Darby Creek Church [DCC]
Sermon notes for church service at Darby Creek Church on Sunday, March 14, 2021. Services start at 9a and 10:30a
Music from today
-Build Your Kingdom Here
-This I Believe
-Come Home Running
-Who You Say I Am
Belonging to the Church [March 14] Greg Burlile
Title: Belonging to the Church
Series: We Believe
Looking at the portion of the Apostle’s Creed today that says I Believe in “The holy catholic church, the communion of saints.”
Overview of message….
What does this phrase of the phrase refer to …what does it mean?
What are the components of a vital church? (Most of our time spent there on that)
First, what does this phrase mean….
** Holy catholic church
This is not referring to the Catholic denomination
This is referring to the concept of the word catholic that means “comprehensive or universal”.
So, the “catholic church” in this context refers to the universal Christian church. The group of all who have placed their faith in Christ all over that world…at all times.
** the communion of the saints
What does the word “saints” refer to here?
Is it a class of super-holy Christians?
Scriptural use of this word:
1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
According to the Bible, a saint is anyone who has come to faith in Christ and is thereby made righteous. Although Christians should live holy lives, even saints can fail to do so at times. In this verse Paul refers to the Corinthian believers as “saints” in 1 Corinthians 1:2 (NASB and ESV).
As you read 1 Corinthians, you will find that the people were not acting very “saintly,”. They were not living up to their position as saints in Christ, but they were saints because they were truly believers in Christ.
What does the word “communion” mean in the creed?
The word “communion” = a common faith and fellowship because we are united to Christ. It means we share in a common faith and have some things in common that no other group of people have in common.
Examples of this common union with Christ in the Bible
Believers share in their communion union with Christ
Created new in Christ (Eph. 2:10)
Crucified with him (Gal. 2:20),
Buried with him (Col. 2:12),
Baptized into Christ and his death (Rom. 6:3)
United with him in his resurrection (Rom. 6:5)
Seated with him in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6)
Christ is formed in believers (Gal. 4:19) and dwells in our hearts (Eph. 3:17)
Christ is in us (2 Cor. 13:5) and we are in him (1 Cor. 1:30)
One flesh with Christ (Eph. 5:31–32)
Quote:
The Church is Established by her union with Jesus Christ.
The reality of salvation and the reality of the church are in fact one and the same reality. To be united to Christ is what it means to be saved. At the same time, to be united to Christ is what it means to be the church: the church, after all, is the body and bride of Christ.
Source https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-union-with-christ/
Quote:
“We are Christians only because we are churchians. A churchless Christianity is contradiction like Christ without a body…This is because our identity in Christ cannot be understood apart from our membership in the corporate body of Christ”. — What Christians Believe by Michael F. Bird
The Components of a Vital Church
Acts 2:42-46 ESV
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
1: Truth
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching…
2: Fellowship
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to … the fellowship,
Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
3: Prayer and Praise
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves …. to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together…
Acts 2:47 praising God…
4: Supernatural
Acts 2:43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
5: Generosity
Acts 2:42-45
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
6: Outward
Acts 2:47 …having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.