Daily Archives: March 29, 2009

Evangelical Baptist Church Constitution Part 1

March 29, 2009Sunday Evening SermonsDon

What Am I Doing In Church?

Member Responsibilities

Evangelical Baptist Church Constitution Part 1

Acts 2 41-47

(Taken from EBC Constitution Article V, section C, subsection 2)

RESPONSIBILITY AND CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

The responsibilities of members are set forth in general terms in the Church

Covenant. In addition and by way of clarification, a member in good

standing shall strive to maintain, with the Lord’s help, the highest ideals of Christian living as suggested in the following paragraphs:

a) MEMBERS TO THE LORD. It shall be the duty of each member of this Church

to strive to put the Lord Jesus Christ first in his life; to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1) and to heed the Scripture which says “And whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23,24)

b) MEMBERS TO THEMSELVES. It shall be the duty of each member of this

Church to strive to acquire a knowledge of the Scriptures for himself

and his family: to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and

Savior, Jesus Christ…” (II Peter 3:18); to strive for a moment by

moment walk in dependence upon the Holy Spirit so as not to “fulfill the

lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16); and to live a consistent Christian life.

c) MEMBERS TO THEIR CHURCH. It shall be the duty of each member of this

Church to strive to attend the services of their church faithfully and to invite and encourage others to attend; to be friendly and sociable at the services and meetings of the Church; to contribute regularly and cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:6,7) to the local expenses and missionary program of the church “as God hath prospered him” (I Corinthians 16:2);

to help willingly in whatsoever way possible in the program of the church; to pray daily for the spiritual welfare of the church (Ephesians 6:18), and if at any time he finds himself opposed to the fundamental doctrines of the Church as expressed in the Statement of Faith, or if for any other reason is unable to harmonize with the decisions of the Church or with other members, he will quietly and in a Christian manner withdraw himself from the membership by taking his membership to another church.

d) MEMBERS TO OTHER MEMBERS. It shall be the duty of each member of this

Church to strive to cultivate and cherish Christian love for the other members regardless of their action toward us; to visit and sympathize with members in affliction; to pray with and for each other; to consider it a privilege to administer financial help to other members who may be in need at any time; to guard each others reputation (“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people…” Leviticus 19:16); and to strive by all proper means to promote one another’s spiritual welfare.

e) MEMBERS TO THEIR PASTOR. It shall be the duty of each member of this

Church to strive at all times to honor and “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake” (I Thessalonians 5:12,13); to pray for him in the scriptural exercise of his official authority; to “obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account…” (Hebrews 13:17); to regularly attend upon his ministrations; to guard his reputation (I Timothy 5:19); and to contribute to his support in proportion to their ability (Philippians 4:16,17; I Corinthians 9:7,9,10,13,14; I Timothy 5:18). They should assist him in carrying out the program of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church.

f) MEMBERS TOWARD THOSE NOT IN THE CHURCH. It shall be the duty of each member of this Church to strive to win their friends, neighbors, etc., to the Lord Jesus Christ by their personal witness; living a consistent Christian life before the unsaved; and by inviting them to attend the services of this Church with them.

I. Members to the Lord

A. Be a living sacrifice

Romans 12:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1. Holy – keep a short account of sin

2. Acceptable to God – come to Him on His terms

3. This is only reasonable

B. Be excellent in everything you do

Colossians 3:23-24

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

1. Mediocrity is not an option

2. Eternal reward is at stake

II. Members to Themselves

A. Grow in spiritual maturity

2 Peter 3:18

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1. Take personal responsibility for your spiritual growth.

2. Grow in Grace – experiencing God’s power

3. Grow in Knowledge – experiencing God’s love.

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

B. Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

1. Walk = a series of steps in the same direction

2. Yield to the Spirit, starve and ignore the flesh.

Romans 13:14

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:12-13

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

III. Members to their Church

A. Attend services faithfully

Hebrews 10:25

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

B. Invite and encourage others to attend

Hebrews 10:24

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Acts 2:46-47

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

C. Be friendly at the services

Proverbs 18:24

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

D. Give financially

Malachi 3:8-11

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

E. Serve in the church

Matthew 20:26-27

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

F. Pray for the church

Ephesians 6:18

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

G. If you cannot in good conscience remain one mind with the assembly, leave and find an assembly where you can.

Philippians 2:1-2

1. Doctrine

2. Business decisions

What Are You Looking For?

March 29, 2009Sunday Morning SermonsDon

Matthew 20:17-34

Preached Sunday Morning, March 28, 2009

I. Jesus is our example for proper motivation

Matthew 20:17-19

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

A. Jesus was selfless

Philippians 2:5-8

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

B. Jesus was humble

John 1:10-11

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

C. Jesus was totally surrendered to God’s will

Isaiah 53:4-6,10

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Matthew 26:39,42

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

John 10:17-18

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

II. Do you seek titles and recognition?

Matthew 20:20-24

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

A. What motivates you?

B. Some are motivated by public recognition

C. We must serve unconditionally, not based upon perceived reputation and recognition?

1. Are you willing to serve, if no one knows about it?

2. Are you willing to serve if you do not get a title for your efforts?

3. Will you continue to serve if people are not constantly patting you on the back telling you what a wonderful Christian you are?

III. Do you seek to serve out of love?

Matthew 20:25-28

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

A. The world is motivated by great authority

1. The threat from it

2. The promotion to it

B. God promotes based on service

C. One must be others oriented in order to honor God.

Philippians 2:1-4

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

IV. Do you seek deliverance?

Matthew 20:29-34

29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

A. A great crowd followed Jesus

B. Two blind men aggressively sought Jesus

1. Son of David – Messiah

2. Cried aloud

3. Have mercy

4. Total humility and dependence while seeking deliverance

C. The Blind men endured the scornful crowd

D. They made specific requests

E. They received a specific answer.