Ways to PRAY for your church...

THAT YOUR UNITY AND LOVE WILL ALWAYS BE GENUINE.

THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL BRING GLORY TO GOD.

THAT YOU WILL REACH THE LOST AND MAKE DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST.

THAT YOU WILL GROW IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY.

THAT YOUR FAMILIES AND MARRIAGES WILL BE STRENGTHENED.

THAT YOU WILL TREASURE JESUS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT THE LORD WILL USE YOUR JOYFUL WORSHIP AS A MEANS TO DRAW OTHERS TO HIMSELF.

THAT THE LORD WILL PROTECT YOU FROM SATAN AND SIN.

THAT GOD WILL ENCOURAGE YOUR STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Don't Shoot Your Grand Kids

Wisdom from Kevin DeYoung:

"The man who attempts Christianity without the church shoots himself in the foot, shoots his children in the leg, and shoots his grandchildren in the heart."

The Hole in Our Holiness, p. 132.

Better Members Meetings

I love our members meetings at Christ Baptist Church. They are always encouraging and helpful. Sadly, this is not the case at many churches. I can remember many times in my past that I loathed going to the quarterly, "business meeting." I knew they would have an argumentative and prideful spirit.

So, I'm glad for this article by Brad Wheeler on the 9 Marks blog with some suggestions for "better" (meaning more godly) members meetings:

Many of us have horror stories of members’ meetings gone terribly wrong. But do they always have to end in bitterness and bickering? I don’t think so. Here are nine suggestions to help set members’ meetings on the right track. 

1. Stop calling them “Business Meetings.”

First, stop calling them “business meetings,” which conjures up images of corporate leaders angling for personal gain. Instead, call them “members’” meetings, or “family” meetings, or something else that suggests that we come serving Christ’s agenda, and not our own.

2. Remember that a Members’ Meeting is for Members.

Second, remember that a members’ meeting is for members. A members’ meeting is not a public meeting, so kindly excuse any stray visitors at the start of the meeting, letting them know they are more than welcome to any of your public weekly gatherings. Visitors have no more right to participate in your church’s members’ meetings than citizens of one country have the right to vote in the elections of another.

3. Aim for Accurate Membership Roles.

Third, aim for accurate membership roles. Trying to conduct healthy members’ meetings without a healthy membership roll is like inviting the fox into the henhouse.

4. Pray!

Fourth, pray! We need the wisdom only God can grant (Jas. 1:5-6). We need to rely on the only weapons that have divine power to demolish the Devil’s strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). So begin by praying that God’s Spirit, not the fallible ingenuity and fallen man, would guide your meeting.

5. Recite your Church Covenant together

Fifth, recite your church covenant together. Every now and then we need to hit the “reset” button. That’s part of what a church covenant does. It draws us out of the “me”-dominated world we live in, and helps reorient us around basic biblical truths.

A church covenant is to membership what vows are to marriage: they help define how we’ll live together. Such vows and promises don’t magically solve divisions. But they may just help you more humbly work though such divisions as you remind yourselves that you’ve promised “to work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” as you exercise an “affectionate care and watchfulness over each other.”

6. Do the Most Important Business First.

Sixth, do the most important business first. What might that be? Defining who the church is.

Practically, that’s who is taken into membership, and who is seen out. This helps teach that who we are is fundamentally more important than the particulars of whether, for example, we continue to have a Wednesday night dinner.

7. Occasionally Remind People what Congregationalism Is, and Isn’t.

Seventh, occasionally remind people what congregationalism is, and isn’t. Some have the mistaken notion that congregationalism is the same as American democracy, or is the byproduct of it. Neither are true.

Yes, Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to the congregation (Mt 16.19) when it comes to matters of church membership (2 Cor. 2:6), discipline (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:1-13), and doctrine (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Tim. 4:3). And yes, each member is given a vote. But that doesn’t mean there is anything godly in debate for debate’s sake, or that it’s the right of every member to have their voice heard, or that the elders and deacons serve like a bicameral legislature. Elders are still called to rule (1 Tim. 5.17), and members are still called to submit and obey for their own advantage (Heb. 13.17).

