Welcome to Truth for Life, and before we jump into today's program, I want to encourage you to keep listening. After Alister wraps up today's message, we have some exceptional offers in our online store that I want to tell you about as you look to share the gospel with others during the Christmas season.
Now, if we routinely read our Bibles and pray, does it really matter if we join a local church? Can't we just meet with God in nature, or maybe watch a worship service online from the comfort of home? Today, Alistair Begg explores the answers to those questions found in Acts chapter 20. Why is it even important to become a member of a church? I decided that I would take the time now to look at this particular portion of Scripture.
So we're not going to work our way through all of it, but I want you to notice that he gives this exhortation, directing it to the elders. These elders have been addressed in verse seventeen. He is sent for them in verse seventeen. There, the the word that is used for elders is presbuteros, which gives us our word presbyter. The word that is used here in verse twenty eight is the word episkopos, which gives us our word episcopal.
Also, in this particular verse twenty-eight, and we might as well cover all the bases, the exhortation that is given to keep watch over the flock and to feed the flock. The verb that is used there is the verb poimeno, poimeno, which means to shepherd the flock. And so, actually, in the scope of this brief section, you have these three words which are used interchangeably in the New Testament for the. Responsibility of spiritual leadership amongst God's people: presbyteros, episkopos, and poimenos.
So the exhortation is directed to a group of men who are appointed by God, responsible for the church, recognised by the church, having been entrusted with the responsibility of spiritual oversight.
Okay, this is not the responsibility of an individual. It is a responsibility of a company of individuals, and you will notice when you read your New Testament that it is always a plural reference. The exhortation is clear. First of all, to watch yourselves, watch yourselves, keep watch over yourselves. In a sense, he begins by saying, "Now, fellows, mind your own business, mind your own business." Especially given the charge to look after others, one of the great temptations is that we neglect to look after ourselves.
So, for example, the cross reference would be Paul to Timothy, where he says in First Timothy, says, "And I want you to make sure that you watch your life and your doctrine closely." Why is this so important? If if it's not a matter of urgency in my personal life, it won't be a matter of concern for me in your life. That's why no church can go beyond its leadership, unless they throw the leadership out. And that is why Paul is so clear in this. He doesn't elaborate on it.
But if, for example, we were to cross-reference it with the guidelines that he gives to Titus for the qualification for an individual fulfilling the role of an elder, it probably would be a fine place to go.
So first of all, watch yourselves, and then secondly, tend the flock, feed the flock, shepherd the flock. It's that word again, poimen.
Now here is where it becomes obvious that membership matters, because flock is a corporate reference. You don't have a flock of one; you have a sheep, but the sheep by itself is not a flock. And this is, of course, in keeping with the rest of the New Testament. Indeed, it's in keeping with all of the Bible. The the flock of God's people are identified in the Old Testament.
Indeed, God is identified in Isaiah forty as the one who tends his flock like a shepherd, and he gathers the young close to his heart. the The flock doesn't belong to the leadership. The flock belongs to God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you shepherds, and be shepherds. Notice of the Church of God.
Whose church is this? It's God's church, and it is a church that has been purchased at great price. That's why he mentions this: the Church of God, which he bought with his own blood. He purchased our redemption. He has done so in our lives as individuals, not in order that we might live in isolation, but in order that we might live in association, in organic relationship with one another, as a vine, as a branch of a vine, as a brick in a wall, as a member of an army, as sheep in the flock.
And that is why, you see, those whom God has redeemed, the elders are to care for. But how can the elders care for them if they're not part of the church? The only way that the thing can work is if individuals are committed to the membership of the church. That they're actually identified with it.
Well, you say, "Well, I'm identified. I come and I sit in the seats." Well, that is some kind of identification. It certainly distinguishes you from those who are over at Target right now. But in terms of actually submitting to the cause of the gospel in a place, offering our lives in service, asking for us to be pastored, and so on, if we refrain from actually becoming members of the church, we make it difficult for those who are entrusted with leadership to fulfill the responsibility of shepherds. I don't want to belabor this, but the New Testament, and you can check and see if what I'm saying is correct.
The New Testament takes it for granted that every Christian, every Christian, will join together with other Christians in the membership of a local congregation. Indeed, the whole notion of the church, the idea of the church, the pictures of the church, only make sense, only become real when God's people are united in the fellowship of a local church, and the local church. Which is just a tiny part of the vast organism of what God has put together. That local church is vitally important because it is the provision which the head of the church has made for the development of the members of the church. How are the members of the church to discover their gifts by being in the church?
How are the members of the church to offer themselves in service by being in the church? How are the members of the church to discover if they're called into pastoral ministry by being in the church? How are they to know if they're to go out and serve the Lord overseas by being in the church? This is the special provision that the head of the church has made for those whom he has added to his body. And it all sounds very pious and and slick to say.
Well, I just believe in the great universal church, you know, the invisible church, and so on.
Well, what are you, the invisible man? No, you don't. You can't. Not if you're reading your Bible. Not if you're paying attention to what the scriptures have to say.
