Why Partnership

Today will be the second sermon in our series on partnership.

! The series on partnership will be required listening for anyone who wants to become a

! partner or member of our church.

When I say partnership, we use the word partnership and membership interchangeably here at Christchurch.

partnership is how we do membership here at Christchurch.

So, how important is partnership or church membership to you?

Does it really matter?

What's your disposition towards partnership?

Are you neutral about partnership or membership?

Are you embarrassed by partnership or membership?

Or are you convinced about partnership or membership?

Conviction is the state of being convinced of the benefit of something.

And we need people who are convinced of the benefit of partnership.

We need partnership enthusiasts.

Those who champion partnership.

We need people who are sold on the idea of partnership.

So, in light of that, I'm going to talk about 10 reasons to be convinced of the importance of church partnership or membership.

So, today's message is why partnership?

Okay?

Number one.

Membership is God's idea.

Membership is God's idea.

1 Corinthians 12, 27 says,

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

So, that concept of membership, it's not a man-made, made-up thing.

We find this in the scriptures.

In 1 Corinthians 12, you have this whole section about the church being a body.

And because we're a body, that means the body is made up of members.

You are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

The best way for people to be sold on an idea is for that idea to actually be God's idea.

And membership is God's idea.

So, the church being a body with members is God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

The interdependence of each member and each member's effect on one another is God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

Being careful how you build, that's God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

Excluding certain people from the church is God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

Holding people accountable and giving people specific responsibility is God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

Elders, pastors, shepherds, caring for the church, paying careful attention to the flock,

and keeping watch over souls is God's idea.

It's not a Christ church idea.

Church discipline.

You're never going to guess this.

God's idea, right?

It's not a Christ church idea.

Judging the fruit of other believers.

That's God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

Submission to leaders is God's idea.

It's not a Christ church idea.

Refreshing people through people is God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

And the church being a specific kind of people is God's idea.

That's not a Christ church idea.

These are God's ideas taken from God's words.

So the question is, are you proud of those things?

Are you embarrassed or ashamed of those things?

Do we have confidence in the word of God?

Mark chapter 8 verse 38 says, whoever is ashamed of me and of my words.

Mark 8:38

That's an important thing that it says there.

A lot of people think, oh yeah, I don't ever want to be ashamed of Christ.

Right?

I don't ever want to be ashamed of Jesus and who he is.

But it says, not just that.

Mark 8 38 says, whoever is ashamed of me and my words.

Sometimes people say, well, I'm not ashamed of Jesus.

But we're a little bit embarrassed by the way Jesus talked.

We're a little bit embarrassed by the words he actually used.

And he says, whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation,

of him will the son of man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels.

2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 15 says, do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

2 Timothy 2:15

a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

So don't be embarrassed or ashamed of a church being committed to the concept of membership.

This is God's idea from God's word.

Okay, so that's the first one.

Number two, why partnership?

We must be able to count on the parts.

We must be able to count on the parts.

1 Corinthians 12 26 says, if one member suffers, all suffer together.

One member suffers, all suffer together.

Okay, to build anything, you must be able to count on the parts that make up the whole to do their part.

All right.

So to build a good sports team, you must be able to count on all your players to do their part.

To build a sturdy house, you must be able to count on all the materials to do their part.

To build a good business, you must be able to count on all the employees to do their part.

To build a healthy body, you must be able to count on all the members to do their part.

And to build a healthy church, you must be able to count on a specific group of people to do their part.

We have to be able to count on the people to do their part.

1 Corinthians 12 multiple times talks about that we are part of the body.

And that 1 Corinthians 12, 20 says there are many parts, yet one body.

Romans 12, 4 to 5 says, as in one body we have many members,

and the members do not all have the same function.

So we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another.

Ephesians 4, 16 in the NIV says,

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.

So we want the body to be built up.

We want the body to grow and to build itself up in love.

Well, how does that get done according to the Bible?

According to the Bible, the way that gets done is that each part is doing its work.

That's Ephesians 4, 16.

We need a group of people to build with who we can count on to do the work.

Can you be counted on to do the work?

Each part or each partner, or another way you could say it would be part owner,

are the ones we count on to do the work.

A healthy body is one where each part does its work.

In order for the body to be healthy, we have to be able to count on each part.

2 Corinthians 8, 4 expressed this kind of, I think, the right attitude towards this.

In 2 Corinthians 8, 4, it says that there were people who begged Paul earnestly

for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.