Playing devil’s advocate or token contrarian is a mark of immaturity, not a badge of honor. We would do well to remind our people that when Paul exhorts Timothy to flee “youthful passions” (2 Tim. 2.22), he’s not thinking first about sexual sin, but being quarrelsome.

8. Be Quick to Inform, and Don’t Get Defensive.

Eighth, be quick to inform, and don’t get defensive. Many are taught to distrust authority, and that power corrupts. Thus, where information is lacking, skepticism and cynicism run rampant. Though this isn’t a godly instinct, it’s wise to recognize that it exists, and remember that the congregation is rarely privy to all the information you are. So get out in front, regularly informing the congregation of what you’re deliberating and thinking through.

9. Know You Will Make Mistakes.

Finally, know you will make mistakes. At end of the day, leading healthy members’ meetings is more art than science. You will make mistakes. That’s inevitable.

So apologize when necessary, and make restitution where you can. And don’t get too discouraged. For though you may feel like you’ve failed, Christ has promised that the church never will (Mt. 16.18). So learn what you can from your mistakes and continue to serve wholeheartedly, as unto the Lord, and not to men (Eph. 6.7).

Practical Book on Church Discipline

This is a good book on the Biblical practice of church discipline. I particularly enjoyed the practical examples Leemam gives after explaining the Biblical reasons for it. I highly recommend this book.

On Bringing a Physical Bible to Church

Do you still bring a physical, "ink and paper" Bible to church on Sundays? With the popularity of the iPhone and iPad, many people are leaving their bonded leather at home in favor of their Bible app. It is very convenient to have the whole Bible in your pocket and not have to keep track of a heavy physical Bible. But, I've got a few concerns about this growing trend.

One concern is that iPhones and iPads carry an irresistible temptation to do something other than concentrate on the Bible. You can listen AND see what others are doing on Facebook or Twitter. You can listen AND shoot a text to a friend. Which of course, seriously reduces one's ability to actually listen and concentrate on God's Word.

However, my main concern is another subtle temptation: The temptation to turn the device off during the sermon.  For example, I preach for about 45 minutes and I usually refer to particular words, phrases, and verses all the way through the sermon. Each and every point I make is hopefully tied to the passage I'm preaching from. I don't want people to assume I'm saying true things, I want them to see it in the text itself. I do not just read a text and then tell unrelated stories for 40 minutes (if this were the case, I'd encourage you to bring your iPhone and read a good expository sermon instead).

But, iPads and iPhones turn themselves off after a few moments to preserve battery life. Or, they are intentionally turned off by the user to preserve the quickly fading battery. What this means is that the Bible is not "open" during the whole sermon. The listener cannot just look down to an open Bible and see where the preacher is getting his point from. He's got to turn the device back on, be distracted by the picture on the welcome screen (tempting him to daydream about the beach from the family picture), and then "slide to unlock." By this time, you've probably missed the life-changing point the preacher just made about the word, "therefore."

Now, please don't hear what I'm not saying. I'm not saying you are more spiritual or a better listener if you bring your Classic Reference Bible to church. I'm positive you can listen well with a fully-charged electronic device (I hope so because I hear they are the wave of the future). I'm simply asking you to evaluate whether it helps you listen and follow along or whether it tempts you to "check out."  If you are a person who does everything on your iPad all week, it may be a wise idea to bring your physical Bible to church as a reminder that what is about to happen is different than everything else in my life (you are going to hear God speak). It may help you engage with the text and listen attentively if you have nothing else to distract you.

But, if you can remember to charge your device up on Saturday night, and if you can set it to not power down every few moments, and if you can keep the Bible on your screen so that you can quickly reference the text itself, go for it. I'm your biggest fan.

Radical Together

I have been very challenged in recent days reading through David Platt's Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God. This is Platt's second "radical" book. The first one (my review here) mainly focuses on individual Christians being totally devoted to spreading the fame of Jesus. This second book focuses on how local churches should be totally devoted to the cause of Christ.

