Tag: church as family

Household of God: Finding Church Membership

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: Ephesians 2:19-22

Introduction: Belonging to the visible church is not optional for followers of Christ. We are not disembodied people who only meet spiritually. We gather and belong to a physical, tangible, and visible community—that is the church.

Church hopping or church scrolling is what many Christians are doing today on the average weekend. The 2022 State of Theology study found most Americans (56%) don’t believe every Christian has an obligation to join a local church. Only half among the evangelicals and churchgoers believe that Christians need to be church members.

Background: Written for the church in Ephesus by Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. Church membership has been the practice of the disciples of Christ in biblical times.

Main Idea:

  1. Citizens [sympolites/ politeo]
  • “Strangers and aliens” have no full rights and privileges in a place where they’re not a citizen compared with those who are citizens. Illustration: embassy of a country.
  • Your salvation is affirmed and endorsed by the church. Salvation is an individual experience with God but it is through the church that your experience is validated.
  1. Family [oikos] Members of the household of God
  • Nicodemus in John 3 asks, “How can I be part of the family of God?”
    • You need to be saved, to be born again (3:7). Conversion is required.
    • Moreover, baptism follows as the confirmation of your public confession that you follow the faith that we have in Christ.
  • Only those who are Christians, truly converted, can belong to the church. Anyone can worship and come to the church every Sunday. But only Christians can be a member of the church.
  • Once you follow Christ and accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior, your conversion experience testifies as your passport to becoming a family member of the household of God.
    • All Christians have been adopted to the family of God.
      • Ephesians 1:5, “he[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will”
      • Romans 8:15-17, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
      • Galatians 4:4-7, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[a] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[b] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
  1. Presence of God – Holy Temple and dwelling place for God’s Spirit
  • Creation in the Garden of Eden – Pillars of Fire and Clouds during the time of Exodus – The Ark of Covenant – The Tabernacle – The Temple
  • The Church as the temple means that the presence of God is made visible through the church.
    • 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
    • 1 Peter 2:4-5, “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” // Jesus in Matthew 18:18-20

Frequently Asked Questions?

What happens if we do not become members of the local church?

  1. We are disobeying the command to gather regularly (Hebrews 10:24-27)
  2. We confuse both real members and non-Christians about what it means to be a Christian.
  3. We become dishonest. (uninvolved, inactive church members, 1 mos; 3mos; 6mos-1 year)
    1. How can we love someone we do not see regularly?
    2. The opportunity to bless and be blessed.

How to be a member of the local church, UCBC?

  1. You need to be a Christian. (Ask the Elders if you have not received Christ yet).
  2. A baptized believer (Baptism affirms your confession)
  3. Membership and Covenant Classes (Understanding what it means to be part of the church/ Elders)
  4. Confirmation of the local congregation.

Conclusion:

The point is not that attending church makes you a Christian. The point is that becoming a member of the church is what Christians do.

 

Rev. John Paul Arceno

UCBC New Jersey
October 22, 2023

The Yoke of Christ, His Heart, and Our Rest

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Introduction: It is not how long you live but how well you live. Age should not only be a number that represents how long we have lived but, more significantly, how well we have lived according to the purpose of our Creator.

“Come to me” – “Come to me is an invitation to trust Jesus personally, not merely to believe historical facts about him.”

  • “All who labor and are heavy laden” – You do not need to unburden or collect yourself and then come to Jesus. Your very burden is what qualifies you to come.

“I will give you rest”… “you will find rest for your souls” –  1 Peter 2:25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

“Take my yoke upon you” – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

  • Two oxen are chosen to share a yoke. The first is an older seasoned ox. He is trained and hardy from years of routine. The second is a new young ox. He has potential but is inexperienced. The elder trains the young by sharing the same yoke with a veteran workhorse.
  • Also, the experienced one draws harder to bear most of the load. Since the older one leads, the younger ox does not have to wonder what to do. He learns from his mentor and gains the knowledge and skill to teach others. (Christianity.com)

“My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” – 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

“Gentle and Lowly” – the only time in the four Gospels that Christ said something about his heart. Biblically, the heart does not only pertain to a part of who we are but is the very center of our being. Thus, Christ is telling us the deepest truth of his heart. This is who he is.