Begged to Paul earnestly for the favor of taking part.

What is your attitude about taking part?

Being your part.

Are you begging earnestly for it?

Just let me be my part in the body.

Let me do stuff.

Let me give.

Let me give more.

I can't wait to give more.

Are you begging earnestly to do your part?

Well, they were here.

They were here.

Membership is how we effectively mobilize people for mission and discipleship.

The church should obviously be mobilizing people, each part doing its work,

so that mission happens, and so discipleship happens.

And in order to do that, we have to be able to mobilize people to do their part.

One of the hindrances to that is disqualifying yourself or disqualifying others.

We also see in 1 Corinthians 12, you see these two phrases,

I don't belong or you don't belong, right?

And so one of the ways the body can become handicapped is some of us can say,

well, because I'm not so-and-so or so-and-so,

I'm not this part of the body or I'm not that part of the body,

I don't belong, so we can reject ourselves.

And when we reject ourselves and we say, my part isn't important,

that's a problem.

It handicaps the body.

So that's the one way.

The other side is to say, well, actually, my part's really important.

Yours not so much, right?

I belong to the body, but you don't.

You're not, your part isn't important.

So we can either say, I don't belong, or we can say, you don't belong,

but both of them are going to hinder the body to function the way it's supposed to function.

Membership is God's idea for equal care of one another.

1 Corinthians 12, again, 24-26 says,

God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

that there may be no division in the body,

but that the members may have the same care for one another.

If one member suffers, all suffer together.

If one member is honored, all rejoice together.

So don't be embarrassed by requiring each part to do its work.

This is how the body grows and builds itself up in love

and has the same care for one another.

God is not honored by a handicapped body.

Amen?

Okay, number three.

Why partnership?

Because we must be careful how we build.

We must be careful how we build.

If we have to be able to count on the parts that make up the whole to do their part,

then that means that we need to be careful how we build.

Okay?

You know, if you're building a house,

and you kind of need that thing to stay up, right?

You don't want to be laying in your bed and have the ceiling collapse on you.

No one wants that.

So you have to be able to count on the materials that you use

to do what they were meant to do,

to do their part, so to speak.

Okay?

So you're not just picking any old material.

You're picky.

You're careful in how you build,

and you're careful with what you build.

You know, if someone,

you know, if Michael says he's got a contractor that you really got to use,

you're saying,

well, I'm going to find out for sure.

Make sure.

This is my house, you know.

I'm teasing Michael.

Okay?

You don't just want anybody building your house.

You got to make sure that it's the right guy, right?

And then when you get the right guy,

you got to make sure is he using the right materials.

I heard somebody once,

they built their whole deck,

beautiful deck.

They're using treated lumber.

It looked awesome.

It was great.

And when they finished the deck,

they realized that all the nails they used were not galvanized.

Well, if you know anything about how nails work,

and how treated lumber works,

treated lumber is filled with chemicals

that will literally eat those non-galvanized nails up

so that the nails will just disintegrate.

Well, what happens to a deck when all the nails disintegrate

that are holding it together?

It's not going to stay up.

In other words, materials are important.

And this is the same thing with God's church.

You see this in 1 Corinthians 3, 9 to 15.

Okay?

It says,

We are God's fellow workers.

You are God's field, God's building.

According to the grace of God given to me,

like a skilled master builder,

I laid a foundation.

Someone else is building upon it.

And then he says this,

Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

Now, if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver,

precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

each one's work will become manifest,

for the day will disclose it,

because it will be revealed by fire.

And the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives,

he will receive reward.

If anyone's work is burned up,

he will suffer loss,

though he himself will be saved,

but only as through fire.

Are we building with the right materials?

Gold, silver, precious stones?

Or are we building with wood, hay, and stubble?

Why are we so careful how we build?

Why are we so specific in what we require?

Because we want what we build to survive the fire.

We want it to last.

We want to build with gold, silver, and precious stones,

not with wood, hay, and stubble.

We can't just build with anyone in any way.

We need specific expectations on a specific group of people

so that when we build, it's healthy and sustainable.

Don't be embarrassed by being careful how we build.

It's not loving to give someone something that will not last.

Did you hear that?

That's important.

It's not love.

There's no love in giving someone something that's not going to last.

That's not loving.

So don't be embarrassed by that.

Number four.

Why partnership?