Radical Together is most applicable to church leaders but any church member can benefit from reading it. Basically, this book is a call to abandon "church as usual" and to increase our energies and giving toward the needs in this world.

One of the most powerful thoughts for me was that often good things keep us from doing the best things. The question is not, "what's wrong with it," but "how can we best impact the world for Christ." Platt calls us to lay everything on the table before God and honestly seek Him for what He wants us to be about.

Throughout the book, Platt shares examples and stories from his own congregation and their struggle to be totally devoted to Christ. I would encourage all pastors to read this book and begin leading your church to be radical for Christ.

Tips for Corporate Scripture Reading

If the Bible really is God’s Word, if it is His authoritative self-disclosure, and if it is the only source of faith and practice, then reading the Bible in our corporate worship services is one of the most important actions on any given Sunday.

Here is what Paul commanded a young church planting pastor:
“Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Tim. 4:13).

The reading of the Scripture is a corporate act of worship. It is not an option. Failure to read God’s Word to God’s people is disobedience to God and unloving to the church.

So, here are 5 important tips for corporate Scripture reading (in no particular order):

Read the Scripture:
1. Prayerfully
As you read, ask God to use His Word to accomplish His purpose in people’s lives. If God’s Word is as powerful as it says it is (Ps. 19:7-11; Heb. 4:12), read it with as much expectation as you would have if you were throwing a grenade into the congregation.

2. Accurately
By this, I mean two things: (1) labor to read the Bible with the correct pronunciation and (2) read from a reliable translation. If we believe that every word of the Bible is inspired by God, then we must try to read it accurately. Also, it could be distracting to people if we fumble through pronunciation. If you don’t know how to pronounce a particular person’s name or place, listen to someone read that passage from an audio Bible as you prepare.

3. Affectionately
Does the Bible bring joy to your heart? Has God spoken to you from this passage? Read the Bible with joyful passion. Communicate through your tone and facial expressions that you love this book. Often, reading the Bible with affection will challenge God’s people to listen attentively to God’s Word. However, we must guard against being overly dramatic in our reading. If we are trying to manipulate the text, thinking that we are making it interesting, we are denying its intrinsic power and authority.

4. Seriously
Corporate Scripture reading is not a time to clown around. This is God’s Word we are handling. We should read the text seriously. We are in the presence of God and He is addressing us. The people need to sense your reverence and awe as you open God’s Word.

5. Clearly
What good is it to read God’s Word if we read it in a way that no one understands us. We need to be careful to articulate the words and phrases clearly. We should not try to speed read the text so that we can move on to something else. We need to slow down and communicate as clearly as possible. Don’t mumble God’s Word.

Here are a few other random tips for corporate Scripture reading:

• Prepare to read God’s Word to God’s people. Read the text over and over throughout the week before you are to read it corporately.


• A brief introduction to the passage is often helpful in getting people ready to hear it. Set up the context of the passage or alert the people to what they should listen for.


• Introducing the reading with a declaration of the power and authority of the Bible adds weight to the reading (for example: “This is the infallible and inerrant Word of God”).


• Introducing the reading with an invitation or admonition to hear or pay attention to the Word could be useful in snapping someone out of just drifting along (for example: “Listen carefully to God as He speaks to us from His Word”).


• Having people stand while you read the Scripture is a good way to ensure that all attention is focused on God’s Word.


• Read from an actual Bible. Don’t make a habit of reading from a screen or from just a printed piece of paper. You want to make clear to everyone that you are reading from God’s Word.


• Don’t apologize for reading long portions of Scripture. It’s ok to prepare people for a lengthy passage, but never feel like you have to justify reading the Bible.

Mark Dever says, “Carving out time in our Sunday morning service to read Scripture aloud, without comment, every week, makes a statement about the value we place on God’s Word. It says we are eager to hear the Word of the Lord—we desire it. It acknowledges that the life and growth of our local churches depend on the power of God’s Word, and that we really believe that “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). It acknowledges our own weakness in that we continually need to be reminded of what God has said. It says we’re willing to listen to God’s Word, to sit under it in order to be instructed, assessed, and evaluated by it. It says we’re willing to agree with its presentation of reality and with is estimation and judgment of us. It says we’re willing to submit to its verdict and commands without qualification. Yet if the regular public reading of Scripture says all this, what are we saying if we neglect it” (The Deliberate Church, pp 81-82)?

