Please turn with me to Ephesians chapter four. So I'm not gonna continue with what Dr. Koerner has been doing when he's been preaching here, but rather wanna look at a few verses that precede the passage that he's been looking at over the last few months, specifically chapter four, verses 11 through 16. Chapter four, verses 11 through 16. It's found on page 1,345 of the Bibles there in your rows. And as you hear this passage, I want you to begin to give thought to how these verses might tie in to the subject of church membership. Ephesians 4, verses 11 through 16, the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes, and he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure, the stature, the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men and the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, But speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effect of working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." Thus far the reading of God's holy word. Remember the grass withers and the flower falls, but God's word abides forever. Amen. How many of you remember the following tagline from American Express, which was, membership has its privileges. as they promoted this, there are individuals who heard this, and the argument that they would make is, well, if you're a member of American Express, then there's all sorts of benefits and things that you get because you have this particular card. Well, one individual who believes that church membership ought not occur Utilize the example of this credit card company to note the benefits such as high annual fees and minimal annual levels of usage for various tiers. And although it may have a status symbol, yet it causes a clear division between people who have it and people who don't. And this individual goes on to say, the church does the same thing when it touts membership. Now again, this individual is against church membership, and yet he says, the church does the same thing when it touts or promotes membership. After all, to become a member, there's all sorts of hoops that you have to jump through. Attend classes, agree to certain teachings, follow specific rules, and continue to donate money, possibly even a certain annual level. Once we do so, then the church accepts us as one of its own. We're fully embraced and become one of the flock. We're elite, even if we don't admit it. We swell with pride over our special status. Now the church and our paid staff can care for us. Do you think he's right? Do you think that's the idea behind membership? This individual goes on to say, this is why we shouldn't do this. This is why we shouldn't have membership. He wants to affirm that yes, he wants to attend. He even desires to be somehow a part of a community of believers. He wants to gather together for worship. He wants to serve, but he doesn't want membership. Here's why. Because he says membership pushes seekers away. It splits the church, creating two groups of people. One who have privileges and others who are resentful because they don't have it. He tries to argue from the scriptures that the Bible never commands us to be members of a church. He says Paul never talked about it. Peter never commanded it. John never held a new member. class. It just simply becomes divisive and contentious and pushes the seekers away from being able to be a part of the group. Well, there's a whole host of issues with what the guy said, specifically as he appeals to emotion and creates false dilemmas. And furthermore, he creates just simply boogeymen in order to be able to try to make his argument. The scriptures have the idea that there is membership in the context of the church. And that in this, Paul assumes it when he talks about the church being the body of Christ. As you think about your own bodies, your body is separate from everyone else's body, and yet it is composed of all sorts of parts in that oneness that is yours. And by that, as you have 10 fingers and 10 toes, unless you had an accident, and as you have all sorts of parts and pieces that belong to you, they are yours and no one else's. There is a belonging, there is a connection, there is a unity that exists. And in order for that to occur, there must be a real clear togetherness, even a joining in the affirming of responsibilities that are yours as you belong to Christ. And so I believe that Paul in chapter four here, verses 11 through 16, actually gives us a clear reason about membership, specifically the goals and benefits that are present. And it's put in this way, that Christ gives leadership gifts in order to build his church to spiritual maturity so that members may contribute to the growth. of the whole. That concept or that idea are the three things that we want to look at. Firstly, that Christ gives leadership gifts. Secondly, that he builds the church to spiritual maturity. Thirdly, so that members contribute to the growth. of the whole. And when we then unfold and understand these three pieces, we then will see from this passage what then are the goals and benefits of membership. Now, in our context here in chapter four, Paul, in giving the letter to the church at Ephesus, has written to a community of believers, and in writing, he notes the important doctrinal identity that they have in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in chapters one through three, it's basically straight doctrine. There are no commands present. In chapters four through six, it's almost all commands. He's noting who then the church is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And as he's developed and unfolded just the beauty and the joy that is ours in Christ, he highlights then an amazing declaration about Jesus, which is that Jesus then is the risen ascended Lord who is seated in power. And as he's seated on high, it's in victory. And what he did in his ascension is he showed that he was a conquering king. He had, as it were, a cosmic parade whereby he ushered himself to his eternal throne, sitting at the right hand of the father. And in doing so, he then shows how he has overcome, defeated, and demolished any and everything that is against God. And hence he led captives, captive. And he says in the church, we're the ones who have observed this, and as we are his observers, he then gives us an abundance of blessing so that we in turn might praise him, exalt him, and reflect him. And so one of the things that he has done then, As the ascended Lord, seeking to show that he is king of kings, is he gives leadership gifts. This is the first thing to see, that Christ gives leadership