Okay?

Because we must exclude people in order to include people.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

What's that one all about?

Let's take a look.

Okay?

We must exclude people in order to include people.

If we're picky about how we build and who we build with,

then that feels like we're excluding people.

Yes.

But until what?

Exclusion in order to create healthy, loving inclusion.

If we include everyone on their terms,

then we create something that no one desires to be a part of.

And if we only include certain people on God's terms,

then we build something that people desire to be a part of

because what we build builds others up.

I want to say that again.

Okay?

Exclusion in order to create healthy, loving inclusion.

If we include everyone on their terms,

on their terms,

then we create something that no one desires to be a part of.

If we only include certain people on God's terms,

then we build something that people desire to be a part of

because what we build builds others up.

Okay?

I've witnessed a lot of anger over the years

over not accommodating people's different views

so they can feel included.

Especially those who want community without responsibility

or accountability.

Those who want church on their own terms.

I've seen people get all upset about this.

Thinking that they have a right

for us to accommodate all their views and all their terms.

The common mentality is,

I have a right to be welcomed into your community on my terms.

Not understanding that the terms themselves

are what make the community desirable to be welcomed into

in the first place.

Do you hear me on that?

The terms themselves are what make the community desirable

to be welcomed into into the first place.

In our church,

there are things that everyone is invited to

and there are things that some people are not invited to.

It's really important to get over your fear

of explaining to a newcomer that a meeting is exclusive.

There's great value and importance

in certain meetings being exclusive

and it's really good for people to feel

left out of those things.

Where am I getting this from?

Acts chapter 5, 12 to 14.

Acts 5 · chapter mention

It says of the early church,

it says they were all together in Solomon's portico.

And then it says,

none of the rest dared join them,

but the people held them in high esteem.

And more than ever,

believers were added to the Lord.

Multitudes of both men and women.

But what's happened now in today's church

is we have it backwards.

Everyone dares to join the church

and not many believers are added to the Lord.

It's backwards.

And our effort to include people

we end up dumbing down what it means to be a part.

And then there's nothing beneficial about being a part,

which creates no incentive to be a part.

We end up working against ourselves

and we have a fear of not including people.

People feeling left out in many ways

is what gives value to being a part.

Because there's something there that is deep

and real and committed.

When you dilute that,

then being a part doesn't mean anything.

Exclusion gives the opportunity to include.

To exclude no one

is to have nothing to include people into.

Letting someone in out of fear

of leaving someone out

dilutes the potency and power

of what you are letting them into,

thereby not really loving them.

To love is to guard the whole

by not letting people in who are diluted.

By protecting the potency of the whole,

we love those who are excluded

because we now have something of value

to offer them

that can change their lives

for their good and God's glory.

Inclusion without regard for dilution

is unloving.

We exclude people for the sake of people.

This is why we can't have partners

just recommending people for partnership

just because he's a nice guy

who brings good food to potluck dinners

or because she's been coming around

for a long time

and everyone likes her.

They have to have fruit of partnership.

So people say,

well, I don't want to make it about a checklist.

And although the fruit of partnership

on the website is not a complete list,

it's most definitely a minimum required list.

Remember that Jesus was exclusive.

In Luke 14, starting verse 25,

it says,

Now great crowds accompanied him

and he turned and said to them,

If anyone comes to me

and does not hate his own father and mother

and wife and children

and brothers and sisters,

yes, and even his own life,

he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not bear his own cross

and come after me

cannot be my disciple.

And verse 33 says,

Any of you who does not renounce

all that he has

cannot be my disciple.

Jesus excluded people from discipleship

based on whether or not

they believed these things

and it fleshed out with specific fruit.

So much so that in John chapter 6,

John 6 · chapter mention

in verse 60,

when many of the disciples heard Jesus

and what he had said,

they said this,

This is a hard saying.

Who can listen to it?

After this,

many of his disciples turned back

and no longer walked with him.

One of the problems with the church nowadays

is that many people don't listen

to what the preacher

or the church is saying

and come away saying,

This is a hard saying.

Who can listen to it?

And yet that's what people said about Jesus.

So are we making it easier

for people than Jesus?

Are we lowering the bar

below what Jesus had?

We should not.

And we cannot

if we're disciples of Jesus.

Truly after this,

many of his disciples turned back

and no longer walked with him

because it was hard sayings

that he said.

The early church was exclusive as well.