My Sin Affects the Whole Church

A challenging thought from Bonhoeffer's Life Together:

“There is no sin in thought, word, or deep, no matter how personal or secret, that does not inflict injury upon the whole fellowship” (p. 89).

Can't Hear this Quote Too Often

"If the church is central to God's purpose, as seen in both history and the gospel, it must surely also be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously? How dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the center?"

-John Stott

The Church is Not a Restaurant!

Here are two good words on the church. Make the time to listen to both.

1. Driscoll (about 7 minutes)


2. DeYoung's NEXT message calling us to love the local church, can be downloaded here.

Do you plan for Sunday?

Blog readers,

Please read this post by Tim Challies about planning for the Lord's Day. It contains fantastic advice for preparing to meet with the people of God under the Word of God. This advice is golden.

Some suggestions:

• Make it a habit to be home on Saturday night.
• Be careful not to do, watch, or read anything that will cause lingering distractions in your mind the next day.
• Get things ready on Saturday night to alleviate the typical Sunday morning rush (lay out clothes, set the table, write the offering check, stock the diaper bag, etc).
• Get a good night's sleep so you can be sharp and energetic to worship and serve God. It's hard to listen when you're nodding off.
• Eat a simple but adequate breakfast that will hold you until lunch. It's difficult to hear over the grumbling of your stomach.
• Work together with the other members of your family to get ready, and to establish and maintain a godly atmosphere on the way to church. Listen to music, sing, and pray together.
• Arrive at church ten minutes early instead of ten minutes late so you have enough time to find a parking spot, drop the kids off in the nursery or their Sunday school classes, get a cup of coffee, visit with your friends, and find a seat.

The Church Defines God's Love for the World

Here is how Jonathan Leeman summarizes the argument of his new book, The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love:

"Insofar as the gospel presents the world with the most vivid picture of God's love, and insofar as church membership and discipline are an implication of the gospel, local church membership and discipline in fact define God's love for the world" (p. 17).

A Church That Looks Like Christ

A church will look like Christ as it listens to Christ.

I’ve been pondering the statement above for some time now. I really do believe that a church will look like Christ as it listens to Christ. Also, I believe the same is true for our individual lives. A Christian will look more and more like Christ as he or she submits to Christ’s Word. Think about this with me.

This statement assumes at least two things and implies one huge reality. First, notice that this statement assumes that a church wants to look like Christ. It assumes that reflecting the character of Jesus is important and central. Another way of communicating this would be to say, “A church will mature as it listens to Christ.” As a church (and as a Christian), we must have as our goal to grow in maturity. Likeness to Jesus does not just happen. It is a pursuit. Remember: the goal of the church is not how many people are coming, but what the people are becoming (Ephesians 4:1-16).

Second, notice that this statement assumes that Christ’s voice can be heard. It is possible to listen to Christ today. We find the Word of Christ in the Bible. He has spoken finally and fully, and we have His Words written down and translated into a language we can understand.

Finally, notice the huge implication of this statement. If a church matures as it listens to Christ, the church must position herself to hear God’s Word as clearly and as much as possible. A primary means of grace is the preaching, teaching, reading, and obeying of Christ’s voice contained in the Bible. If we don’t understand this, we will never hear the force of Paul’s charge to Timothy: “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). Why leave Timothy with this charge? Why not charge him to be a good organizer or vision-caster? Paul leaves this charge with Timothy because Paul knows that God builds (matures) His Church by His Word.

John Piper has often said, “Beholding is becoming.” We become increasingly like whatever we focus on. I could not agree more. The more we behold Christ in and through His Word, the more we will become like Him and reflect His beauty to this world.

