How To Act In Church
I Peter 3:8-12
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When I was a child I knew that there were certain things that were expected concerning my behavior in church. I knew that there were some things that would not be tolerated. I was taught from birth "how to act in God's house". Certain clothes were acceptable for church and some were not. I learned the hard way that you are not supposed to run in church! We could not eat or drink in the sanctuary. Getting up and going to the restroom or water fountain after the service started was not an option! Video games and toys were left at home or in the car. Talking during the singing or preaching was a sure way to face the chastising rod of my earthly father. It was impossible for me to get away with anything during church because my mother was up front playing the organ and my father was in the back running the sound system. But it was not just parents that would get on to you for breaking the rules. The people sitting in front of you or behind you would set you straight as well! (Ironically... some of them were the same ones who would argue, fuss and fight with each other at the monthly business meeting!)
Children should be taught the proper way to act in church. But I can tolerate a small child acting up much easier than I can grown adults in the church who act like two year olds. Unfortunately, if you have spent any time in a local assembly you have probably encountered grown men and women who act like children.
This is not a new phenomenon. Peter, Paul, John and even Jesus dealt with adults who didn't know how to act. In our selected text Peter gives us some clear instructions as to how Christians should act toward one another. I would like to look at those instructions and preach on the thought "How To Act In Church"! These truths do not simply apply inside the walls of the local church. These are actions that should mark the lives of each and every born again Christian.
Since Chapter 2 verse 13 Peter has been giving direction to different factions in the churches of Asia Minor. He tells the Christian how to respond to those in authority in 2:13-17. He tells the servant how to respond to their masters in 2:18-25. He tells the Christian wives how to respond to their unbelieving husbands in 3:1-6. He tells the husband how to treat their wives in 3:7.Now He tells us how we should treat one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's look at his exhortation and see just "How We Should Act In The Church"
Peter begins with something that is vitally important to the success of any local church... Notice:
A. THERE IS TO BE UNITY IN THE CHURCH - "Finally, be ye all of one mind"
The Greek word here literally means to be “like-minded.” - Being like-minded is not something that happens only when others agree with you!
I heard Dr. Ted Traylor say one time "If I was president of the church we would all be a part of the same denomination... and we would like it! We would all read the same translation of the bible... and we would like it. We would all sing the same kind of music ...and we would like it! But I am not and that is not going to happen!!!"
We are not all going to agree on everything all of the time. It is football season so we know that is never going to happen. We have differing opinions, different likes and dislikes and that is perfectly fine. Peter is not saying that we are required to agree on everything. He is calling for unity, not uniformity. The only way for us to achieve "like-mindedness" is for us to all have the same focus... and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul said “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). - We must have the same purpose, We must have the same focus, We must have the same goal. And when we do, there is no limit to what God can do in, with and through us. This like-mindedness contributed to the success of the early church.
Acts 2:1 ¶And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.------- Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,------- Acts 4:32 ¶And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
God turned this world upside down with a small group of people! The reason that the early church could be used in such a mighty way was the fact that they had unity!!! - Jesus prayed that His followers would have unity - John 17:20 ¶Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
In order for us to reach a place of unity we must submit to the will of the Father. His will must be our goal and His word must be our guide When we all live according to the precepts given to us in the Bible.... When we look to Him for guidance and direction....When we are focused on the great commission.... When our purpose is to give Him honor and glory in all that we do.....THEN we will have the unity that is required of Christ's church. - It is possible to disagree on personal preferences and still have unity in the church. But it is only possible when our primary focus in on the Lord Jesus Christ.
I heard of a church named "New Harmony Baptist Church", they are located less than 3 miles from "Harmony Baptist Church". The reason that there is a "New Harmony" is because there was a lack of "Harmony" at "Old Harmony". Kind of ironic isn't it??
There are many churches that are filled with conflict and discord. And the reason is that they have lost their focus. Somewhere along the way Church became about them... they began to focus on their preferences... they began to focus on their wants... they began to focus on their likes and dislikes. The membership lost sight of the true mission and purpose of the church. If we focus on anything other than Jesus, TROUBLE IS COMING!!
All around there are lost people dying and going to hell. There are communities that are completely un-reached with the gospel. Oddly enough, there is not a shortage of churches in these communities but the churches are focused on themselves ...they spend their time arguing fussing and fighting with each other all while neglecting the true mission of the church.
In our state a large church split because the Pastor moved a chair off of the stage. One church almost split because Pastor moved the S.S attendance board out of the sanctuary. One split because of the decision to change worship from 11 a.m to 10 a.m. Another split because the building committee proposed to change the color of the curtains and carpet. There was a church that had a heated argument over what color to paint a newly remodeled bathroom. The police were called to a local church business meeting because one of the deacons punched the pastor in the mouth. These are not isolated incidents, they happen each and every week all over this country. - While all of this is going on here in America, elsewhere in the world: Christians are meeting in grass huts, Some are worshipping in abandoned shacks with no water or power. Countless believers are meeting behind closed doors for fear of physical harm. Many others have been martyred for their faith in Christ.