gifts. Notice what Paul says here. He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. In other passages, the Apostle Paul talks about spiritual gifts. In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, he talks about hospitality and encouragement and serving. But here, he's not talking about those gifts. Instead, he's talking about people that he's given. He recognizes the apostles and the prophets, evangelists, pastor and teacher. to be a gift. Each of these have a role. Each of these serve a function. The apostles and the prophets we are told were those who Christ had given at the establishment of the New Testament church in order to lay the foundation alongside of him. In Ephesians 2 verse 20, we are told that having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. So apostles and prophets are at the outset. This is to the chagrin of some. It means we don't have apostles and prophets anymore. They were part of the establishment of the foundation. The role of prophet was simply to expand on the revelation that God had given, or they had a direct revelation from God in order to impart a message. But once the New Testament canon of Scripture was closed, then prophecy was no longer needed. Think about what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 when he says, we testify in part, we prophesy in part, but when that which is full has come, then that which is in part goes away. The gifts of apostle and prophet were a help and a benefit at the outset, but are no longer needed. They laid then the groundwork for the building of the church today. Apostles also don't exist because a couple of things that were necessary is they had to be directly chosen by Christ and witnesses to the resurrected Lord. And so we then see the 12 that Jesus himself called out. We see Matthias as the replacement in Acts chapter 1. And then Paul, out of due time, as the apostles of the New Testament church. No more. There does seem to be a general sense of other men who are sent out and given this title, not on the same level as the Twelve Apostles, but nonetheless, the office is no more. It served its role. One commentator explained it this way, imagine if you had delegates that went to a constitutional convention, they were designated for that role, they go, they meet, but when the convention is over, then their purpose is done, it has been met, and therefore their position is no longer needed. So also with these men. But we then see that Jesus gives other gifts, evangelist and pastor teacher. Commentators are divided as to whether or not the gift of evangelist still continues today. The point of the work is the work of missions and church planters who went forward into areas where the gospel had yet to be and they shared the good news that God has saved sinners to himself through Jesus Christ. And then lastly, you have pastor-teacher. Notice that pastor-teacher is a single gift. If you look in the text, you see some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and then you see some pastors, but you do not see the word some in front of teacher. That's because that is one office. Paul, in the pastoral epistles, in one of the Timothys, I believe, had noted the labor that was put forward by, it's 1 Timothy 5 verse 17, it's this, let elders who rule well be considered worthy of a double honor, especially those who labor at preaching and teaching. Yes, there is the gift of teaching, but we're highlighting specifically the work of those who are identified as the shepherds of the flock of God, the church. And Paul is getting at the idea that in terms of Jesus providing these gifts for his people, this leadership gift, he then has especially equipped his church through pastors, and elders. You see, these are the ones who Jesus has called and given to you in order to then care for you and feed you and guard you and tend to you. They're called to be devoted to the Word and to prayer. Their responsibility is to preach and to teach and to address doctrinal issues, to come alongside of you, to exhort you when you're beginning to fall away or to encourage you when you're discouraged, to be a listening ear that might give you good counsel. And when you have questions or concerns or may even be enticed to pull away, to walk alongside of you, to protect you, to care for you, lead you, and to guide you. The ascended Jesus Christ, out of concern for His church, has given then leadership gifts for this purpose, to build up the church to spiritual maturity. Look at verses 12 and following back in our passage. "...for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God." To summarize this, it's leading for a goal. Notice what The pastor teacher is to do. He is to equip the members. What does it mean to be equipped? It's the idea of making adequate. It's used elsewhere to describe a guest room that is awaiting the arrival of guests and it has been furnished with everything needed in it. I mean, imagine if you had opportunity, you found a great deal online for a hotel, only to show up at the room and there is nothing in it. What would you do with that? Well, you couldn't use a phone in the room to call down to room service. You'd have to use your own phone. Sorry, you have to use your own phone. Or you gotta walk down the stairs or go to the elevator in order to tell them at the front desk, hey, what's the problem? I reserved this months ago and there's nothing here. And yet how often Is it that we may have the same sort of expectation in terms of the ministry? Or sadly, that is what is occurring in the context of the contemporary church today. We see a church that is weak. We see a church that is anemic. We see a church that is struggling and lacking. Oh, there's all sorts of lights and there's all sorts of sound and there's all sorts of noise. But when it comes down to being able to actually answer questions and to give a hope for the reason that is in you and to be able to substantively stand on the word of God, it ain't happening. Why? Because pastors and teachers have forsaken. equipping the saints with the Word of God and instead of simply being given over to methods and ideologies about how we might be able to build this thing up and grow it so that it's quite large but it has no real substance. The work is to prepare, to furnish, to strengthen The body of Christ so that it is built up. It's a construction term. It's putting pieces together so that it might be edified and developed. For what purpose? Unity of faith. Knowledge of the Son of God. Now when we're talking about the unity of the faith, we are not talking