CHURCH LIFE CLASS
RELATIONSHIPS AND THE LOCAL CHURCH
PREFACE: In its simplest form the church is relationships. It is walking out a joining together with God and those He joins us to in the Local Church. Relationships in the Local Church is not to be a
nice theory of fellowship but is to be a way of life serving God together.
I. RELATIONSHIPS AND CHURCH IN LIGHT OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
A. The practical living of the truths of relationships and the Church involves a commitment to the Local Church.
Local Church - An identifiable group of believers who are joined together by God in a way of life
serving God under the oversight of God given pastors. This includes but is not limited to worship,
prayer, serving, fellowship, and mutual submission.
B. The context of the Bible (specifically the New Testament) is the context of the Local Church.
The New Testament was written to Local Churches and it is only in that context that it can be
properly understood.
The Church is mentioned 114 times in the New Testament, 96 of those times it is in reference to the
local Church.
Billy Graham in “Approaching Hoof beats” - “He (the apostle John, in Revelation) wrote to individual
churches, small clusters of believers, leaders and followers together. At the heart of these letters is
God’s assumption that we belong together at work and at worship in a Local Church. I am convinced
that the cluster of believers of which you are a part, those brothers and sisters in Christ with whom
you join to pray and study, give and witness, is the basic unit through which God is working to
redeem the world.”
Jerry White, Director of the Navigators - “Can one be a committed disciple and not be a part of a local
congregation? Practically, I believe the answer is no. If we take the Scriptures seriously, committed
discipleship must include fellowship, interaction, and functioning with other believers.”
C. We tend to individualize the scriptures which causes us to misinterpret their Local Church context.
Examples: Rom 12:1-2, The context is vs 3-18
1Pet 1:23, The context is vs 22-2:10
You can read your Bible with individual glasses, or corporate glasses. It is obvious that the Bible
is a corporate book. It is not just God’s personal love letter to you, but is His love letter to His
Bride, the Church.
D. To correctly experience the Biblical design of relationships there must be a joining together in a Local Church.
To say you are functioning right with the head (Christ) and are not functioning right with the body
(The Church) is an abnormality. Many believers want only a relationship with the head but not the
body, which is a distorted image of the plan of God.
II. SUBMISSION IN RELATIONSHIPS
A. Walking together with other believers in submitted relationships is essential to the process of growth and maturity.
Relationships are the “school of the Spirit” through which God not only brings needed nourishment but also exposes are weaknesses to be dealt with which produces growth and maturity.
B. In God’s scheme of things He has made us part of one another.
Romans 12:5 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (NASB) Amplified “..mutually dependent on one another.
Ephesians 4:25 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. (NASB)
There is a God designed need for the input of others in our lives.
C. There must be submission and humility in our relationships if we are to receive the nourishment from others in our lives.
Ephesians 5:21 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. (NASB)
1 Peter 5:5 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (KJV)
Submit - to be subject, or put in subjection, to yield to power or authority of another, to defer to
another’s judgment or opinion.
Subject - to rank under, to be in obedience, held in or bound by.
Subjection - to be open or exposed to the influence of others, allegiance to, being under the influence of.
D. Three important ideas about walking together in humble/submitted relationships.
1. God has designed us in such a way that the influence and input of others in our lives is critical and used by God to help us grow.
Ephesians 4:16 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (NASB)
Colossians 2:19 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. (NASB)
Colossians 3:16 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (NASB)
Hebrews 3:12-13 12 Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (NASB)
Hebrews 10:24 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (NASB)
Rom 15:1-6
2. We benefit from others perspective and experience in walking with God.
Ephesians 3:17-18 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (NASB)
In any investigation you want to try to get as many witnesses in order to get as complete of a picture
as possible of what happened and what the suspect looked like.
3. God uses the influence of others to correct, admonish, encourage, and challenge us if we are failing to hit the mark.
In Gal 2:11, Paul rebukes Peter for something he was doing that missed the mark. If Peter one of the three closest friends of the Lord, needed a rebuke, it is also possible that we may at some point in our walk.
Galatians 6:1-2 1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. (NASB)
Colossians 3:16-17 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (NASB)
James 5:16 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (NASB)
Proverbs 27:5-6 5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. (NASB)
Proverbs 12:1 1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid. (NASB)
Proverbs 10:17 17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray. (NASB)
Proverbs 28:23 23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue. (NASB)
Proverbs 17:17 17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. (NASB)
Proverbs 27:17 17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. (NASB)
E. In the Church there is also the authority and protection of God given leadership.
Hebrews 13:17 17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. (NASB)
1 Thessalonians 5:12 12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, (NASB)
1 Cor 16:13-16
1 Pet 5:1-5
F. Beware of an independent mindset.
This was the problem in Col 2:16-23.
These people are not following God’s plan for His Church (vs 23). They have an appearance of wisdom
and elements of truth but are lacking the full picture of God’s plan for His Church.
Independent people are not connected and are not receiving the vital input of others to help them
grow. This puts them in a dangerous position.
People of an independent mindset often display an emphasis on “My Ministry” without realizing
that ministry exists to further the needs of the Church.
Things that cause an independent mindset - lack of vision, pride, rebellion, covering of sin etc.