Philippians 1:1-2 reads, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In these two short verses, we are given a preview of the offices of a church. Yes, Elder and deacon, but I would argue there is a third/unofficial office mentioned and, really, the one prioritized in these verses—the saint.
A saint is one set apart, and as we think about church membership, a saint is set apart for a specific purpose.
I want to close this series of blog articles by tying together the framework that has been building as we’ve considered a church that pursues health.
First, allow me to offer two truths and their joint implication.
If a church is its membership (which it is) . . .
AND
If the local church is God’s primary mission strategy (which it is) . . .
THEN
Our church membership is one of the most significant job assignments we experience in God’s kingdom.
So then, I want to unpack the question, “what does God expect of us as we exist as members of Crosspoint Church?”
Together as One
Just as every church is responsible for their piece of the pie of kingdom building, so too is every church member responsible for their own contribution.
Here are eight practical ways to live out our calling as healthy church members.
1. Gather with your saints (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42)
Attend your church on Sunday mornings. It may be a given, but Sunday morning attendance is essential to the life of our fellowship. We exist as a covenanted people, and our primary expression of our identity as a togetherness takes place on Sunday morning. We gather around the dinner table for a family meal, where we also welcome guests.
Attend your small group. As we seek to live out smaller expressions of fellowship, small groups are the organized way to drill down with a select group of people to carry out the “one-anothers” of Scripture.
2. Seek to know and be known (Galatians 6:1-2)
Church membership is much more than being found listed on a roster. As members, we exist as the primary spiritual caretakers in each other’s lives. This is meant to be our most intimate community. Therefore, pursue vulnerability and depth of relationship in your small group or an even smaller segment.
3. Encourage and Admonish (Proverbs 27:5-6, 17; Romans 1:11-12; Hebrews 12:11)
It is extremely easy, especially in a church our size, to be complacent with surface-level conversations—to shoot the breeze, talk about food or sports (I’m so guilty here)—without swimming in the gospel. Though Christianity is our life, our time with church brothers and sisters (whether gathered or over a phone call or text message) is limited. We must pursue intentionality in our conversations.
When someone says, “How are you doing?”—Give them an honest answer. When someone is in sin—be gentle, but don’t beat around the bush.
Whether you are young in the faith or a well-seasoned saint (in good times and bad), draw your brother or sister to the gospel—which we each need daily.
4. Champion the church calendar (Ephesians 6:16-18; Colossians 1:9-14)
Our primary belonging in life is to our local church. But this doesn’t mean you can practically attend every expression of Crosspoint.
It should mean, however, that you care about every expression of Crosspoint—be a prayer warrior for the college fall getaway, support the international student ministry when you can, and, if you can’t serve in the nursery—help the kid's ministry recruit.
5. Submit to the church’s rule (Matthew 18:17; Acts 15:22; Philippians 1:9-11)
Crosspoint operates with a congregational model of church governance. We feel this is biblical, and, as a bonus, it is amazingly practical—even if not always the most efficient. What we may lack in expediency as a church, we gain in deliberateness and intentionality.
At Crosspoint, our collective membership submits to King Jesus and stewards the responsibility he has given to us. This is congregational polity. The most important decisions for Crosspoint are made by Crosspoint. This means if you find yourself in disagreement with a particular vote or direction, trust and submit to the membership. Obviously, I’m not speaking to a scenario in which the congregation is collectively in sin or dabbling in heretical waters—we trust the Spirit to protect us from ever drifting to such a point.
6. Follow the elders’ leadership (1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17; James 5:14)
Help your servant-leaders in our efforts to shepherd, care for you, and feed you with the Word.
I can’t lead in my household unless I have a pulse on the well-being of my bride and children. So too, in the church, the elders need to hear from you and want to experience deep friendship with you.
Though our church is blessed with great health, the elders can carry significant burdens in and out of the season. Please pray for us—for God’s protection, God’s wisdom, and perseverance.
7. Contribute to the church’s efforts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
We are a One Mission church. That means everything we do and every resource utilized is for the One Mission.
As church members, we are not only called to the mutuality of spiritual care but also to the mutuality of giving our time, talents, and resources.
In psychology, there is a theory called the bystander effect, in which someone is more likely to ignore a problem if a crowd of other people surrounds them. The theory suggests people naturally default to assuming “someone else will address that problem.” This is poison for a church and antithetical to our calling as Christians. However God has gifted, skilled, or blessed you, these are how He intends for you to make a dent in the One Mission at Crosspoint.
8. Embody the church’s mission and vision (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17)
Church member, you are Crosspoint. When you think of this church, I urge you not to think in terms of an “IT” or a “THEM”, but a “WE.”
Whatever we have committed to be, we each live lives as extensions of that unified goal. When we say our mission, “Make disciples of all people for God’s glory,” that’s not just something we do when we are gathered. As members of Crosspoint, we’re always “ON.” We’ve got to want to be “a people transformed by the gospel, living daily on mission, sending laborers to the nations.”
We Need Each Other
I’ll leave you with an illustration: The church is like a human pyramid.
Everyone is vitally needed to ensure the pyramid stands. In various seasons, one person is given a period of “being served” at the top—but also allows themselves to vulnerably depend on the support of those underneath. This is the church member hurting, burnt out, or wrestling with sin.
On the other hand, as you move down the bottom, you see more who are carrying greater responsibility—if they fall, many more will collapse. Yet they have exposed and entrusted themselves to the potentially abusive knees of those on top, so let’s care for them well also.
The point is this. We exist like a human pyramid in which every church member is needed for this thing to work. May we lean in, love well, and honor Christ with our togetherness.
What’s one way God may be calling you to consider the “health” of your life as a church member?