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Love the ChurchStudy Guide

The Pillar and Ground of

the Truth

©2011 The National Center for Family-Integrated Churches220 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587

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Table of Contents

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Speakers and Speech Titles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-18

Message Outlines

Describing the Church

Christ’s Love for the Church Scott Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-25

Cherishing the Church Joel Beeke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-29

A Holy Church Joel Beeke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30-33

The Figures of the Church Described Andy Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-39

The Figures of the Church Applied Andy Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-43

The Bridegroom of the Church: Jesus Christ John Latham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44-47

The Gates of Hell Doug Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48-53

The Parachurch Paradox Doug Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54-59

t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s

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Answering Critics of the Family-Integrated Church Movement Doug Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60-65

Union with the Head of the Church Jeff Pollard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66-69

Love the Church Scott Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70-73

Living in the Church

How to Be a Faithful Church Member Joel Beeke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76-79

The Family at Church Joel Beeke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80-85

The Office of Deacon Jason Dohm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86-89

Worthy of Double Honor Jason Dohm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90-93

The Calling, Training, and Support of Pastors and Teachers William Einwechter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94-99

Division Versus Divisiveness Dan Horn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100-103

The Importance of Doctrine Dan Horn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104-107

The Lord’s Table Dan Horn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108-111

The Keys of the Kingdom Joe Morecraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112-119

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The Nature of Conversion Paul Washer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120-123

The Tests of Conversion Paul Washer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124-127

Sin in the Church

Paganism in the Church Scott Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130-133

The Lurking Dangers Within Family-Integrated Churches Boyd Dellinger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134-137

The Church: the Bride of Christ or the Whore of Babylon? Don Hart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138-141

How Christians Are to Treat Excommunicants Stephen Hopkins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142-145

The Church in Society

Church Planting, Part I: Its Purpose Tony Konvalin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148-151

Church Planting, Part II: Its Practice Jason Dohm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152-155

Church Planting, Part III: Its Pitfalls Steve Breagy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156-159

The Church and the Family: Guardians of Religious Liberty Don Hart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160-163

A Mission Greater Than Ourselves Craig Houston. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164-167

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How Important Are Educational Choices? Doug Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168-171

How a Local Church Reaches Out to the Poor Rob Tart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172-175

Reforming Modern Youth Evangelism and Discipleship Paul Washer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176-179

Appendix A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180

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i n t r o d u c t i o n

Do you love the church of Jesus Christ?In 1800, the grandson of Jonathan Edwards, Timothy Dwight,

wrote a beautiful song about love for the church. It causes us to ask, “Do I really love the church?”

I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord

I love Thy kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode,

The church our blessed Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.

I love Thy church, O God. Her walls before Thee stand,

Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And written on Thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall For her my prayers ascend,

To her my cares and toils be givenTill toils and cares shall end.

Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield And brighter bliss of Heaven.

Do your tears fall for her? Do your prayers ascend? Do you give her your toils and cares? Do you intend to do this until ‘toils and cares shall end’? Do you really feel this way and live this way? Do you prize her heavenly ways? Do you prize her communion and solemn vows? Do you prize her hymns of love and praise?

INTRODUCTION

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i n t r o d u c t i o n

Can you sing the words of this song with sincerity? I pray that, if you cannot today, by the time you depart from this study, you can sing it with all of your heart.

If we would treat the local church properly, there is one thing that we must do: learn from Christ. He Himself has said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:28-29).

In the same way, the apostle Paul urges that the Philippians have the mind of Christ for one another: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5-7). The apostle John says, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6).

So, put on the mind of Christ for the church. Think about the church like Christ thinks. Behave the way Christ behaves. Love the way Christ loves.

This is critical because, generally, you cannot get a right pattern for loving the church from Christian culture. Most people do not get it from their families because it did not exist. Most people cannot get it from their best friends because they are confused about the church. You have to get it from Christ. There is no better place to go than to Christ, who loved the church.

As I look across the landscape of modern American evangelical churches, I see an ever growing disease – lack of love for the church. Many who gather in modern churches do not mirror the same zeal that the Lord Jesus Christ had for the church.

