
2. The household of Stephanas "devoted themselves to the service of the saints." (1 Corinthians 16:15) The word "devoted" gives us our English word, addict. This family was addicted to service. They were committed to the church.
3. Priscilla and Aquila were Paul's fellow workers in Christ Jesus, and committed members of the church. Paul says of them, "They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them."1 cor 16 19 (Romans 16:3-5)
4. Paul sent greetings to Rufus and his mother. Paul says of Rufus' mother, "She has been a mother to me, too." (Romans 16:13) This godly lady looked after Paul, fussed over him, prayed for him and did for him those extra special things mothers do for their children. That's commitment to the church.
5. Barnabas didn't have a selfish bone in his body. He was known as "the son of encouragement." (Acts 4:36) And when he heard of the growth of the church among the Gentiles, "he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." (Acts 11:22-24) He was committed to the church because it belongs the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. When Dorcas died, her departure was lamented because she "was always doing good and helping the poor." (Acts 9:36,39) This was a woman whose life was committed to the church.
B.WHAT COMMITMENT TO THE CHURCH LOOKS LIKE
1. Committed members of the local church always have a keen sense of awareness.They know what's going on because they know the other Christians. They don't live on the fringes; they are at the heart of the life of the church. What's happening in the church is important to them.
2. They live their life for the Lord on high alert. They don't forget to entertain strangers knowing that such people may have been sent to them by God.
3. They refuse to be indifferent to the needs of those in prison and those who are mistreated. It's as if they themselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13:2-3)
4. They see people as God sees them and so they care for "the least of these my brethren." (Matthew 25:45) They know who "the least" are in the church - those who are easily overlooked, neglected, or forgotten- and they respond to them.
5. The committed church member will be found serving "the least." You don't hear them say, "I didn't know." They make it their business to know.
6. Those who are committed to the church have never lost their sense of wonder, that sense of awe that they are loved by God - hence their commitment to the church, the body of Christ.
7. They don't care where your coming from Edo Igbo Hausa Yoruba
C. WHY COMMITMENT TO THE CHURCH
1) The local church is a central part of Gods strategic plan for your spiritual growth.
I have often heard the statement, Well, I dont need to go to church to be a Christian. On a slight technicality, that may be true, but it is certainly far-removed from Gods true plan.
Jesus said, On this rock [Peters statement that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God] I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not be able to stand against it (Matthew 16:18). You see, the church is Jesus idea, not mans idea. It seems like we should pay attention to His plan since it came directly from Him.
When a person says they dont need the church, that is a departure from Gods plan. I would advise against that.
2) You are basically a composite of the five people with whom you spend the most time.
friends could influence young people for either good or for bad. Even adults are influenced by their friends and the people with whom they spend time.
I have come to believe that we are basically a composite of the five people with whom we spend the most time. It is important, therefore, that we choose those people well. That is why it is so valuable for us to be in church every time the doors are open. We need to expose ourselves as much as possible to other followers of Christ who will draw us nearer to God.
Paul said it like this: But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13 NIV) We need the support of other believers if we are truly going to grow in Christ.
3) You need the voice of the church to counteract all of the deception that is crammed into your mind all throughout the week.
Paul warns believers in Colossians 2:8, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (NKJV)
The word for cheat in this passage refers to kidnapping another person. We need to be careful that we are not kidnapped by false ideologies, by wrong thinking.
The term traditions refers to teachings. Do you realize how many ungodly teachers are speaking into your life every week? Internet. News media. Nollywood. Music. Co-workers. Friends and family. The list seems never ending. With so many messages streaming into your life every week that can kidnap you and take you away from God, it is extremely critical that you spend as much time in church as possible to fill your mind with godly wisdom and discernment. Soak in all you can whenever you can!
4) Weekly ministry in a local church helps to build up your spiritual muscles.
In Ephesians 4, Paul says that we all are gifted in different ways. When we use our own particular gifts to serve within a church, it is a like a body with many body parts that all work together for a common goal.
As Paul discusses serving in this chapter, I find it interesting that he threw in the comment in Ephesians 4:14 in which he says, ... that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. In other words, when we use our spiritual gifts by serving within the local church community, we somehow become better-grounded theologically. It will be more difficult for us to be deceived into thinking things that are not true according to Gods Word. Isnt that amazing? Serving makes us more theologically astute. Im not exactly sure how that works, but I do know that I have observed it to be true in my own life as well as in the lives of so many I have watched to grow in their journey with the Lord.