Longing to be like Him,
Pastor Justin

The Call to Worship

I'm not an expert on the history of worship services. I have not taken any surveys. I simply want to make a basic observation: It seems to me that one of the aspects of corporate worship that the modern church growth/seeker sensitive movement has pushed to the side is the Scriptural Call to Worship.

For centuries, worship services have started with a clear, hearty, and compelling call to worship God. Someone stood up, read God's Word, and said something like, "In light of who God is and what He has done, let us worship Him."

I don't get to attend a lot of different worship services (for obvious reasons). However, in the last 10 years, I have noticed that something very different begins most services. You almost expect something funny or loud to begin a corporate gathering. As a college student, I can remember countless gatherings where the Bible wasn't even opened until after the singing. Or, I've come to expect that whoever "starts" the service will begin with a joke to ease everyone into the atmosphere.

I'm not saying that every corporate gathering has to look the same or follow the same order of service. I am saying that there are good and Biblical reasons to normally begin with a Scriptural Call to Worship. Here are a few:

1. God is the initiator of worship. As in every aspect of life, God is the first-mover. God initiated the creation of the world. God initiated the nation of Israel. God initiated the plan of salvation. God initiated our personal salvation. God will initiate the end of this age through the coming of Christ. This is the pattern of everything: God initiates. So, we should reflect this pattern (as much as possible) in our corporate gatherings.

2. Worship is a response to God's nature and actions. God initiates; we respond. God reveals Himself; we worship Him. God speaks; we listen and obey. We need to position ourselves under God's Word as quickly as possible when we gather.

3. Worship is based on the character of God. If we try to worship God apart from His self-revelation, we will end up worshiping a false god. God is a specific God, with attributes and desires and plans. The only way to ensure that we actually worship God is to fill our minds with how He has revealed Himself.

4. We cannot worship God apart from the work of Christ. The main reason we need a Call to Worship is to be reminded that apart from Christ, our worship would be completely unacceptable to God. We must always approach God through the person and work of the Son.

Bryan Chapell's new book has a great chapter with examples and resources on the Call to Worship: Christ-Centered Worship.

For 3 years, my church read through the Psalms as a Call to Worship. You can read my post on that here.

Jesus' Promise to Build His Church

Excerpts from my sermon at our 3 year anniversary celebration (9-20-09):

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus made a huge promise. After Peter confessed Him as the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus said, “...on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” This promise contains massive encouragement for us as a church.

1. Jesus is the Builder of the Church.
Jesus says, “I will build my church.” The apostles did not build churches. Missionaries do not build churches. Pastors do not build churches. Jesus is the Church-builder. The One who has all authority in Heaven and Earth is the One who builds the Church. If Jesus says He is going to do something, you better believe that nothing will stand in His way.

2. The Building of the Church is Certain.
Jesus says, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The Church that Jesus is building is indestructible. All of Jesus’ omnipotence is behind this promise. Nothing can stop the Son of God from accomplishing His purposes. The Church is the only organization that has this promise attached to it. Jesus never promised to build any other institution. When we connect ourselves to Jesus’ Church, we are part of something extraordinary. We are part of a plan that cannot fail. It is as certain as Jesus is faithful.

3. The Church Belongs to Jesus.
Jesus says, “I will build MY church.” Jesus is specific as to which Church He is building. Jesus owns the church. It is His. Jesus has purchased the Church with His own blood. He laid down His life for His Bride, the Church. The Church has the most glorious Owner in the Universe. Thus, we should love the Church because Jesus does.

4. Jesus is the Foundation of His Church.
Jesus says, “On this rock, I will build my church.” There has been a debate throughout history about what the “rock” is upon which Jesus’ Church is built. Catholics claim that Jesus is setting up the entire Papal system, with Peter as the first Pope. However, Jesus is referring not just to Peter himself, but to Peter’s (and the other apostles’) unique role of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter had just confessed (in verse 16) that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Ephesians 2 says that the apostles are the foundation of the church because it was the apostles who proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The rock upon which the Church is built is the message that Christ died for our sins. Thus, we must always ensure that local churches are centered upon Christ. He is the foundation of His Church.