about the idea simply of believing in Jesus. After all, we already have the aspect of faith exercised, as Paul says in Ephesians 2, for by grace are you saved through faith. The unity of faith is not belief, but rather the body of truth or doctrine that the church holds to. Look at what Paul said in verse 5 when he says that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. So here Paul then is noting that pastors and teachers prepare, equip, build up the church so that they may then be together in the things that they understand and believe. It's ultimately talking about doctrine and truth. The point of the church is that we would be substantive in our knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. And the role of the minister is to be here in order for you to hear preaching and teaching and have other opportunities for learning and growth in your knowledge and understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ and how His work applies to you. Because it also speaks then of knowing the Son of God. This really is an important thing for us to hear because if the church doesn't have the Son of God, then it doesn't have anything. If Christ isn't present in the church, then all we are is a social club. And if this is the first time that you've been at church, we are all about Jesus because he himself is the way, the truth, and the life. We're about the Lord Jesus because without him then we are still lost and dead in our sins. You see, Jesus is revealed in the scriptures to be the one who was provided to us so that we then might be reconciled to a holy God that we have offended. And even as we then have brought about discord between He and us, and God Himself then has said, I have provided a way for you through Jesus and through Him alone. And yet we recognize that even as we come to this faith and understanding, Jesus must always be present. Remember what Jesus noted in his high priestly prayer in John 17. He said, this is eternal life that they may name you the one true God and your son, Jesus, whom you have sent. And yet it doesn't simply stop with that we are saved from our sins as it were, but we then grow, we develop, we see the unfolding of who Jesus is and the importance of him in our life. It ultimately, we see how Jesus then is that one that provides that spiritual maturity. that perfect man, the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Look, Jesus is the only perfect one who's ever lived. Jesus is the one who reflects the beauty of perfection and the glory of holiness and Jesus, as he lived perfectly in this world and is now then ascended on high, testifies to us that we then one day will be like him. Not that we will be God, but rather that as he is a perfect man, so we also will be perfect. We're united to him. And through that union then all that He has is ours and will be ours. And so Jesus then through the preaching of the Word and the other occasions for learning and growth is bringing forward to us character and qualities of who He is so that we then might walk as He walked in fellowship with His Father. and obedient to His will. But notice then Jesus wants us to be built up to spiritual maturity and this includes not only how we live but also what we think, how we believe. Because notice the way in which He describes how we wouldn't be. He says, not like children tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. Let's put this in a simple way. He wants us to be mature of a sound mind, stable, so that we then will not be overcome or enticed by anything that goes against His Word and is in error. How do we do that? By continuing to read and hear God's Word expounded to us. But also then by being connected with one another in the context of God's people who are seeking those things. there is a true, personal, real value to the corporate body of Christ and the participation of belonging and involvement. And that value isn't simply limited to the idea that you've got a community or a group or a context. Yes, that's there. But rather the value is that as you avail yourself of what is present here You then are able to hear and to comprehend and to grow in your understanding of the truth of God's Word. And you then are equipped for every good work and word. You are strengthened and growing in the image of Jesus Christ to be conformed unto Him more and more. And as you know these things, you then will be able by the power of the Spirit with discernment To not be easily enticed and pulled away and tricked by the schemes and by the craftiness of the evil one. So what? Notice what Paul says. So that members contribute to the growth of the whole. Often times people view the church, much like what Bud Wilkinson said when he made his observation in the early 60s about football. He said this, you have 22 boys who are on the field badly in need of rest and 40,000 people in the stands badly in need of exercise. The perception of the ministry of the church today is, well, we pay the minister. It's the pastor who's supposed to do all of this work. So he keeps everything up. Not only does he teach and preach, yes, but he then ought to be there for this study and he ought to be there for this visitation and he ought to be here in order to affirm this community group or that organization or just anything and everything. He gets paid to do the work. So anything related to the church and its ministry or service must all be done by the pastor. But that's not what Paul is noting here. Yes, pastors and elders equip the membership with the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God so that they in turn take it and act. They take it and are involved. They take it and come alongside in the expression of love to encourage, to strengthen, to motivate, to share, to support, to be hospitable, to pray. Yes, pastors do those things as well. But church membership is not to be a spectator sport. Church membership means clear, real involvement, taking whatever gifts and opportunities to serve that God has given so that we then do our part to share and bring about the growth of the body. The beautiful thing is that by God's grace, we have definitely seen a testimony and witness to this here at Trinity. God's Spirit is clearly present and at work. He's demonstrated among many of you your sincere desire for God's Word to grow in it and to apply it in your life. And that application has been seen then in the occasion to engage and participate and to be involved in Sunday school and other evening activities and to care for our youth and to help and encourage them and walk alongside of other