That's the exhortation to the elders and through the elders to God's people.
Well, it's it's it's dirty work, isn't it? It's difficult work. My grandfather was a shepherd. I never met him. I look forward to meeting him, but as a result of that, I went to many sheep dippings in my time.
My father was fascinated by sheep being shorn and sheep being dipped. And if you've never been and seen them dipped, it's something to go and see. And when you get close by them, you'll know that it's a really good idea for them to be dipped, because they're dirty. They their their wool absorbs unpleasant creatures that live in them. It's essential that they're dipped regularly in strong chemicals, so as to rid them of lice, and ticks, and worms.
Furthermore, they are, and I know some sheep lovers disagree with this, but they are largely apparently unintelligent, wayward, and obstinate. How interesting that this would be the primary metaphor that is employed in the New Testament for the local church.
Well, I hesitate to make just too strict an application of it, but it is true that some people are a great trial. To their pastors, some people are just a great trial to their pastors, and it is equally true that some pastors are a great trial to their people. What the church does is it reminds us of who we are and what we are. Because as long as you skate around and try and avoid a local church, you'll never have to deal with all the annoying people. And all the lovely people will never get to a deal with you, you annoying person that you are.
It is only when we are within the community of people to whom we have committed ourselves that we now learn the nature of our own need for God's grace, the benefits of corporate worship, the encouragement of people who are able to lead us on and guide us, and so on. And it is a matter of increasing concern to me. That at this point in the 21st century, there is a growing movement away from any kind of involvement in a local church. A significant number of my friends, who are businessmen scattered throughout the country, seem to be largely unengaged with any local fellowship of God's people. Choosing instead, essentially, to employ for themselves what we might refer to as life coaches—individuals that meet them at Starbucks and make sure they're reading their Bible and not kicking the cat and going home at night to their wives and so on—all very important in the process of one anothering, but not at the exception of engagement in the local church.
If Jesus died for these sheep, is it too much for him to ask? That the elders would look after those for whom he died.
Now the reason for his exhortation, he then tells us. He says, "I'm telling you to do this because verse twenty nine." I just want to say to you, look out. If I was taking notes, which I'm not, I might write. I might write first of all what all that I've said under the heading "Keep watch," and now just a couple of words under "Look out." Look out! Why?
Well, he says because I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in amongst you. He's really just saying what Jesus had said. Remember, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the tears. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, and while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. It's naivety to think that the evil one is not constantly at work seeking to sow false believers in a true and growing body of believers.
In other words, they won't be coming from the outside; they will be on the inside. They will be pleasant people who come and seek to join the church. They will say the right things. They will affirm all the truths, and then all of a sudden, from nowhere, they will emerge. That's what he's saying.
They will arise from among you, so he has already said, "Keep watch." In other words, be vigilant. Be constantly providing sound instruction, constantly making sure that the people of God are able to affirm true doctrine and to refute those who oppose it. That is a responsibility of an elder, incidentally, in Titus one nine, that he may be able to affirm the the deep truths of God and he may be able to refute those who oppose them. It doesn't mean that every elder has to be a public speaker and stand and do what I do and some of my colleagues do, but it does mean that the elder has to have a soul. Working grasp of the Bible, so that he might know the difference between truth and untruth.
The second reason is because the distorters of truth will seek to draw away disciples after them. Even from your own number, men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. The picture here is of those who come up with perverse and seductive teaching. Let me just quote Calvin to you on this; it will help me get get to my final point. Listen to what Calvin says on this: drawing away disciples after them.
Ambition is the mother of all heresies. The purity of the word of God flourishes when pastors join forces to bring disciples to Christ. Because the state of the church is sound only when Christ is the only master who is heard. Therefore, when men want to be masters, the doctrine of salvation is perverted, and the safety of the flock is imperiled. This verse teaches that almost all corruptions of doctrine flow from people's pride, ambitious men.
Will always turn away from the proper purity and corrupt the Word of God. Pure handling of the Scripture aims to give Christ the preeminence, and people cannot appropriate anything for themselves without detracting from the glory of Christ. It follows then that those who try to promote their own glory are corruptors of sound doctrine. The word "arise" moreover indicates that these wolves were secretly nurturing destruction until they would get a chance to assert themselves.
So as a kind of Trojan horse.
Well, let's go to his his final point, if you like. Let's go to the blessing that he extends upon them. Keep watch, look out, and read your Bible. Verse thirty-two.
Now I commit you to God into the word of His grace. Especially after the charge that they've been given, it's a big charge, isn't it? You've been appointed to this. You didn't make yourselves this. God has made you this.
How are we supposed to do this?
Well, it must have been a balm to their souls—an important and a necessary reminder. It's God's church. It's God's Son. It's God's word. And so, he commits them to God, and the word of His grace.
Why?
Because that is what builds them up. That is what assures them of their inheritance. And small wonder that when he had said all of this, they all knelt down together on the beach, and he prayed. And they all realized this would be the last time. This sight of heaven.
