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BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Chapter Six

Worshipping and Serving God
as a Part of One of His Churches

 

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls," Acts 2:41.

1 . Your first objective in this lesson is to educate your student(s) as to what constitutes a scriptural baptism which God would recognize.

2. You also have the objective of convincing your student(s) that he should publicly identify himself with the Lord through baptism.

3. Your next objective is to educate your student(s) that baptism will make him a member of one of the Lord's churches, and that he should become an active participant in that church.

4. Another objective of this lesson is to educate your student(s) as to what true worship of God is, and why he should worship God.

5. Your next objective is then to educate your student(s) as to what service to God is, and why he should serve God.

6. Your final objective of this lesson is to focus your student(s) attention on the natural progression in the order of truth you've presented to him in these Six Lessons.

 

 

TITLE

"WORSHIPPING AND SERVING GOD AS A PART OF ONE OF HIS CHURCHES"

 

THOUGHT

A certain style and pattern of conduct is necessary to a continuing fellowship with God and effectiveness in His work.

 

APPLICATION

Cause the student(s) to realize that in order to please God and stay in fellowship with Him, proper baptism, church membership, worship, and service are necessary. Explain in some detail what these activities are.

 

Teacher, this is your last shot; make it count. I usually spend very little time reviewing to begin this lesson (no more than one minute). There is an automatic review built into this lesson at the end. So, I pretty much save my review until then. I open Lesson Six something like this: "You will remember that last week I explained fellowship, and how our Heavenly Father wants us to stay in fellowship with Him. It is only when we are in fellowship with Him that He can bless our lives fully as He desires to do; and it is only when we are in fellowship with Him that our lives become really happy and fruitful. I also explained last week that everything we ever do after we are saved, we are to do because love motivates us to do it. Love; it is the one motive which God wants in His children."

"Now, tonight (today) I am going to show you the type of conduct God wants in His children." And, with that brief review, I plunge right into my first point of Lesson Six.

 

I. Teacher, your first point in Lesson Six is to take a good look at baptism:

A. Tell your student(s) that the first act of conduct God expects of a child of His is baptism:

1. Add "Baptism" to the chart as shown, and put Acts 2:41 under it. From Acts 2:41 teach your student(s) that the first act of these who heard and received the Word of God in this text (the same thing that has happened in this home during these Six Lessons) was baptism. At this point, add Acts 16:33 to the chart, and show your student(s) the case of the Philippian jailer. The word "straightway" means right away.

TEACHER, in a loving and kind, but straightforward way, instruct your student(s) who has been saved that he should be baptized right away. This is the scriptural order established by God Himself.

2. Continue by explaining to him that in baptism, he will typify the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Remind him that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the "gospel," the work of God whereby he was saved. Add Rom. 6:4-5 to the chart and write in "Picture of the Gospel" as shown. Tell your student(s) that when he goes down into the water, he is actually acting out a burial. Since we do not bury live people, the burial presupposes a death. Everyone who has seen a funeral knows that. So, by going down into the water of baptism, your student(s) will be picturing a death and burial; and when he comes up out of the water of baptism, he'll be picturing or typifying a resurrection. So by his baptism, he will act out the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in picture form. He becomes an actor on a stage saying to all the world that he personally has taken advantage of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He is publicly declaring that his hope is all based on the gospel work of Jesus Christ. Baptism is his way of becoming a public disciple of Jesus Christ. Baptism doesn't give anyone eternal life, but it does publicly declare that he has it, and it says where he got it. Until baptism occurs, God doesn't consider His child to have become a public disciple. Yes, he is a child of God; but a child in secret. Baptism, more than any other symbol, marks people as Christians. It's God's way, and you should encourage your new convert to make his new membership in God's family public, which is what baptism does. It says the old way is gone and I have newness of life and plan to walk therein.

B. Now, you should teach your student(s) what God says it takes to constitute real baptism, or a baptism that He would recognize as authentic:

1. Tell your student(s) that in the opinion of God (and His is the only opinion that really matters) for a baptism to be valid, three basic requirements must be met. Point out to him that there is considerable activity called baptism that really isn't legitimate baptism at all.