members. To pray as you hear concerns or to share meals. And yet there are some who haven't engaged yet. The call before you is to do so. There is a goal to you being here. And that goal is that you then are readily equipped to do a work. There are all sorts of benefits that we have in terms of membership, but Paul here is really highlighting one of those. In the context of the church, you then are provided an environment for your growth spiritually. And as you mature, the Lord then has given you a place where you can be supported and support others, where you are being encouraged and can encourage others, where individuals and church leadership is helping to hold you accountable and to show tremendous care and service and love for you. But each one is called. to do his or her share. It's sad that some have a view of church membership that looks down on it, that sees it as some exclusive club where it's trying to put some in and keep others out. Those who don't look at what is really present in membership are really seeing something that they're really missing. Not to differentiate between the have and the have-nots. But rather to see the tremendous love and the effectual working that Christ has for you through the church. Whereby He builds you up. Whereby He encourages you. Whereby He allows you to see then that through gifts and the close contact that you have with one another, you ultimately might bring him glory and praise among the life of his people. Let's pray. Our Father in heaven, we ask that you would so encourage us and strengthen us with the truth that you've set before us that we might, with one heart and one voice, not only glorify you, but also treasure the gifts that You've given to us through our leadership. But also then to take their words of encouragement and instruction and put those things into practice so that together we as the body of the Lord Jesus Christ here at Trinity Reformed Church might each do our part being strengthened and growing together in the bond of the Gospel and of grace and peace. O Lord, do this work in us and direct us accordingly, we pray in Christ's name, Amen. We'll read to you from our directory of worship as we come to the time in which we'll celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. And I would note, beloved in the Lord Jesus, listen to the words of the institution, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The Lord Jesus, in the same night in which he was betrayed, he took bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it and he said, take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me. In the same manner, he also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death. until he comes. Our directory of worship notes that the Lord's Supper is a sacrament that's been instituted by Christ himself, and until he comes again, it's to be observed as a continuing remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his death. The physical elements of bread and wine, which represent His broken body and shed blood, are to be received by true believers as signs and seals of all the benefits of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They signify and seal their remission of sins and nourishment and growth in Christ. And they're a bond and pledge of the communion that believers have with our Lord and one another as members of his spiritual body, the church. As signs and seals of the covenant of grace, they not only declare that God is faithful and true to fulfill the promise of the covenant, but also summon us to all the duties of the children of God and call us to renewed consecration and gratitude for his salvation. So that we may celebrate the supper to our comfort, it's necessary to properly examine ourselves. As we do so, there's three things that we want to consider. The first is that we might consider our sins and our accursedness apart from Christ so that we may be displeased with ourselves and humble ourselves in the presence of God. Second, We should examine our hearts as to whether we truly believe the certain promise that God has made that all our sins are forgiven us only for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ. And third, we each should search our consciences and determine whether we desire to show gratitude to God the Lord all the days of our lives by walking uprightly before Him. As we consider this, it's my duty to warn those who are uninstructed or profane or scandalous or those who may secretly and unrepentantly live in any sin to not approach the holy table, where by doing so you would partake in an unworthy manner because you would not be discerning the Lord's body and thereby eating and drinking judgment to yourself. Nonetheless, this warning isn't designated to keep those who are humble or contrite from the table, as if we who come to the supper are free from sin. Rather, we who are invited to the supper come as guilty and polluted sinners who are without hope of eternal life apart from the grace of God in Christ. By coming, we confess our dependence for pardon and cleansing on the perfect sacrifice of Christ, and we base our hope of eternal life on His perfect obedience and righteousness, and humbly resolve to deny ourselves, crucify our old nature, and follow Christ as become those who bear His name. As we hear that consideration, let's take a moment to pray. Our Father in heaven, as we come to remember all that Jesus has done for us, and as you've given us these pictures to not only point us to, but to have the Lord Jesus come and commune with us, that He might strengthen us spiritually and refresh us with His salvation. We pray that you would strengthen us more and more to deny ourselves and to see Christ in us, the hope of glory. And yet, Lord, we know our struggles, we know our weaknesses, we know our frailties, we know the times in which we have not followed you or lived lives of gratitude. And so we come pleading Jesus to you even now. We once again pray that you would forgive us and we thank you for the promise that you will not impute our sins to us, but rather you give us all things necessary for body and soul for this life and the next. Help us in the meantime to fight the good fight of faith. Help us to follow after our Savior with joy, no matter the cost. And encourage us with the knowledge that this isn't the end, but that Christ is bringing all things together in accordance with your purposes and will bring about the glory of His name so that all will bow before Him. As we bow even now, strengthen us. with all that is ours in Christ. In whose name we pray, Amen.