2 Corinthians 6, 14 says,

Do not be unequally yoked

with unbelievers.

For what partnership

is righteousness with lawlessness?

Or what fellowship

is light with darkness?

2 Thessalonians 3, 6 says,

Now we command you, brothers,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that you keep away

from any brother

who is walking in idleness

and not in accord

with the tradition

that you receive from us.

Verse 14 says,

If anyone does not obey

what we say in this letter,

please take note of that person

and have nothing to do with him,

that he may be ashamed.

Do not regard him as an enemy,

but warn him as a brother.

Exclusivity.

Titus 3, 10 says,

As a person who stirs up division

after warning him once

and then twice,

have nothing more to do with him.

1 Corinthians 5, 9-13 says,

I wrote you in my letter

not to associate

with sexually immoral people,

not at all meaning

the sexually immoral of this world

or the greedy and swindlers

or idolaters,

since then you would

need to go out of the world.

But now I'm writing you

not to associate

with anyone

who bears the name of brother

if he is guilty

of sexual immorality or greed

or is an idolater,

reviler,

drunkard,

or swindler,

not even to eat

with such a one.

For what have I to do

with judging outsiders?

Is it not those

inside the church

whom you are to judge?

Wait a second,

I thought we're not

supposed to judge.

He says,

Is it not those

inside the church

whom you are to judge?

God judges those outside,

purge the evil person

from among you.

So we see here

in the scriptures again,

God is telling us

to look at specific fruit

and to exclude certain people.

Romans 16,

Romans 16:17

verse 17 says,

I appeal to you brothers

to watch out

for those who cause divisions

and create obstacles

contrary to the doctrine

that you have been taught.

Avoid them.

For such persons

do not serve

our Lord Jesus Christ

but their own appetites

and by smooth talk

and flattery

that deceive

the hearts of the naive.

One more verse on this.

2 Timothy 3,

1-5.

But understand this,

that in the last days

there will come

times of difficulty.

For people will be

lovers of self,

lovers of money,

proud,

arrogant,

abusive,

disobedient to their parents,

ungrateful,

unholy,

heartless,

unappeasable,

slanderous,

without self-control,

brutal,

not loving good,

treacherous,

reckless,

swollen with conceit,

lovers of pleasure

rather than lovers of God,

having the appearance

of godliness

but denying its power.

Notice,

these are the people

having the appearance

of godliness,

probably people professing

to be Christians,

but denying its power.

What does he say

to do with these people?

Avoid such people.

Avoid such people.

I would say

you don't be embarrassed

to exclude people

who want to join

on their own terms.

The terms themselves

are what make the community

desirable to be welcomed into.

Everything that people

desire to share

and to be a part of

only exists

because we don't just

let anyone be a part.

Number five,

why partnership?

Because there's no community

without responsibility

and accountability.

There's no community

without responsibility

and accountability.

Okay?

So many people say,

oh, I'm looking for community.

I'm looking for community.

Great.

That's awesome.

I think most people

are looking for that.

But do you want

responsibility

and accountability?

Do churches have the right

to require certain things

of their members?

I would say

there's a better question.

The better question would be,

do churches have

the responsibility

to require certain things

from their members?

Again, everyone says

they want community,

but there's no community

without responsibility

and accountability.

Do you say,

I want community?

And my question is typically,

well, do you?

Do you really want community?

You want community.

You don't want community

if you don't want responsibility

and accountability.

You can't have one

without the other.

You can't have one

without the others.

If a church doesn't require

responsibility

and accountability,

then a church doesn't have

any community

to offer people.

And there's no accountability

without judging

people's fruit.

1 Corinthians 5, 12,

what we read before,

is it not those

inside the church

whom you are to judge?

Matthew 12, 33 says,

a tree is known

by its fruit.

John 15, verse 8 says,

John 15:8

by this my Father

is glorified,

that you bear much fruit

and so prove yourselves

to be my disciples.

Fruit proves discipleship.

Never be embarrassed

or feel the need

to apologize

for requiring responsibility

and accountability

to people looking

for community.

There's no other way

to give it to them.

There's no other way

to give it to them.

Number six,

why partnership?

For care,

careful attention,

keeping watch,

and building up.

Church leaders

have the right

and the responsibility

to require certain things

from their members

in order to

pay careful attention

to all the flock

and to care

for the church of God.

This is Acts 20, 28.

Okay?