5. Jesus Builds His Church by His Sacrificial Death.
Jesus tells His disciples how He builds His Church in verse 21. He must suffer and die and rise from the dead. The gates of hell will not prevail against His Church because Jesus dies for our sins and frees us from our bondage. The Church is built by the power of the Gospel.

15 Reasons I Love The Church

-She is Christ’s bride and body (Eph. 5:22-33).
-She was purchased by Christ’s own blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:1; 25).
-She exists to glorify God (Eph. 3:10; 21).
-She provides accountability and encouragement for my family and I.
-She provides an opportunity to love and serve other sinners.
-She will kick me out if I live as an unbeliever.
-She provides the opportunity to utilize my spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12, 14).
-She is the pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Tim. 3:13).
-She displays the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10).
-She is my eternal family (Eph. 2:19-22).
-She reminds me of the gospel.
-She is built by Christ Himself (Matt. 16:18).
-She will never be defeated (Matt. 16:18).
-She is the dwelling place of God (Eph. 2:22).
-She nourishes my soul with the Word.

Derek Thomas has a great post about Falling in Love with the Church -- again.

Quotes on the Church from Sunday's Sermon

John Stott: “On earth she is often in rags and tatters, stained and ugly, despised and persecuted. But one day she will be seen for what she is, nothing less than the bride of Christ, “free from spots, wrinkles or any other disfigurement,” holy and without blemish, beautiful and glorious. It is to this constructive end that Christ has been working and is continuing to work. The bride does not make herself presentable; it is the bridegroom who labors to beautify her in order to present her to himself.”

John Stott: “If the church is central to God’s purpose as seen in both history and the gospel, it must surely also be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously? How dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the center?”

Chuck Colson: “Of course every believer is part of the universal church. But for any Christian who has a choice in the matter, failure to cleave to a particular church is failure to obey Christ.”

Spurgeon: “I know there are some who say, ‘Well, I have given myself to the Lord, but I do not intend to give myself to the church.’ Now why not? ‘Because I can be a Christian without it.’ Are you quite clear about that? You can be as good a Christians by disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient? What is a brick made for? To help build a house. It is of no use for that brick to tell you that it is just as good a brick while it is kicking about on the ground as it would be in the house. It is a good-for-nothing brick. So you rolling-stone Christians, I do not believe that you are answering your purpose. You are living contrary to the life which Christ would have you live, and you are much to blame for the injury you do.”

Most of these came from Josh Harris' Stop Dating the Church.

"I Will Build My Church"

It was a joy to preach from Matthew 16:18 at our 3 year anniversary celebration Sunday. My intention was to encourage our young church with this massive promise by Jesus: "I will build my church." I brought out 5 truths:

1. Jesus is the Builder of His Church.
2. The Building of the Church is certain.
3. The Church belongs to Jesus.
4. Jesus is the foundation of His Church.
5. Jesus builds His Church by His sacrificial death (v. 21).

Thoughts on the Lord's Supper: Proclaiming the Dying Love of Christ

Main Passages to Study:
Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:23-26; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

What I believe about The Lord’s Supper:
1. The Lord’s Supper is an act of corporate worship that communicates the truth of the gospel. Communion is to be observed by a church as a vivid portrayal of Christ’s death for sins.

2. The purpose of The Lord’s Supper is to proclaim Christ’s death (1 Cor. 11:26). The broken bread symbolizes Jesus’ body that was broken for sin (1 Cor. 11:24). The cup symbolizes the blood of Jesus spilled for His people (1 Cor. 11:25).

3. Scripture does not prescribe a frequency with which to observe the Lord’s Supper. However, it seems that the early church practiced communion weekly. It should be a spiritually significant and emphasized part of the regular practice of the local church. Christ Baptist Church currently observes The Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of each month as part of our Sunday morning gathering.