ILLUSTRATE HERE:
To be legally valid, certain documents have to be notarized. If a person who notarizes the document is not a certified notary, the document is not valid, even if every other detail is correct to the letter. To be legal, the person doing the notarizing must have proper authority to notarize. But, even if the notary is qualified, a document can still be illegal and invalid. For example, a document stating the odometer reading of a car on a given date can be invalid even though properly notarized. If the mileage was stated to be 50,000 miles when in fact it was 75,000 miles, the properly notarized document is still fraudulent. Furthermore, if the information on the document is absolutely correct and the notary is properly certified, the document can still be rendered invalid, if the notary doesn't notarize it in the proper manner.

In this example, three ways a document can be rendered invalid are illustrated. Failure in any one of the three can render the entire document invalid: improper authority, improper information, or improper methodology. Likewise, as we shall now see, there are three requirements imposed by God on baptism. Failure to meet any one of the three will render the baptism totally invalid.

2. The first requirement for a valid (scriptural) baptism is that the person being baptized must be a believer in Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. Write "Believer" on the chart; and add Acts 8:36-37. Read or quote these verses which clearly show that Philip was in no position to baptize the Ethiopian man unless he was first a believer. The point is that one must be saved before he can be legitimately baptized. That is always the order of truth where baptism is seen in the Bible. That means that all the supposed baptisms that anyone had before being saved didn't count: are invalid. That means infant baptism is worthless.

Remember that baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and says the person being baptized has personally taken advantage by faith of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Obviously, a person cannot say that in truth with his baptism until it occurs. For a person to go into baptism before he is saved is a lie by action. He says he's a believer in Christ when in fact he is not. Thus, in God's opinion, such a baptism is invalid. He views such ones as never having been baptized.

3. The second requirement for a valid baptism is that it be done by the method of immersion. Write "Immersion" on the chart, and add Acts 8:38-39. Have your student(s) consider the case of the Ethiopian man and Philip again as to methodology. Clearly both went into and came up out of the water. The word "baptize" means to cover fully with a liquid, which the text proves to be water. The method of immersion in water pictures well a death, burial, and resurrection, which is what baptism is designed to picture. Anyone familiar with the gospel of Christ can get the picture when they watch an immersion. But, there is no way a sprinkling, pouring, or dampening with a cloth pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

So,as far as God is concerned, those other types do not count. People who've been through those only are not recognized by God as having been baptized. A person may in fact have been a believer when it happened, but the violation of scriptural methodology invalidates the whole thing.

4. The third requirement for a valid baptism is that it be administered by a proper authority. Only a church has the authority to baptize. Add Matthew 28:16, 19-20 and add "Authority" as shown. The authority to baptize was not given to individuals; it was given to Jesus' church collectively. I Cor. 12:28 says the first members of Jesus' church were the apostles, and Matthew 28:16 will show these to be the ones to whom the authority to baptize, was given in Matthew 28:19-20.

Jesus started His church during His earthly ministry in Matthew 16:18. That was almost 2,000.years ago. Since then history bears out that there have been churches in continuous operation just like that one He established in Jerusalem. There never has been a time from Matthew 16:18 until now when there have not been churches on earth in one location or another just like the one Jesus built in Jerusalem. These have authority to baptize; no others do.

The one type of church which can trace its lineage in like kind all the way back to that church in Jerusalem is a Baptist church. All the others are breakaways: the Catholics about 250 years later, the Lutherans about 1,500 years later, and then the Methodists, Churcb of Christs, Nondenominationalists, Pentecostals, and most others less than 300 years ago. It's obvious on the surface that a church, which started with a man as it's founder (like Martin Luther, John Calvin, or Alexander Campbell) 250 years, 1,500 years, or 1,800 years after the kind of church Jesus Christ founded and gave the authority to baptize to, couldn't possibly have the authority to baptize anyone. That's the reason a baptism administered by any of these is invalid and explains why we do not accept such baptisms. No baptism is valid except one administered by one of the Lord's churches; not one of a different kind which split off or sprang up with a man as its head at some later point in time. Anyone having been baptized by such an organization needs to be baptized scripturally, even though he may have been saved at the time and immersed. Until such a one is baptized by the proper authority, in the right manner, as a believer, God will not-view his baptism as valid.