D. BENEFITS OF COMMITMENT IN CHURCH
Ive grown in my relationship with the Lord and His church Ive realized more and more how important and beneficial commitment to church and membership is. If youre on the fence about commitment to a church or struggle with the desire to want to go at all, I want to encourage you with these beautiful benefits of church membership.and commitment
1. The Church Equips, Trains, and Builds Believers.
One of the significant purposes of the church is to train up believers to a life that gives God glory. Once we accept Christ into our lives, we are instantly justified, meaning we are forgiven of our sin and no longer subject to the wrath of God. We also then start a process called sanctification. This does not happen instantly like justification but over the course of our entire lives. This is the process of us becoming more like Christ. Sanctification does not occur in isolation. Hebrews 10:24-25.
God established the church that we may find the wisdom, tools, help, and accountability to help us through the process of sanctification; that we may learn and grow from one another. As Christians, we should be developing and maturing, and the church is one of the primary ways we can ensure that growth happens. Ephesians 4:11-13.
2. The Church Provides Spiritual Protection from the Enemy.
As Christians, we have an enemy of which we need to be aware.
1 Peter 5: 8 tells us: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We should be aware of our enemy but not fearful of him. The Lord has graciously provided us with every spiritual weapon we need to protect and defend ourselves against the schemes of the enemy. One of the most significant ways we find protection is in the church. There is strength in numbers, and the enemy is more prone to attack a Christian who is alone and off to themselves than one who is connected to a healthy local church and supported by Christian community. Ephesians 6:11.
3. The Church Offers the Opportunity to Share Our Gifts.
The church is not only about what we can get out of it. The church is also about what we can give. Many times we lose sight of the beauty of the church when we think its all about us. Church, however, offers a unique opportunity to not only receive the gifts of others but also develop and share our own gifts.Romans 12:6-8.
"When done right, church has the capacity like nothing else to grow, protect, and train us."
I understand there are many hesitations people have when it comes to joining a local church. When done right, church has the capacity like nothing else to grow, protect, and train us into the people God is calling us to be. Its this type of unity that Jesus prayed for us: John 17:20-2
"We should love what Jesus loves."
As Christians, we should love what Jesus loves. So if He loves the church, so should we. It is my prayer that if youre not committed in a church, you will be committed to one today .
4. The Church is a place to be served.
Just as the various parts of our bodies depend on one another, so, as it is described in Scripture, Christians are to be reliant upon one another. Your eye gives you vision; your ear gives you sound. All the while, your brain processes the images and sounds so you can respond to your environment. You cannot see or hear with your individual organs, nor just with your brain. When you are involved in the church, you will find that you are in a community where one another's needs are met as all work together in oneness and purpose for God's glory. God normally meets our needs by using others, and He uses you to meet the needs of others; this is the church's purpose with Christ as the head of it. Church members need to depend on one another just as the members of a human body do (1 Cor. 12; 14-27; James 5:13-16)!
5. Church is a place to grow.
Just as our physical bodies need nourishment to function, so our spiritual lives need to be fed. This spiritual food is discipleship, which includes worship, prayer, good biblical instruction, and mentoring. As Christians praise God and pray, a special bond comes about. Gifted teachers and preachers who know and use God's Word and care about you can help you grow. So, commit yourself in a good church and grow (Acts 20:7; Col. 3: 16; Heb. 10:25)!
6. Church is a place to work together.
Our Christian faith is personal but not private. Healthy Christians are not loners; rather, we are in relationship with one another. God uses our intimacy and commitment with one another to help us. In so doing, we are spurring one another on. As He is intimate with us, we are to be so with one another. Jesus said that the world would watch relationships among Christians: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) The church's role is to help us learn how to love and obey God and keep us accountable and involved (John 13:34-35).
CONCLUSION
Let me end this workshop by encouraging you to be a part of the serving and sacrificing to live up to our commitment to be the body of Christ here. I want you to be sowing so we can be reaping. Be blessed by being a blessing to Gods family here.
Yes, we do need to be committed to a good, healthy church so we can be recharged and refreshed to do the work of our Lord. We need a place where we can grow and be encouraged and nurtured so we can be filled with the power to go out and do more work for the Lord. Christians I have met who say they do not need to be committed to a church are lethargic and do little or nothing for either the Lord or for their own personal growth.