4. The Lord’s Supper is to be observed with an expectation of Christ’s return (Matthew 26:29; 1 Cor. 11:26).

5. The Lord’s Supper is an opportunity to express the unity of the local church (1 Cor. 11:18-19, 33). It is to be observed within a community of believers (1 Cor. 10:17). Broken relationships within the body of Christ should be repaired before partaking of the elements.

6. Only believers should partake of the elements of The Lord’s Supper and only after self-examination (1 Cor. 11:27-29). Unbelievers cannot adequately proclaim Christ’s death because they have not appropriated it for themselves. Paul assumes that some gathered on the Lord’s Day should not partake of the elements (1 Cor. 11:28).

7. In partaking of The Lord’s Supper, we are affirming our personal faith in Christ. In participating in communion, we acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior. The Lord’s Supper is an abandonment of our sin and an embracing of Jesus Christ.

8. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ Himself (Matthew 26:26-28). The Lord’s Supper is one of two ordinances given to the church by Christ (along with baptism).

What I deny about The Lord’s Supper:
The elements of The Lord’s Supper are not mystically changed. The bread does not become the actual body of Jesus and the cup does not become the actual blood of Jesus. The Lord’s Supper is not a new offering of Christ’s sacrifice. It is a remembrance of the one sacrifice for sin, done once for all (Hebrews 9:27-28; 10:12).

Love the Church

Love for the church should be evident in every believer’s life. The New Testament assumes that all true Christians will be committed to a local body of believers (Rom. 12:9-13; Eph. 2:19-22). In fact, most of the New Testament is written to churches, not individuals (and even the letters written to individuals are about how that individual was to serve the church – 1 Tim. 3:14-15; Titus 1:5). So, practically, what does it mean to love the church? Here are five ways to think about your love for your church (by no means is this meant to be exhaustive).

1. Love the Lord of the church.
Our love for the church is ultimately an expression of our love for the Lord Jesus Christ. We love the church because Jesus loves the church and laid down His life for her (Eph. 5:25). As we grow in our love and affection for Christ we should see our love for our church grow. Christ is the head of the church, the church is His body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). The church is Christ’s bride (Eph. 5:25ff). The Divine Husband is honored when we care for His church.

2. Love the people of the church.
The church is a people, not a place. The church is the gathering of the ones who have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). So, any discussion about loving the church must involve our actual love for the actual people of the church (1 John 4:7-12). It is popular today to hear things such as, “I like Jesus, but I can’t stand His followers.” Friends, if there is no love for Christ’s people in your heart (in spite of all their sin and weakness), you should be seriously concerned about your salvation. The apostle John wrote, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death” (1 John 3:14). In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul says that if we lack love for one another, we produce nothing, we are nothing, and we gain nothing.

3. Love the values and purpose of the church.
This is where it gets real practical. Love for the church will manifest itself in a commitment to the church’s goals and passions. Your personal obsessions and ambitions should match the corporate passions and pursuits of the church to which you belong. The church is to be passionate about celebrating the gospel of Jesus Christ and so should you. The church is to be committed to making disciples of all nations and so should you. Loving the church means loving why the church exists.

4. Love the ministries of the church.
Love what the church does. Here is a challenging question: How closely does your personal schedule reflect the schedule of the church? Do you have your own personal schedule in which you fit the church into when it’s convenient? Or, do you allow the ministries and activities of the church dominate your time, energies, and resources? Are you present when your church gathers for worship, Bible study, outreach, and fellowship (Heb. 12:24-25)? Loving the church means loving what the church does.

5. Love the structure and leadership of the church.
God has ordained that the church have a leadership structure and a decision-making process (Titus 1:9). Love for the church will manifest itself in a submission to godly and humble leadership. Love for the church reveals itself in the joyful following of the elders God has given you. Do you pray for and encourage your pastors in the work of the ministry (1 Tim. 5:17)? Do you thank them for watching over your soul as one who will give an account on the Day of Judgment (Heb. 13:17)? Love for the church shows itself in love for the organization of the church.

There are hundreds of reasons to love the church. Primarily, God is glorified when His people love the church. Your church is not perfect. But, you are called to love it.

Pursuing Maturity with You,
Pastor Justin