People want

to be cared for.

They want careful attention.

They want to be cared for

in the church of God.

Then church leaders

have the right responsibility

to require certain things

from their members

so that this can be done.

Okay?

And so that they can

keep watch over their souls.

Hebrews 13, 13, 17.

The Bible goes on to say,

let them do this with joy

and not with groaning,

for that would be

of no advantage to you.

So making it difficult

for elders to do this

is of no advantage.

Making it so that

there's no joy in it.

So in order for there

to be joy in it,

there has to be

some level of organization.

There has to be

some means and way

for shepherds

to be able to

shepherd the flock.

And having a group

of people we can count on

to do their part

is also the best way

to care for all the parts.

Okay?

If we have a body

that's not healthy,

then we know

that there's not going

to be parts,

we know there's going

to be parts

that aren't cared for.

And that's not okay.

Membership lets the elders

know who they are

responsible for

and lets the members

know who they are

responsible to.

Membership is an

official recognition

of the elders'

responsibility

to keep watch

over a member's soul

as those who will

have to give an account,

an official recognition

of a member's responsibility

to obey and submit

to the elders' authority

for building them up.

St. Corinthians 10,

verse 8 says,

the reason that

authority is given

is to build up.

A lot of people

will talk about

abuse of authority,

which is definitely

something that happens.

But very rarely

do people talk about

underuse of authority.

And if authority

is given for the

building up of the body,

to not use that authority

is to forfeit

the grace that God

has given to build up.

And that is also

a travesty.

Of course people

shouldn't abuse authority.

That's wrong.

That's not how

authority should be used.

But sometimes

in an effort

or because of a

trigger reaction

to abuse of authority,

we recoil at all authority

when authority

is a gift given by God

to build up

his church.

So authority

must be used.

Authority must be used.

It's used to give up.

And we

are against abuse,

but we're also

against underuse.

Our partners

are the ones

whom elders

are accountable

for leading

and who in return

are accountable

to elders

for growing

and participating

in the mission

of God.

So don't be embarrassed

by your leaders

using their

God-given authority

and requiring

a lot from people.

That's what the Bible

calls caring for people.

The kind of leadership

you should be embarrassed

by and apologize for

is the kind of leadership

that doesn't require

what God requires

of them

because that's a leadership

that doesn't care.

That's a leadership

that doesn't pay

careful attention.

And that's a leadership

that isn't keeping

watch over your soul.

And that's not the right

kind of leadership.

Number seven,

why partnership?

To be refreshed.

To be refreshed.

Bilemon 4-7

says,

I thank my God

always when I remember

you in my prayers

because I hear

of your love

and of the faith

that you have

toward the Lord Jesus

and for all the saints.

And I pray

that the sharing

of your faith

may become effective

for the full knowledge

of every good thing

that is in us

for the sake of Christ.

For I have derived

much joy

and comfort

from your love,

my brother,

because the hearts

of the saints

have been refreshed

through you.

Okay?

So I have derived

much joy

and comfort

from your love,

my brother,

because the hearts

of the saints

have been refreshed

through you.

He says,

he thanks God

whenever he even

thinks of them.

Okay?

What does it mean

to be refreshed?

What's the definition

of refresh?

Synonyms of refresh

are restore,

strengthen,

revive,

replenish,

reinvigorate.

When's the last time

you thought of being

with the saints

doing those things?

Okay?

The antonym of refresh

is exhaust,

tire,

drain,

deplete,

weary,

wear out,

burden.

Okay?

A while ago,

I heard of a pregnant woman

who said to someone

that she really wanted

to go to the monthly

partners meeting

because she knew

at the time

that she'd be missing

church gatherings

soon after she gives birth

and she loves to worship

and be with God's people.

But a lot of times

I've also heard

people say

things quite different

from this pregnant woman.

They might say

something like,

I'm staying home

because I have

so much going on

or

I'm staying home

because I'm exhausted,

tired,

drained,

depleted,

weary,

worn out,

or burdened,

which is all the antonyms

of refreshed.

People say,

that's why I'm staying home.

I'm not going to

gather with the saints

because I'm exhausted,

I'm tired,

I'm drained,

I'm depleted,

I'm weary,

I'm worn out,

I'm burdened.

Basically,

I'm staying home

because I'm not refreshed,

right?

Is that fair?

I'm staying home

because I'm not refreshed.

But let me just say,

this is important.