This book serves as a study guide for a series of messages delivered on this most important topic: Christ’s love for the church and how we ought to love the church. In these messages, the speakers have attempted to extol the indispensability and the glory of the local church and to explain from Scripture alone the way that we relate to the local church.

These messages are an attempt to speak biblically about church life. We want to establish with clarity, what a local church is, how a person fits into it, and how a person should be faithful to it. Most importantly, we desire you to have the mind of Christ for the church.

Our prayer is that there would be a rising movement of Christians who love the local church and who will give their lives to promote

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l o v e t h e c h u r c h s e r i e s

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Love the Church Scripture Verse

Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the

word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be

holy and without blemish.

- Ephesians 5:25b-27

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Describing the ChurchSection 1

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III. Ways Christ’s affection towards the church is demonstrated

He gave Himself up for Her (Eph. 5:25-30).A.

How did He love?1.

Why did He do this?2.

What was His objective in expressing His love?3.

B. He personally identifies with the church (Acts 9:1-5).

C. He builds the Church (Matt. 16:17-19).

D. His zeal for her had eaten Him up ( John 2:13-17).

Note: For a list of ways in which Christ’s love for His church is demonstrated, please see Appendix A.

Questions:

Where should we go to learn about love for the church? 1.

What is the church?2.

What is a problem in our day?3.

What happens when people separate themselves when they opt 4. out from vigorous life in the local church?

What is the visible and invisible church?5.

Why do many churches break down?6.

Why did Christ do so much for His bride? What was the objec-7. tive of Christ’s love?

What is 8. Christian nomadism?

What is 9. family idolatry? What are ways in which it is manifested?

What Scripture passages demonstrate Christ’s identification with 10. the church?

Why is it a grave thing to take the church of the Lord Jesus Christ 11. lightly?

What do we often do towards the church instead of identifying 12. with her?

What are some reasons people give for not being apart of a local 13. church? How do these people view the Christian life?

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Both are called into a covenantal relationship with God 2. to accomplish vital kingdom tasks.

Both are called to worship God in community.3.

Both are called to a future inheritance in Canaan – one 4. an earthly and the other an heavenly Canaan.

B. How the church belongs to Jesus Christ

The church belongs to Jesus by gift. 1.

The church belongs to Jesus by promise.2.

The church belongs to Jesus by purchase.3.

C. What Jesus must do to make the church His and claim her as His own

Jesus must be crucified. 1.

Jesus must be exalted and intercede.2.

Jesus must proclaim through His ambassadors.3.

II. The substance of the church as founded on Christ – “upon this rock”

Jesus Christ is the undergirding chief cornerstone (1 Cor. A. 3:11).

The apostles built their doctrine on Christ as the chief cor-B. nerstone (Eph. 2:20).

The structure is formed of living stones, namely the members C. of the church of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:4-5).

III. The success of the church as the workmanship of Christ – “I will build”

Wonderful indestructibility A.

Wonderful institution B.

Wonderful individuality C.

Wonderful churchly inheritanceD.

Wonderful invitationE.

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H. The more holy you are, the more unholy you feel.

II. What we must cultivateCultivate the imitation of the character of the Father.A.

Cultivate conformity to the image of Christ (1 Cor. 1:30; B. Phil. 2:5).

Cultivate submission to the mind of the Spirit (Rom. 8:6).C.

III. How we must cultivate holiness

Know and love the Scriptures ( John 17:17).A.

The Spirit is our master teacher.

Use the sacraments diligently as means of grace to strengthen B. your faith in Christ.

Regard yourself as dead to the dominion of sin and as alive to C. God in Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:11).

Pray and work in dependency on God for holiness.D.

Flee worldliness. E.

Seek fellowship in the church. Associate with mentors in F. holiness.

Live present-tense, total commitment to God.G.

IV. Encouragements the Word of God affords us in cultivating holiness

God has called you to holiness for your good and His glory.A.

God makes you resemble Himself through holiness. B.

Holiness gives evidence of your justification and of your elec-C. tion.

Holiness fits you for service with God.D.

