Sermons
What Must I Do to Join a Local Church?
What Must I Do to Join a Local Church?
Acts 9:26-31
Introduction:
1. I have been assigned to answer the question, “What must I do to join a local church?”
2. In my judgment, the passage we have just read, is the main text addressing this subject.
(There are other texts that suggest such association.)
3. The text does not give us as much information as we might like, but it does give insight into the circumstance.
4. Acts 9:19 says that Saul was “with the disciples in Damascus.” Does this mean he had joined that congregation? Probably. Later he is identified with the church at Antioch (Acts 13). Acts 11:26 indicates that Barnabas purposefully brought him there, but no further information is given about how he became a member of the congregation.
5. What are some of the insights that we can gain from these texts? How have local churches responded to those seeking to join them? Are these responses appropriate? Why would one want to join a local church in the first place?
6. We will begin with the last question first and work from there to answer the others.
Discussion:
I. Why would one want to join a local church? The motivation for joining a local church traces to the mission or purpose of a local church.
A. A local church is a group of Christians that have mutually agreed to work together to do
the work that God wants them to do.
B. This definition involves the following elements.
1. A purpose defined by God.
a. It is not to preserve great architecture.
b. It is not to provide recreational, social, and entertaining activities for the
community.
c. Its purpose is not to provide health care, food to the world’s hungry, activities for
children, etc. These are good and commendable activities, just not the purpose of
the church.
d. Its purpose is not social reforms: the elimination of racism, justice for all, the
establishment of democratic societies, political reform, etc. These may all be
commendable, just not the purpose of the local church.
e. Christianity impacts the world in a variety of ethical ways, but Scripture narrowly
defines the work of the local church.
f. The purpose of the church is to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:19-20). Jesus came to
seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10). The Holy Spirit said to those in Antioch, “Set
apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts
13:2). They went out “proclaiming the word of God” (Acts 13:5), “the message of
salvation” (13:26). They preached the kingdom of God (Acts 2:36; 17:7), that God
had established His kingdom and people could now enter it by faith in what God had
done on the cross. They preached Jesus raised from the dead as proof of God’s new
creation.
g. This work transforms societies. It defines new ethical norms. It eliminates such
things as racism. It establishes compassion, justice,and equity as right behaviors,
but these are results springing from the church accomplishing its work of making
disciples.
f. A local church has a God given purpose of “making disciples and teaching and
training them” to accomplish the work of God (Matt 28:19-20; Eph. 4:11ff).
2. A group of Christians.
a. Given this purpose it should be obvious why being a Christian is critical to joining a
local church.
b. The Jerusalem church questioned whether Saul was a disciple (Acts 9:26).
3. Mutually agreed to work together.
a. This is critical.
b. If there is no mutual agreement there is no joining to be had.
C. Why would one want to join a local church? To work together with other Christians to
accomplish the things that God wants them to do including: 1) helping needy Christians
(ex. Acts 4:32ff; 6:1ff; 11:27ff; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; et.al.); 2) building up the saved (Eph. 4:11ff;
Heb. 10:24); 3) making additional disciples. All of this is evident in Saul’s association with
the church.
1. In Damascus (Acts 9:20ff).
2. In Jerusalem (Acts 9:26ff).
3. Other places (Acts 9:31; 11:25, 27-30).
II. Joining a local church sometimes involves other Christians validating your discipleship. Discipleship is also validated by behavior.
A. Barnabas validated Saul’s discipleship (Acts 9:27). There was a need for confirmation that
he was allied with God and the accomplishment of God’s purpose (cf. Acts 9:13, 19-22,
26).
B. This was not only confirmed by Barnabas but also by Saul’s actions in Damascus,
Jerusalem and later in Antioch (Acts 11:19ff; 13:1ff), and elsewhere. In Antioch the Holy
Spirit set he and Barnabas apart to a special mission.
C. Some local churches telephone, text, ask for a letter or otherwise communicate about the
discipleship of those seeking to join them.
1. This is perfectly appropriate although not always required.
2. Disciples sometimes necessarily imply that they are joining with a congregation by
their behavior as they join in the work.
3. Sometimes disciples make a request to be considered a member of a congregation and
an announcement is made regarding this request.
4. Sometimes disciples do not make such a request and simply join in the congregation’s
work.
5. There is no formula prescribed in Scripture. If you are a disciple and come to the
congregation where I serve as one of the elders and begin working with us, over a
period of time, we are going to interpret that to mean that you want to be included
with us. It may not be as neat as a formal request and a formal announcement, and
the time when you are considered a member may not be as specifically defined as we
might like, but after a time of necessarily implyingyour desire we are going to
conclude that this is your intent. “Yes,” we receive communication from you the
same way we do from God, by direct communication, by your example and by what
you necessarily imply.
Ex. Preachers are notorious for doing this.
D. We may mistakenly accept people who are not faithful disciples (ex. 1 Cor. 5:11). We
may mistakenly NOT accept those who are (3 Jn. 10).
E. Paul in Rom. 16:1-18 commends certain Christians and warns against those from whom
we should turn away. Those allied with the purpose of God we should accept. Those
going in an opposing direction we should not accept (1 Tim. 1:3-5; Titus 3:9-10).
Conclusion:
1. Disciples should be joined with other Christians to stimulate and be stimulated to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).
2. They should join with other Christians in furthering the administration of God (1 Tim. 1:4).
3. While there is no formula for how to join a local church somehow one’s intent must be communicated.
4. Investigation is appropriate. When it is confirmed that the one seeking to be joined is a disciple and thus is allied with the purpose of God it is appropriate to accept them.
5. When Christians agree to work together to accomplish God’s purpose, the church “enjoys peace, is built up and goes forward in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, andcontinues to increase” (Acts 9:31).