If you're doing that,

you're skipping the wrong thing

and you have a fundamental

misunderstanding

of the church.

Okay?

Remember,

Philemon 7 said,

I have derived much joy

and comfort from your love,

my brother,

because the hearts of the saints

have been refreshed

through you.

Do you have a view

of the church

that when you're tired

and weary

and broken

is actually

you're refreshing?

There's a worldly experience

of church

that attends gatherings

and meetings

out of a religious obligation

and deserts them

whenever needing refreshment.

And there's an experience

of church

that does its best

to come together often

out of longing

to be with one another

so that they might be refreshed.

Which is the version

of church that you see?

Do you see it

as some religious obligation

that when you're tired

and weary

you avoid?

Or do you see it

as something

that is a people

that you long for

to be with

so you can be refreshed?

This is the biblical view.

Philippians 4.1

says,

My brothers

whom I love

and long for

my joy and crown

stand firm thus

in the Lord

my beloved.

You know,

you're never going to be refreshed

by people

that you don't love

and long for.

But when you do

love and long for people

it's refreshing

to see them.

And if you've never

experienced church

in such a way

that when you see people

you feel filled up.

You feel

ah,

it's good to see you.

I miss you.

Seeing you

gets me excited.

Seeing you

makes me feel

rest.

Seeing you

being with you

singing with you

worshipping with you

is a relief.

It's a joy.

Some of you

maybe have never

known church that way

but I know

from experience

there is church

that way.

There is church

that way.

And in my experience

some of the most

refreshing thing

I've ever experienced

Christ

is the body

of Christ.

And at my lowest

times

my most weary

and discouraged

times

the people of God

putting on

the character

of Christ

have been

my most

greatest refreshment.

And if you

have never

experienced that

my hope

and my longing

is that you would

because this is

the way God

meant the church

to be.

Not just a

series of religious

obligations

that you avoid

when you're tired

but actually

a group of people

that are your

refreshment.

When you think

of refreshments

what do you think?

That's another word

for a drink, right?

You take a drink

to refresh yourself.

I would hope

the church

would become that

to one another.

Hebrews 10

24-25

says

Let us consider

how to stir up

one another

to love and good works

not neglecting

to meet together

as is the habit

of some

but encouraging

one another

and all the more

as you see

the day approaching.

Okay?

So that's what

it's to be a group

of people

that are encouraging

one another

which is why

it's so important

that the church

isn't just a group

of people

who are gathered

on their own terms

because if everybody

is looking for

their own terms

and their own desires

and their own

what I want

then no one

gets blessed

and no one

gets refreshed.

That's a great way

to build a church

in so much so

that it doesn't

refresh anybody.

And some of us

experience church

like that.

It's about as lame

as lame can be

and I have zero

interest in it

and I know you

do too.

So let's build

a church that

refreshes.

Well, we believe

we do that

through partnership.

Don't be embarrassed

by requiring people

to meet together.

Don't be embarrassed

by what God

designed to truly

refresh one another.

Number eight.

Got three more here.

Number eight.

Why partnership?

Okay?

Because the people

are the attraction.

The people

are the attraction.

Some of you

have come from

or are used to

or have only known

a form of church

where essentially

products and services

are the main

attraction for the church.

What I oftentimes

call the holy trinity

of church planting.

Right?

The worship,

the child care,

and the charismatic

preacher.

Right?

And so,

it's like,

what draws people

to the church?

Well,

it's because,

man,

that preacher,

he's a charismatic guy.

He knows how to really speak.

He's a great speaker.

That worship team

is incredible.

They're talented.

They're a well-oiled machine.

And man,

have you been to

the child care ministry?

It's amazing.

The kids love it.

It's over the top.

And that's what's

drawing people.

And so,

basically,

it's products and services

that are consumed

by the masses.

All right?

But,

that's not what

we're going after.

We're not going after

products and services

provided by a few.

We're actually going after

a demonstration

of the kingdom,

the king and the kingdom

by all.

Okay?

Let me say that again.

We're not looking for

products and services

provided by a few.

We're looking for

a demonstration

of the king

and the kingdom

provided by all.

That's what the church

should be.

Okay?

That's why we need

partnership.

Because without partnership,

you have a few people

doing all the work.

And instead of participants,

you have consumers.

A bunch of people

coming to get,

rather than a bunch of people

coming to give.