V. The joys of cultivating holinessThere is the supreme joy of fellowship with God.A.

There is the abiding joy of ongoing assurance.B.

There is the anticipated joy of eternal communion with C. Christ forever.

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He dressed His bride.J. He adorned His bride.K. He married His bride.L.

III. Scriptural descriptions of the church (Rev. 21:2-3, 9-12)

A brideA. A cityB. A peopleC. A templeD. Family imagesE. Architectural imagesF. National imagesG. Biological images H.

IV. The relationship between Israel and the church

Not a simple one-to-one correspondenceA. Romans 9:6: “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”B. The church is defined as the “people of God” across both C. Testaments.

V. Metaphors of the people of God

National metaphorsA. Religious metaphorsB. Family metaphorsC. Biological metaphorsD. Architectural metaphorsE. Possession metaphorsF. Display metaphorsG.

VI. The astonishing metaphors of the church organized and described

National metaphorsA.

A people1.

A chosen race2.

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Called-out assembly3.

A holy nation4.

A kingdom5.

Rulers under Christ6.

Applications7.

Consider the customs of that nation.a.

Have true “patriotism.”b.

Cherish the idea of sharing unity with people.c.

Be holy in all that you do.d.

Assemble with the church.e.

Look forward to the day when the saints shall reign.f.

B. Religious metaphors

A priesthood1.

A living sacrifice2.

A holy temple3.

Applications4.

Offer up your body as a living sacrifice unto Christ.a.

Love the church by using your spiritual gifts and by b. praying for it daily.

Praise and worship God individually and corpo-c. rately.

C. Family metaphors

Household of God1.

Servants of God2.

His adopted children3.

God’s firstborn Son4.

The bride of Christ5.

Applications6.

See yourselves as members of a vast family.a.

Be a brother and sister to your other brothers and b. sisters.

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Love your brothers and sisters.c.

Stand in awe of the future perfection of the bride of d. Christ.

Treat members of the church of the opposite sex e. purely.

Love the church as Jesus does.f.

Make a covenant connection with the church.g.

Questions:

What is Christ’s vision for His bride, the church? When did He 1. have it? How is it different from the actions of a couple on their wedding day?

What does it mean to love the church? To hate her? To be indif-2. ferent towards her?

How does God define the term Israel?3.

How did Calvin view the church?4.

How is the church considered to be a “people”? What does the 5. church have that makes it a “people”? What Scripture passages describe the church as a “people”?

What is the key issue in the expression “chosen race”? Why does 6. God choose His people?

Where does the New Testament give the name “church” to the 7. Old Testament assembly (ecclesia)? What does it mean to be “called-out”?

What does the word holy mean? Where is our citizenship?8.

How does your understanding of the national metaphors apply to 9. your life?

How are we to be priests unto God? A living sacrifice unto God? 10. How are we a holy temple?

How does J. I. Packer sum up the gospel and the New Testament?11.

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Love the church.4.

Trust the Good Shepherd.5.

II. Architectural MetaphorsA buildingA.

A dwelling placeB.

A holy templeC.

A pillar and foundationD.

A mountain fortressE.

A holy cityF.

ApplicationsG.

Delight in the stability of the church as something 1. Christ is building.

Be a living stone in the wall of the church.2.

Immerse yourself in Scripture so you can help the church 3. be “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Read Revelation 21.4.

Do not spend too much on architecture now.5.

III. Possession metaphors

A possessionA.

A treasureB.

An inheritanceC.

The apple of God’s eyeD.

Slaves of ChristE.

ApplicationsF.

Meditate daily on the last statement in 1 Corinthians 1. 6:19, “Ye are not your own.”

Self-esteem: God looks on you as His treasured inheri-2. tance.

Love the church because God loves others as His trea-3. sured possession as well.

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IV. Display metaphors

The light of the worldA.

LampstandsB.

A city on a hillC.

The salt of the earthD.

Witnesses of ChristE.

Ambassadors of GodF.

ApplicationsG.

Have a life of active witness.1.

Testify to the truth, even if it is costly.2.

Live a life of glorifying God.3.

Questions:

What does Dr. Davis mean by “biological metaphors”?1.

