Pastor Rich's Sermon for Sunday, July 4, 2004

I know this is one of those sermons that it feels like I am preaching to the choir. How I wish all the inactive were present to hear this message. There is a tendency to think that they need to hear this sermon more than we do. Having said that I want to challenge you to listen and ask yourself how is God speaking to me through this sermon?

While attending an event I was asked, “What do you do for a living? I said, “I am a minister.” This prompted a second question. “What church are you the minister of?” I answered, “St. Paul’s Church in Milltown.” He responded, “I have good friends who belong there.” He then told me their names and I had no idea who he was talking about. I even asked if he was sure it was St. Paul’s Church in Milltown. He insisted they were members of this St. Paul’s Church. I took his word and said, “They may be members BUT they don’t participate in the life of the church.”

I am deeply saddened when some people join a church so they have a place to have their children baptized in, be confirmed in, be married in, and be buried out of. As I speak there is a phone message about having a baby baptized from someone I don’t know yet they claim to be members.

There is more to belonging than having your name on the rolls.

“I cannot conceive of a true Christian
not wanting to gather together regularly
with fellow believers to worship the Lord.”

“Walking into church does not make you a Christian anymore than walking into a garage makes you a car. However, the scriptures also teach that the Christian life should be lived within the context of the family of God.”

“The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part.”

“God has combined
the members of the body…
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”

C. S. Lewis said the following about church membership, “Membership has been emptied of its original meaning.” Using the analogy of the body Paul emphasizes the importance of each church member.

Like any organ in our body if removed would die so it is with our relationship with Christ. Removed from the body of Christ our relationship with God will indeed die. A Christian without church is like an organ without a body. Paul is using the analogy of the body. Jesus used the analogy of the vine.

John 15
“No branch can bear fruit by itself;
it must remain in the vine.
I am the vine;
you are the branches.
IF a man remains in me and I in him,
he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.”

We are the living breathing body of Christ. Remove yourself from the body and your spiritual life dies. It may not be a sudden death but it will die.

Ephesians 5:25b Paul said,

“Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her.”

Why would Jesus give His life for the church if the church is so unimportant or so unnecessary? How can anyone say, “I don’t need church.” If we don’t need the church why would Jesus have give His life up for the church?

Martin Zubero was a participant in the 1992 summer Olympics. He was a swimmer who swam for Spain. Martin was born in the USA. He loved America. He attended the University of Florida. He trained in the United States yet he swam for Spain. He was able to make this choice because his father was born in Spain. So that entitled him to dual citizenship. He swam for Spain because, “He felt a greater allegiance to Spain.”

You and I are in a similar situation as Martin. As followers of Christ we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of this world BUT as Philippians 3:20 points out

“Our citizenship is in heaven.”

As American citizens we have some great rights and privileges. As Christians we will experience even greater rights and privileges. We must caution ourselves not to live or to be so tied to this world that we miss the great rights and privileges of the next life.

Attendees are spectators or consumers. They want what the church offers. They want the benefits of the church. Members are more than spectators. Members share their gifts, their lives and the responsibilities of fulfilling the great commandment and great commission, of loving God and neighbor or going out into all the world to make disciples, to baptize and to teach obedience to the Word of God.

What does your level in St. Paul’s church say about your love and commitment to Jesus Christ and to God’s family?