Which is why we,

at Bella Costa,

sending church

that sent us out,

we used to call

membership just membership.

And we realized that

everyone's view of membership

nowadays in our

Costco gym membership

culture just says

you get a membership

and it's like,

hey,

what do I get now?

What do I get?

And we're like,

no,

that's not what

we're trying to do here.

And so we started using

a different biblical word,

partnership,

to describe our membership

because that's really

what the Bible

is teaching when it's

talking about membership.

And that's what we're

trying to get across.

That actually when you come

and become a partner

or a member of our church,

we're saying,

hey,

what can I give?

How can I lock arms?

How can I become

a part owner

in what's going on here

and provide value

for people?

And that in and of itself

becomes the thing

that attracts.

We hope to build

a church

where

the people

are the attraction

because everyone's

participating.

quality.

It's quality,

you know,

and the old kind of way

of thinking about it,

it's the quality

of the service

versus the quality

of the people.

At the end of the day,

we want to have

good quality services

on Sunday mornings

and whenever we gather.

But, you know,

sometimes some aren't

maybe as good as others,

but at the end of the day,

we can always fall back

on the people.

We can always fall back

on the people.

If your service sucks

and your people suck,

well,

then you're in big trouble.

Right?

Right?

So, but hopefully

you're not just relying

on the service

because the service

can go bad.

But with people,

if Jesus actually lives

in a group of people

and those group of people

are connected to one another

in the right way,

we should benefit

and we should be blessed

by the people of God.

Okay?

It's also the difference

between just meeting-centric

Christianity

versus all of life

where the meetings

are what attract people

rather than just

people in the everyday

stuff of life

around dining room tables

and living room couches

and that kind of thing

and backyards

and front yard porches.

It's the difference

between gifting and character

where gifting is what

draws people

rather than character

and make no mistake,

what you build with your gift,

you can destroy

with your character.

And many of us

have seen that.

We've experienced that.

We don't want to draw people

with our giftings.

We want to draw people

with the character of Jesus.

And so,

we don't want a couple

charismatic superstars

to win everybody

to our church.

We want the person

of Jesus,

Jesus himself,

manifested in the body

of Christ

to be the one

that draws people.

I was drawn to Jesus

in a people.

That's what we want

people to say.

And this really,

when done this way,

you avoid hypocrisy

because if you have

products and services

disconnected from character,

you very much open yourself

up to hypocrisy

versus the character

and community

of a people,

if it's the character

and community

of the people

that are the drawing point,

then there's no room

for hypocrisy

because either God

or you don't.

Whereas if you're

trying to draw people

with products and services

disconnected from character,

you can have the

dog and pony show

pull off

and not have character

and you can draw people

and then disillusion them

with the fact

that there's no character

behind your good production.

And that's dangerous.

And then when you go

church shopping,

you can shop for products

and services

or you can shop

for a people to partner with.

And that's what we're after.

We want anyone who's here

who's not a partner,

we're saying,

don't just shop for products

and services.

And at the end of the day,

we can't compete

with products and services.

There's way better churches

with better products.

But I would hope

that where we can,

where we do have something

to offer,

is that there's

a quality people

and there's a people

that you can partner with.

And that's the goal.

One is volunteers

on your terms.

The other is disciples

on God's terms.

Okay?

John 13, 35 says,

by this all people

will know

that you are my disciples

if you're in love

for one another.

Right?

We'll know they are Christians

by their love.

We want people

to be attracted

to our church

because of the love

we have for one another.

Well, you can't do that

apart from partnership.

There has to be commitment

to one another

in order for there

to be love

for one another.

So don't be embarrassed

by a church

that values character

over gifting,

that aims to attract

people to Jesus

rather than to a few

charismatic superstars.

Okay?

Number nine,

why partnership?

Church discipline.

Church discipline.

Matthew 18, 15-17

says,

if your brother

sins against you,

go tell him his fault

between you and him alone.

When if he listens to you,

you have gained your brother.

But if he does not listen,

take one or two others

along with you,

that every charge

may be established

by the evidence

of two or three witnesses.

If he refuses to listen

to them,

tell it to the church.

And if he refuses

to listen even to the church,

let him be to you

as a Gentile

and a tax collector.

So this is in the Scriptures.

This is church discipline.

We believe in church discipline.

We exercise church discipline.

But there's no church discipline

of excluding someone

from your church

because of the fact

that they're not willing

to repent of sin

if there's nothing

that you've ever

included them into.