What are elements of all living things?2.

What does Christ mean by “without me ye can do nothing,” in 3. John 15:5?

What are those that are truly considered Christ’s disciples?4.

What is fruit? What two fruits are named? Describe them.5.

What does it mean to “abide in Christ”?6.

Why is there a need for ongoing pastoral ministry? 7.

What is the difference between a field and a garden?8.

Why does the church exist? What Scripture passage testifies to 9. this?

What are two themes in the New Testament about the church? 10.

What is the 11. shekinah glory of God?

What does it mean that the church is “the pillar and ground of the 12. truth”?

Where does the Bible speak that God’s people are God’s inheri-13. tance?

Why are we slaves of Christ?14.

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Trust in His provision

IV. Jesus is the Sanctifier of the church

The Bridegroom is preparing a place for His bride.A.

The Bridegroom is preparing His bride.B.

An example for husbands and wivesC.

The response of the churchD.

Questions:

What is betrothal?1.

What is required to break a betrothal?2.

What can 3. head mean in the Greek?

What does it mean that Christ is the Head of the church?4.

What does it mean to be subject to Christ?5.

What is one way to practically act under one husband as a 6. church?

How can someone’s marriage reflect or defame the gospel?7.

Why is it incorrect to say that the command for women is cul-8. tural?

Who is the example in 1 Peter 3 for women submitting to their 9. husbands?

What does 10. savior mean?

What does Christ save us from?11.

Why did Christ die?12.

What is the standard for husbands?13.

What does the word 14. love mean?

How are husbands to love their wives? 15.

What is the role of the husband in the family?16.

How should we respond to the sanctifying work of the Lord?17.

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II. Perspectives on Matthew 16:18

Geneva Bible notesA.

John CalvinB.

Barnes’ notesC.

III. Three thoughts

That you become as bold as a lion through the knowledge A. that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against [the church]”

That you glorify God more when you see some key provi-B. dences that help to track God’s preservation of His church

That you will obey the Lord, as the Scripture tells us to, by C. identifying the great cloud of witnesses, who were part of this hell-gate defying story, and allow their stories and providenc-es, to inform this generation of the challenges of the church in the 21st century

IV. Five historic hell-gate battles

The battle for fundamental orthodoxyA.

The battle of syncretismB.

The battle over lawful jurisdictionsC.

The battle for the preservation of the WordD.

The battle of lordshipE.

V. Principles of the gates of hell

God is with His people.A.

The worst the evidence, the more hopeless the situation, the B. more we are supposed to persevere.

There will always be a seed.C.

God will accomplish a great work through His people.D.

VI. Considering some historic places

The Temple of SaturnA.

The Jerusalem TempleB.

PompeiiC.

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ColiseumD.

CatacombsE.

The Arch of TitusF.

VII. Areas in to which God has brought revival in the 20th century

Christian apologeticsA.

Defense of biblical creationismB.

The Law of GodC.

The reformation of the familyD.

Questions:

What was one of the greatest massacres in the history of the 1. church? What did the Pope do in commemoration of this great massacre?

What is theology?2.

Why is history critical? What foundation does history rest upon?3.

Who is God in relation to creation and history?4.

Why is the church hugely important in history?5.

What are some perspectives on Matthew 16:18?6.

What do we need to concern ourselves with?7.

What is fundamental to your strength in life?8.

What is meant by 9. fundamental orthodoxy?

Why do we not have to fight the battle for many of the fundamen-10. tal doctrines everyday?

What is one reason we need to understand the fundamental 11. doctrines?

What is meant by 12. fundamentalist?What is the church constantly about?13.

What is syncretism?14.

What is syncretism based upon?15.

How did the Roman Catholics use syncretism?16.

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What are the disciplinarian means of the state, church, and 17. family?

Why is the battle for the preservation of the Word so important?18.

How is the battle for the preservation of the Word being fought 19. now?

Who is the Lord of the nations?20.

How are Christians terrified of the battle?21.

What is 22. environmental pantheism?

What is the battle of the 21st century?23.

Why do the gates of hell never prevail against the church?24.