It is my prayer that we see how blessed we are and take advantage of what God has given us. Let us put aside our differences and personal preferences . Let us focus on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We must join together in unity with the purpose of carrying out the mission that has been given to us by our Lord and Savior!
May we observe the command of 1 Peter 3:8 and "be likeminded".......We also see in this verse that:
B. THERE IS TO BE SYPMATHY IN THE CHURCH - "having compassion one of another"
This literally means that we are to sympathize with each other. The Greek word used here means to "suffer with someone". Paul says in Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. - When our brother or sister has reason to rejoice, we should rejoice with them. And when they are hurting we hurt with them. As the church we are one body, and when one member of that body hurts the whole body hurts. A church body is a family. We are to be more concerned with the needs of our brothers and sisters than we are with our own needs.
Do you care when a brother or sister is hurting? Do you want to make things better? Do you search for words that will provide comfort and encouragement? Sometimes there simply are no words that can heal the hurt. Even in those times your presence will go a long way in helping those who are distressed.
One day a woman’s little girl arrived home late after school. The mother was so angry that she started to yell at her. However, after about five minutes, she suddenly stopped and asked: “Why were you late anyway?” The daughter replied: “Because I had to help another girl who was in trouble.” “Well, what did you do to help her?” The daughter replied: “Oh, I sat down next to her and helped her cry.””
When we have sympathy toward others we are exhibiting one of the great traits of our Savior - Matthew 9:36 (When Jesus) saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
May we have compassion for the brethren. This leads us to the next thing that should be found in the Church:
C. THERE IS TO BE CHARITY IN THE CHURCH - "love as brethren"
The Greek word used here is (philadelphos - fil-ad'-el-fos) this speaks of love for the brethren. This is why Philadelphia Pennsylvania is called the "city of brotherly love". This is somewhat ironic if you have ever seen the way Phillies fans act!! Charity is defined as love, benevolence, and good will. This type of love is essential in the lives of the children of God.
Consider what the Bible says about Charity/Love in I Corinthians - 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. ...13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest is love.
Do you have this type of charity or love for the brethren? If you are saved you should! The word “brother in Greek means “one born from the same womb.” We are to love our Christian brothers and sisters because we are all “born from the same womb.” - Remember what Jesus said about love in Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
It our Savior's will for us to love everyone. We are to love: Our family, Our friends, Our co-workers, Our school mates, The people we run into at the store, The people who live next door....We are commanded to love THEM ALL! And we are to especially love our brothers and sisters in Christ! There are some people (even Christian brothers & sisters) who are HARD to love!
Someone has said:
To live above,
With the saints I love,
O, won’t that be glory.
But to live below,
With the saints I know,
That’s another story.
Jesus didn't say "love those who are easy to love". Jesus said “Love you neighbor as yourself”! Some of the most hateful people I know are “professing Christians”. They will say “I love God but I just hate so and so". It is amazing to hear them attempt to justify their hate for someone else. The bible makes it very clear in - 1 John 4:20 if a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
I have seen many people in the church who absolutely hate their brother or sister. I have been in churches where there was one person on this side who refused to breathe the same air as a person on the other side of the church. There are people in churches that are holding grudge over things that happened 20 years ago. Some of them don't even remember what the other person did to make them mad! This is not right... it is not biblical and if this describes you then you need to get saved and allow Jesus to help you love the brethren!!!
I had someone get mad at me several years ago, I still don't know what I did to him. He was a close friend for a long time and then all of the sudden he wouldn't talk to me anymore. We went for several months without speaking and then one day he called me and apologized for his actions. And he made a statement that will stick with me for the rest of my life. He said "we are going to live together in Heaven forever so we might as well get along while we are here on earth! THAT IS BROTHERLY LOVE!!!
Some of you may have had disagreements in the past. Some of you may have even have heated arguments with each other. If this is the case, you must find a way to forgive one another. For the bible says that we must love one another! Right here in our selected text Peter says to "Love each other as brothers and sisters"
There is much more to be seen about "How To Act In Church". We will continue to examine this subject this evening. We will see that there is to be Pity, Courtesy, Mercy, Integrity & Consistency in the church. Perhaps you have seen some things that you need to address in your life in what we have examined this morning. We Must Have Unity. We Must Have Sympathy. We Must Have Charity. Do you posses these attributes? Or has the Holy Spirit convicted you about one or more of these areas in your life? Maybe you are a grown adult but according to the scriptures you simply don't know "How To Act In Church" Why don't you turn to the Lord and allow Him to help you with that?
Paul said in - 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. - Will you put away childish actions and seek to love the brethren today?
Several months ago during Bible School Mrs. Judy was working with the 4, 5 and 6 year olds. There was a little boy who was running in the church and she took him away from the rest of the class, sat him down in the sanctuary and explained to him what he was doing was wrong. His little heart was broken and he cried for several minutes. And if you know Sister Judy you know that it broke her heart too! But she cared enough about this little man to teach him right from wrong.
My friend, God loves you enough to correct you when you are wrong. Maybe He has done that today. If so, whey don't you do what that little boy did and come to a place of brokenness. Realize that what you have done is wrong and take the proper steps to make things right. The Holy Spirit will reveal to each of us just "How To Act In Church"