And there's something

about that

that causes someone

to be shaken

and it's ultimately

unto restoration.

We don't do church discipline

to put a scarlet letter

on someone.

Every step of church discipline

from the first confrontation

to the two people

confronting

to the telling it

to the church,

which is an all-hands-on-deck,

everybody love

and reach out

to this person,

to even excommunicating

a person

is all ultimately

unto restoration,

that their soul

might be saved.

Every step of the way.

It's not an,

it's not,

it's exclusion

for the sake of love

in the end,

for restoration,

for them to see their need.

It's turning them over

to Satan

so that their soul

might be saved.

So that their soul

might be saved.

That's the goal.

That's the goal.

All of the goal

of church discipline

is that.

Partnership

allows that

to be executed.

James 5, 19-20

says,

My brothers,

if anyone among you

wanders from the truth

and someone brings them back,

let them know that.

Whoever brings back

a sinner from his wandering

will save his soul

from death

and will cover

a multitude of sins.

And that's what

we want to do.

Don't ever be embarrassed

by a church

that loves people

enough to discipline them.

A church that doesn't

hate sin

and its power

to damn and destroy

enough to discipline people

is a church

that doesn't really

love people.

Never apologize

for loving people

the way God

says to love.

Number 10.

Why partnership?

Last one.

The indispensability

of unity.

The indispensability

of unity.

1 Corinthians 1, 10

says,

I appeal to you,

brothers,

by the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ

that all of you

agree

and that there may be

no divisions among you

and that you may be

united in the same mind

and the same judgment.

That's some pretty

inclusive language there

as far as like,

hey,

we've got to be together,

right?

All of you agree,

no divisions among you

and be united

in the same mind

and the same judgment.

This is why we do partnership

to help foster that,

to help build that.

Amos 3, 3

in the New King James

says,

can two walk together

unless they're agreed?

It's a rhetorical question.

No, they can't.

You can't walk together

unless you're agreed.

Partnership is saying,

hey, we agree on these

specific things

so we can walk together.

Mark 3, 25 says,

if a house is divided

against itself,

that house will not

be able to stand.

Okay?

A house divided

against itself

cannot stand.

It's not just agreement

in word,

but it's agreement

in action.

Okay?

So,

if we have different

priorities,

then we can't partner.

If you treasure one thing

and I treasure another,

then our hearts

will be going

in different directions.

Matthew 6, 21,

where your treasure is,

there your heart

will be also.

So,

if we don't treasure

the same things,

if we don't have

the same priorities,

then we'll be going

in different directions.

Partnership is shared

priorities.

All right?

And if we have

different visions

of how our priorities

flesh out,

then we also can't

partner with one another

because we have

two visions

or die vision.

Die means two.

And a house divided

can't stand.

Partnership is

shared vision.

Saying we have

the same priorities

and we have

the same vision

of how those priorities

should be fleshed out.

And it's based on

1 Corinthians 15, 58.

Always give yourselves

fully to the work

of the Lord.

So we have a vision

of it being fleshed out

always fully

in all of life.

Okay?

And then lastly,

if we have the same

priorities and the same

vision

of how those priorities

flesh out,

but we don't share

responsibility,

then we can't truly

partner with one another.

If one of us thinks

that we don't belong

or that we don't need

each other,

then we can't partner

because we're alone

and partnership

is together.

Partnership is

shared responsibility.

It's not just a few

people doing the work.

It's everybody doing

the work and doing

their part.

Never be embarrassed

to require unity.

It's never loving

to offer people

a house that will

not stand.

It's never loving

to offer people

a house that will

not stand.

And if you've ever

been a part of a

church split,

you really know this

one.

I have.

Trust me,

I don't ever want

to give someone

a church that's

going to split.

Now,

no one has control

over that completely,

but being in unity

is a good helper

for that, right?

Being in unity

is a good helper

for that.

So,

it's never loving

to offer people

a house that's

destined to fall,

that's destined

to not stand.

So,

let's be unified

together.

In conclusion,

closing this up,

wrap it up.

Partnership conviction,

we believe,

is extremely important

because it's God's

idea from God's

word.

And if we're ashamed

of his word,

he'll be ashamed

of us.

Indifference and

embarrassment is not

an option.

We need all of us

to be convicted

and convinced

of the value

and importance

of partnership.

Amen?

Amen.

Let's stand.