  • Gentle, tender, open, welcoming. That is the heart of Christ. That should be our hearts too. Accommodating, understanding, and willing.

Illustration: I got a failing grade, and my mom knew about it. I was scared to go home because for sure I knew I would receive a mouthful of lectures and “palo.” But then, when I arrived, everything seemed calm; there was food on the table, and she was just in a good mood. I did not ask for any reason, but every time I hear about gentleness, that is the picture in my mind.

  • Lowly means accessible. No prerequisites. Even to children, he said, “Let them come to me and do no hinder them (Matt 19:14).” The thief on the cross was able to come to Christ. No payment.

Conclusion:

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

 

Rev. John Paul Arceno
UCBC New Jersey
April 16, 2023

 

Our Church: The Loveliest Place

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: Ephesians 4:1-16

Introduction:

Church as a Family [oikos]; Paul tells Timothy that the church is the household of God (1 Tim 3:15). We are God’s family— John 1:12-13. He adopts us into his family. Gal 4:4-5. Church as family (Children – John 1:12; Brothers – Heb 2:11; Bride – Eph 5:22-27).

Background of Ephesians 4:

Paul calls us to live a faithful Christian walk by being humble, at peace with one another and maintaining the unity of the church. Take note, it says, maintaining, not creating unity. We are to preserve such unity in the body of Christ (v. 3). This unity has been established in the expression of the Triune God (vv. 4-6). He furthers that Christ gifted the church with different people with distinct leadership roles (vv. 8-11). To equip the saints with unity and spiritual growth (v. 12).

Transition: Starting from verse 13 onwards, it tells us about the church experience. It is not a linear movement from point A to B but has ebbs and flows or ups and downs in the whole experience. It is like a heartbeat that goes up and down. If the line is constant, it means what? Death, right? Meaning that experiencing such ebbs and flows in church experience show that we are alive.

Main Idea:

The Heartbeat Rhythm and Musical Melody (Let us accept the reality that we experience challenges and struggle with them). Even in the early church, in NT, they are also dealing with issues, persecutions, conflicts, and partitions.

It is a never-ending process. Verse 13 states that “until” we reach this knowledge and maturity in Christ and “attaining” (present participle -ing) the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. The church is the body of Christ. While Christ is perfect, we are not perfect here on this side of eternity. Hence, it is an undergoing process. “Sorry for the inconvenience, under construction” WHEN? Until Christ returns.

Conflicts, disagreements, issues, and arguments will never end. But we will never arrive at our destination if we keep focusing on these things. So, while we deal with these matters, we also support and encourage one another to move forward, look to the future, cling to the promises of Christ, and reach our church vision.

Illustration: How many medical checkups do we need per year? (20s—every 2 to 3 years; 30s—every other year; 40s to 50s—every year; 60s—twice a year) Regular checkup and executive checkup. Eye checkups, physicals, dental, and so on. Likewise, as a church, we should have regular checkups. >>> Where are we now? Where are we going? Church Vision – summarized in two words – Global + NextGen. Moreover, let us locate where UCBC is now.

How are we doing? Who is the church? This vital question is one of the things that hinder our church movement. We are not sure who belongs to the family. Updating our church membership. “To be a Christian is synonymous with being the church. The two are inseparably and eternally linked. While it’s possible to be a member of a church and not be a true follower of Christ, it’s impossible to be a genuine believer and not be in the church. – Dustin Benge

Conclusion: Our Church + The Loveliest Place

No other people, not outside our church, not even our denomination, will help us to get better but ourselves. Our church is our family. We belong to one another. The moment you signed the covenant, you became part of this community. By God’s grace and the Spirit’s guidance, we work with one another, pray for one another, and love one another. Cause if we do not do these things, then who else?

Why the loveliest place? Your workplace can fire you; your friends can leave you; your crush can hurt you; nowhere in this world right now can be considered a perfectly secure place. But the church bears the promise of God’s love that he will never divorce the church. “He will never go searching for a more attractive family.”

“The church in the world is the beauty of Christ in the world. Because Christ is her beauty.” The loveliest place in this world is the church because of Christ. The church is the loveliest place. It portrays and reflects the beauty of Christ. Christ died for the church. For our redemption. Christ loves the church. We are loved by Christ.

 

Ptr. John Paul Arceno
UCBC New Jersey
October 16, 2022