What did Calvin say about the Christian life in view of Matthew 25. 16:18?

What is the 26. church militant?What does God’s Word say to those who are despairing because 27. “nobody thinks like them” regarding church or to those who con-sider themselves to be “all alone”?

What is one element of the perseverance of the church? Why is 28. this the case?

What was the decade that shook the world?29.

What happened with the gospel during the decade of the Coli-30. seum, of the destruction of the Temple, and of the destruction of Pompeii?

What was the Island of Iona like? What were some of the people 31. of Iona like?

Who were the Culdees? 32.

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IV. The local church

Its dutiesA.

Shepherding and discipleship of the people of God1.

Administration of the ordinances of God2.

Practice of corporate worship 3.

Discipline and blessing of the apostles’ doctrine 4.

Discipline of the saints5.

B Its government

C. Its community

V. Critical issues

What is the standard?A.

What are the duties and jurisdictional boundaries of the local B. church, the family, and the state?

Through what jurisdiction is the Dominion Mandate to be C. executed?

How far does the Dominion Mandate go?D.

Are there distinctions between sacred and secular activity?E.

What Christians are called to ministry?F.

Is there a solution to the “parachurch paradox”?G.

VI. A biblical example showing the tension in jurisdictional responsibility and oversight (Mark 11:15-17; John 2:13-16)

The situationA.

Items that are used in the worship of God are being sold.

The problemB.

The temple was not supposed to sell those things.1.

Those selling were taking advantage of the circumstance.2.

Jesus was disturbed by this.C.

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VII. The duty of commerce

Not the duty of the stateA.

Not the duty of the churchB.

Duty of the familyC.

VIII. Jurisdictions

IX. Symbols of authority

The state has the sword.A.

The church has the keys.B.

The family has the rod.C.

X. The Dominion Mandate

Given to the familyA.

The Dominion Mandate and the gospelB.

Problem we have: Some of life is sacred and some 1. secular

There are gospel implications for everything.2.

XI. The church relating to the parachurch

The church does not run organizations or corporations.A.

The church does hold individuals accountable if those B. individuals are engaged in something outside of the truth of the Scripture.

XII. Summary

All Christians are gospel ministers.A.

All ministry has gospel implication.B.

Ministry is the work of all individuals.C.

Ministry is always performed in the context of jurisdic-D. tional authority.

Ministry takes different forms based on jurisdictional E. priorities.

There is a ministry of the state.1.

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There is a ministry of the church.2.

There is a ministry of the family.3.

F. Jurisdictional authority is established in the Word of God.

G. The family is the God-ordained institution for dominion.

H. The church is the gospel-ordained institution for the admin-istration of the sacraments.

I. Biblical accountability comes as the local church holds indi-vidual members accountable to God’s truth.

Questions:

Why is methodology important?1.

What does the word 2. educate come from in the Latin, and what does it mean?

What does the word 3. curriculum come from in the Latin, and what does it mean?

Why is it the case that even if a term is not found in the Bible it 4. does not necessarily invalidate that term as one that Christians may use?

What are some theological terms that we regularly use but are not 5. found in the Bible?

Does the 6. universal church run anything? Explain.

What is God’s vehicle for accomplishing things for the kingdom 7. of God?

What or who are we referring to when we speak of loving the 8. church?

What does 9. government mean?

Why can you not willingly and legitimately give away a jurisdic-10. tion that God has given to you?

What is a ministry?11.

With what is Jesus’ cleansing of the temple concerned with: unjust 12. weight and balances or selling merchandise? Why?

Is Christ against commerce? How is this demonstrated from the 13. Scripture?

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II. Addressing the battle of our day: the familyMust address the other jurisdictionsA.

Defining our starting pointB.

III. IdentificationsCommitments made at the start of the NCFICA.

Goal: To build the local church1.

To go wherever the Scripture directed2.

To be clear that we can agree on family integration even 3. though there are other issues that we may disagree about

B. The doctrine of the family is not elevated to the exclusion of everything else.

C. Those who give and receive criticism must follow the rules. There has not been one work of scholarship against the family-integrated church movement.

