2. The Battle for the English Bible
William Tyndale
The Battle for the English Bible
Sunday, 6 PM

3. Why Local Church Membership? Ephesians 1 to 4…

4. God’s utter love and care for His people
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

5. The real onslaught against the church
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

6. God’s delight for His people
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you
Isa 62:5
…he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zep 3:17

7. Why Local Membership is essential
4 reasons from Ephesians 1 - 4

8. 1. God has made life all about the Church
Ephesians 1:23
“the church, …which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
When Jesus fills people – that is the church

9. 1. God has made life all about the Church
Ephesians 1:23
“the church, …which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
When Jesus fills people – that is the church
Church Membership should be synonymous and simultaneous with conversion

10. 1. God has made life all about the Church
Ephesians 1:23
“the church, …which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
When Jesus fills people – that is the church
Church Membership should be synonymous and simultaneous with conversion
Means participating in a local church

11. 2. God has committed you to the other believers in the Church
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (2:19-22)

12. 2. God has committed you to the other believers in the Church
There is no such thing as Private Christianity, or Club Christianity

13. 2. God has committed you to the other believers in the Church
You are committed to the other local members
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus
Gal 3:28

14. 3. God has made the church His display-piece
[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (3:10)

15. 3. God has made the church His display-piece
you must no longer live as the Gentiles do (4:27)

16. 3. God has made the church His display-piece
you must no longer live as the Gentiles do (4:27)
among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people (5:3)

17. 3. God has made the church His display-piece
Do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (5:7-8)

18. 3. God has made the church His display-piece
Do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (5:7-8)
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (5:11)

19. 3. God has made the church His display-piece
Membership to:
Protect God’s name
Safe-guard the church from false teaching and unholiness

20. 4. God has given you a job to do in the church
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (4:16)

21. 4. God has given you a job to do in the church
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (4:16)
As a member, you have a clear and accountable role in the local church

22. What has God done? God has made life all about the church
God has committed you to the other believers in the church
God has made the church His display-piece
God has given you a job to do in the church

23. What God has done makes us accountable
What has God done?
God has made life all about the church
God has committed you to the other believers in the church
God has made the church His display-piece
God has given you a job to do in the church
What God has done makes us accountable

24. We are accountable to God and one another
All…
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching Hebrews 10:24-25

25. We are accountable to God and one another
Elders… Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood..
Acts 20:28

26. We are accountable to God and one another
Congregation…
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17

27. To God be glory in the church (3:21)