And then, he was gone. One final quote from a similar scene. This is John Brown of Haddington, born in 1722 in East Lothian in Scotland. In chapter 25 of this book, there's a section on his farewell words and his table talk. And so he he now is is bidding his flock farewell because he's dying.
And I'm not going to read the whole thing to you; it's too long, but it's really good. I think this book is in the bookstore. Incidentally, John Brown of Headington. He writes to his flock, having through the patience and mercy of God long labored among you, not as I ought, far, far from it, but as I could. I must now leave you to appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of my stewardship.
The delight of my soul was to commend him. And is free in great salvation to your souls, and to direct and encourage you to receive and walk in Him. But I have no confidence in any of these things before God is my judge. I see such weakness, such deficiency, such unfaithfulness, such imprudence, such unfervency and unconcern, such selfishness in all that I have done as a minister or a Christian, as richly deserves the deepest damnation of hell. I have no hope of eternal happiness, but in Jesus' blood, which cleanses from all sin in redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of His grace.
It is the everlasting covenant of God's free grace, well ordered in all things, sure that He says is all my salvation, and is all my desire. He says, "I'm going to die." And you've got to get yourself another minister, and and he gives them just a couple of words on how they ought to get a new pastor. With respect to your obtaining another minister, let me beseech you by much fervent prayer, get him first from the Lord. Get him from the Lord. That doesn't go without saying, loved ones.
Seminaries don't make pastors. God makes pastors. Let it be your care. To call one whose sermons you find to touch your consciences, may the Lord preserve you from such as aim chiefly to tickle your fancy. And seek themselves rather than Jesus Christ the Lord.
Let there be no strife among you in calling him. And when you get him, labor at his entrance to receive his message from Christ with great greediness. Let your vacancy make you hungry and thirsty for the gospel, and let all hands and hearts be intent on raising up a seed for Christ in poor, withered, and wicked East Lothian. If only he could see East Lothian tonight. If it was wicked and withered in the eighteenth century, how, how he would describe it now?
Oh, how it would delight my soul to be informed in the manner of the eternal state! I.e., I'd like to find out when I'm in heaven that Christ had come along with my successor, conquering and to conquer. How gladly should I see you and him by hundreds at the right hand of Christ at that great day, though I should scarcely have my ten. Oh, if Christ were so exalted, so remembered among you, as to make me scarcely thought of, I desire to decrease, that He may increase. Loved ones, there is only one life.
It'll soon be past, and only what's done for Jesus will last. And there's a work for Jesus that none but you can do, Father. Ah, you search us and you know us. Here we are, such a. A diverse group of people, and you have chosen at this time to put us together in this place.
All we, like sheep, have gone astray. We've turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. And they said to him, "But Shepherd, there are ninety-nine." Which is a pretty good percentage. Oh, but he said, "There's one that's out and lost, and I will go out and find that one." And he brought it back home on his shoulders. And his neighbors and his friends rejoiced with him.
And Jesus said that there was singing in heaven. Over the discovery of those who were lost, and the elder brother refused to go in. He didn't like the party. He didn't like the dancing. He didn't like anything of it at all.
His father came out and entreated him, and he exposed the fact that he didn't understand the nature of a relationship with his father. He was a slave in his father's own house. And his father said to him, "Listen, we had to do this." Because your brother was lost, now he's found. He was dead, and now he's alive again. But he refused to go in.
Oh God, bring us into the custody of your fold. We pray by grace, through faith. And stir up our hearts that we might serve you, and that we might see scores of people coming to an understanding of this wonderful good news. For we pray in Jesus' name, Amen. You are listening to Truth for Life with Alister McGrath.
And if you are currently searching for a Bible teaching church, visit our website at truthforlife.org/find. There, you can read an article with helpful tips from Alister on what to look for in a church.
Now, as promised, we have some exciting offers we want to tell you about. If you're an early Christmas shopper, I want to encourage you to give gifts this year that will lead others to Jesus. And to make that easy for you, our team has assembled a wonderful collection of gift books in our online store at truthforlife.org/gifts. You will find children's books, devotionals, a prayer book, a leather-bound Bible, and a whole. More, one item I'll call your attention to is the New Testament Handbook.
This is a substantial guidebook filled with New Testament timelines, genealogies, maps, author profiles, Old Testament connections—a wealth of information that deepens understanding of all the books of the New Testament. And it's only ten dollars—a remarkable price. The book will make a highly valued gift for any student of the Bible. Visit the entire collection of holiday gift books in our online store at truthforlife.org/gifts. And if you add a donation with your purchase, be sure to request the Advent devotional.
They're shown a holy light. The book is our way of saying thanks for your giving.
Now before we go, Alister is teaching at a small group pastor training event this week in Cleveland, Ohio. Please keep him and those attending in your prayers, that they would be faithful to Scripture and emboldened in their proclamation of the gospel. Thanks for listening. What the culture values is strikingly different from the blessings Jesus described. Tomorrow we'll examine the Beatitudes.
The Bible teaching of Aleister Beg is furnished by Truth for Life, where the Learning is for Living.