D. Biblical orthodoxy requires that we draw from the precepts, principles, and patterns of Scripture to build all things.

IV. Some practices the NCFIC leadership opposesWe oppose the doctrine of the family being preeminent over A. the doctrine of Christ.

We oppose people refusing to yoke with the local assembly.B.

We oppose leaving a church in an unruly or dishonorable C. manner.

We oppose people that stay in church but still behave in an D. unruly or schismatic way by causing dissension within the church over their correct beliefs on family integration.

We oppose groups of Christians gathered together who claim E. to be a constituted local church but lack a church government composed of elders and deacons.

V. Rules of engagementGet actual documentation and look at it in context.A.

Footnote comments. B.

Treat people with respect.C.

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Approach the issue properly and logically.D.

VI. Some false accusations against the family-integrated church movement

There has been an objection to the term A. family of families.Family integration is a litmus test for fellowship.B.

The family-integrated church movement is a paradigm shift C. in evangelical church polity. It equates the family with the church and vice-versa.

Family integration teaches a disregard for the authority and D. oversight of church shepherds.

The NCFIC encourages schisms within the local church.E.

The NCFIC is a parachurch organization which sits in judg-F. ment above local churches.

The family-integrated church movement makes the family an G. idol.

The family-integrated church movement results in the H. ignoring of single youth without Christian families.

The family-integrated church movement holds to a dangerous I. eschatology.

Some critics have conflated the Baptist, Reformed Baptist, J. Presbyterian, and CRC versions, thus raising questions about such things as church membership and paedo-communion.

Questions:

What is the family-integrated church movement about? What is 1. its goal?

What message ought we to receive from the two problems that 2. occurred in the late 1990s?

What is the battle of our day? Why is this the battle of our day?3.

When dealing with the battle, what is our starting point?4.

Why does the NCFIC focus primarily on family integration?5.

How can the Bible be used for things not explicitly mentioned 6. within its text?

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D. Eternal union

E Historical union

III. The importance of union with Christ

It will affect the way we think about ourselves.A.

It will affect the way we think about our families.B.

It will affect the way we think about our church.C.

It will affect the way we think about our Christ.D.

Questions:

What did Paul communicate to the Ephesians through the phrase 1. “in Christ”?

What are all of God’s children sealed with? What does this mean 2. for them?

Why did Paul pray that God the Father would grant to the 3. church the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ?

Describe Christ.4.

What is union with Christ?5.

What term do biblical writers most often use to describe union 6. with Christ?

What does a “spiritual union” with Christ mean?7.

What does 8. spiritual mean?

What does 9. mystical mean in “mystical union”?

How is union with Christ more intimate than the intimacy be-10. tween a husband and wife?

What is one of the most powerful expressions of God’s love in the 11. Bible?

Why did God choose the church?12.

What makes a soul alive and together with Christ?13.

How is the Trinity involved in the salvation of a sinner?14.

How is union with Christ important to Christ Himself?15.

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It is nourished in the home.1.

It is cultivated by daily family worship.2.

It is cultivated in conversations about the glorious nature 3. of the way that God has configured the church.

It is cultivated by Sabbath-keeping.4.

C. Marriage is pivotal for understanding and implementing Christ’s love for the church.

D. Love for the church is pictured in a husband’s love for his wife.

E. Love for the church is forged in marital love.

F. Are you treating your leaders properly? (1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17)

G. Are you devoted to praying for your church, practicing hospi-tality, and listening to the sermons and applying them?

H. Are you able to be shepherded? (Ps. 87:2)

I. Are you opposing the leaders that God has established in your local church?

J. There are various reasons that people do not love the church (Ps. 137:5).

They are not converted.1.

They have misplaced priorities.2.

They have a love of activities.a.

They have a love of weekends, games, evenings, b. entertainment, and business.

They have geographical challenges.3.

They desire to create the church in their own image.4.

They are disconnected from the church because of 5. individualism.

There are deficiencies in the church.6.

K. Learn from the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 6:4-12, 12:15)

L. To be like Christ is to love the church as Christ loved her.

He is walking among local assemblies - the lampstands (Rev. 1:13-16)

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