4. The Accountability Indicators

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The Nuts and Bolts of

Church Membership Hebrews 10:24 - 25 & selected texts

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Looking to Scripture we can identify at least 5 indications for formal church membership

1. The Common-sense Indicators

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1. The Common-sense Indicators 15

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:15-18)

1. The Common-sense Indicators It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)

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1. The Common-sense Indicators

2. The Official Indicators

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2. The Official Indicators The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task… 8 Deacons likewise (1 Timothy 3:1,8)

2. The Official Indicators

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2. The Official Indicators Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church…

2. The Official Indicators 6He

must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 1 Timothy 3:2-8

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2. The Official Indicators

2. The Official Indicators 19Do

not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 1 Timothy 5:19-22

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2. The Official Indicators

3. The Documentary Indicators

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3. The Documentary Indicators Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

3. The Documentary Indicators

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3. The Documentary Indicators 3And

when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 1 Corinthians 16:3

3. The Documentary Indicators

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3. The Documentary Indicators 3Honor

widows who are truly widows. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband… 11But refuse to enroll younger widows 16If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows. (1 Timothy 5:3-16)

3. The Documentary Indicators

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3. The Documentary Indicators 9A

widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10having a reputation for good works… 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list, 1 Timothy 5:9-11 NASB

3. The Documentary Indicators

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4. The Accountability Indicators

4. The Accountability Indicators Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)

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4. The Accountability Indicators

4. The Accountability Indicators 17Obey

your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17) 7Remember

your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7)

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4. The Accountability Indicators

4. The Accountability Indicators 17Let

the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." 19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 1 Timothy 5:17-19

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4. The Accountability Indicators

4. The Accountability Indicators 11And

great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.12Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women… Acts 5:11-14

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4. The Accountability Indicators

4. The Accountability Indicators 40And

with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles…

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4. The Accountability Indicators 44And

all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, (Acts 2:40-46)

4. The Accountability Indicators

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Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours 1 Corinthians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia 2 Corinthians 1:1

Paul, an apostle-- not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead- 2and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia Galatians 1:1-2

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Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Thessalonians 1:1

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They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 1 John 2:19

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4John

to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne Revelation 1:4

5. The Willful-ignorance Indicators

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Five Benefits of Church Membership •

It can identify you with genuine believers.

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It can provide you a spiritual family to support and encourage you.

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It can give you a place to discover and use your spiritual gifts.

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It can place you under the protection of godly and caring leaders.

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It can provide you with the accountability you need to grow.

Application: Join, for your were raised up for such a time as this. September 15th is our next membership class.

Resource: Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever.

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