Bethel Baptist Church

To accompany our series on Sunday mornings, Church Life, I am going to attempt to produce some brief notes each week as a reminder of what we have studied together and to include bible references and possibly links to other internet resources that may be of interest.

You can download the printed sheet in PDF form (28Kb) if you prefer to print it yourself or just view the notes below. Bible references will pop-up if you hover your mouse over them (but don’t get too lazy, look up some yourself, by hand, in your own bible!).

Study 1 – Sharing within the church

“Sharing” has a very wide meaning, from the superficial to the intimate. Sharing in the church, according to the bible is at the intimate end of that scale.
Rom 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves.”
Three areas of sharing in church life and then some application.

Shared faith

The shared life of the members of Christ’s church has a foundation in their shared faith. Bible faith is not another word for religion, nor is it vague and uncertain.
Heb 11:1-2 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”
It is faith IN a person, the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving work on the cross.
See also Eph 2:1-10; John 3:16; John 5:24.
Can only truly share this life of the church if you share this saving faith in Christ. And this is not some trivial common purpose but something profound and life-changing.

Shared values

Shared faith leads to shared values. Values of members of Christ’s church have been transformed. Once worldly, now spiritual, once centred on self, now on Christ. Look at these verses for examples of these new values:
1 Cor 2:1-5; 2 Cor 4:5-7; Phil 3:4-9 (esp. v7); 1 Peter 1:13-16, 2:11-12; 1 Peter 4:3-4, 7-8.
Because coming to faith in Christ is a new birth (and not some minor “fix”), shouldn’t be surprised that Christian’s values are radically different from world.
Our shared values are centred on something important and significant, not ourselves but on Christ. Must continually come back to this and if necessary, re-orient ourselves around these values as a church.

Shared responsibility

Needed to lay foundations of shared faith and values before coming to responsibility. Responsibility should be viewed positively because it is not only upon each member of Christ’s church but also to their benefit!
Here is a list of references in the New Testament to the phrase “one another” used in the context of sharing in the church. This list was compiled by Tim Chester on a recent blog post (thanks to Tim for posting this helpful study):

Mark 9:50
John 13:34-35*
Romans 12:10; 12:16 (15:5); 14:13; 15:7; 15:14; 16:16 (1 Peter 5:14)
1 Corinthians 12:25
2 Corinthians 13:11-12
Galatians 5:13
Ephesians 4:2; 4:32 (Colossians 3:13); 5:21
Colossians 3:9; 3:16 (Ephesians 5:19)
1 Thessalonians 5:11; 4:18; 5:15
Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25
James 5:9; 5:16
1 Peter 4:8-10; 5:5
*See also John 15:12,17; Romans 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11,23; 4:7,11-12; 2 John 5.

Here’s the summary Tim gave of those verses:
“Be at peace with one another, forgiving, agreeing, humble, accepting, forbearing, living in harmony and greeting with a kiss. Do not judge, lie or grumble. Show hospitality to one another. Confess your sins to one another. Be kind to one another, concerned, devoted, serving and doing good. Instruct and teach one another. Admonish, exhort and stir up one another. Comfort and encourage one another.”

Looking at that list, what do you think we are good at, what NOT so good at and what stops us doing more of these “one anothers” in Bethel?

How does it work?

Some questions for honest and prayerful application to our local church, Bethel.

• Is our sharing any more than our formal meeting times together?
• What part does showing hospitality to each other play in our church life?
• Do you find interaction with other Christians here an encouragement or a discouragement? How do you think people find their time with you (encouraged or discouraged)?
• How do you find other Christians in the church? (before you answer, think about how they find you!).

God always blesses obedience to his word. If there are things wrong in the church, for God’s glory and for our good they must be put right.

Pray that God would help us to be open and honest before him, to receive his word and to act on it, for his glory.