II. Now, teach your student(s) that when he is baptized, he will become a member of one of the Lord's churches:

A. It is at the point of baptism that God Himself adds one to the church:

1. Add "Church" to the chart,and write Acts2:41 & 47 under it as shown.

2. From these scriptures you can easily show your student(s) that the point in time God chooses to add people to His church is at baptism. He adds people to His family when they believe on Him as Saviour, and He adds them to His church when they publicly identify themselves with Him in baptism.

B. There are a great, great many benefits to those children of God who become members and active participants in one of the Lord's churches:

1. Teacher, be careful that you do not bog down right here. There are so many good things to be said for being active in the Lord's church. If you try to name them all and turn your student(s) to every reference, you 'll be here until tomorrow. Your main objective here is to sell your student(s) on how helpful and important the church is in God's program. You want to do enough here to get him into church, for it's there that he can be brought on to maturity. If he doesn't get active in church, he'll continually languish in unfruitfulness and spiritual barrenness as a child of God.

2. I start out by telling my student(s) that God didn't sit around in heaven and think up church just so we'd have something to do on Sundays. God doesn't need church, just like He doesn't need the Bible. Church, like the Bible, was given because we need it. God knows our needs, and what it takes to keep us headed in the right direction; and church is one of those things every child of God needs. He needs the preaching he'll get at church. Without the Word of God one will get in sermons and lessons at church, the world will get his eyes off the straight and narrow, and he'll begin to wander in life. Before he knows it, he'll be embracing the attitudes and philosophies of the world. He needs the fellowship of people of like mind which he'll get through church. God's children need to fellowship with God's children. Too much time with only unsaved people can influence you in the wrong direction. He needs to be a part of the ministry of the Lord's church. Through many ministries, the church is reaching out to people who are yet unsaved or who are saved but backslidden. As a part of the Lord's church, your student(s) can become a part of a worldwide missions ministry. There is no way to duplicate the spiritually uplifting and inspiring atmosphere which prevails in a church service when God's people get together to worship God in prayers, singing, giving, preaching, and the Lord's supper. Watching it on T.V. does not produce the same effect. Christ is the head of His church, and the church is called His body. He meets with the church, and has given the task of carrying on His work on earth to His church collectively. There is just so much to be said for the church. Without it, your student(s) would be cheating himself.

C. Every child of God is commanded to be an active part of one of the Lord's churches:

1. Ephesians 3:21 (add to chart) says He wants all glory that comes to Him to come through His church. That says if you want your work for God to count, it is going to have to be done through a church.

2. Add Heb. 10:24-25 to the chart, and have your student see it. It plainly says God's children ought not to forsake regular assembly with the Lord's church.

III. Next, teach your student(s) that God wants him to "worship" God: (Add "Worship" to the chart.)

A. Explain that one of the things we do as a part of the Lord's church is worship God:

1. We do it through "singing" (add to chart) which expresses the emotions and adoration of our hearts for God. A reference which you need not add to the chart is Col. 3:16.

2. We worship in the church by "giving." (Add to the chart.) Giving shows God to be the owner and ourselves to be only stewards of material things. A reference is I Cor. 16:2.

3. We worship in the church by "praying." (Add to the chart.) Prayer is asking from God, and acknowledgment of our subjection and need of Him. A reference is Eph. 6:18.

4. We worship in the church by "preaching.' (Add to the chart.) Preaching is God's primary way of setting forth the Word of truth. A reference is I Cor. 1:21.

5. We also worship God in church with the "Lord's supper." (Add to chart.) The Lord's Supper is a recognition that all we have and are, we are because of Christ who gave His body and blood for us. A reference is I Cor. 11:23-33.

TEACHER, you can elaborate on these as much or as little as time will allow, and you feel the given situation demands. It is certain that you cannot cover them with much detail. Be careful that you do not allow yourself to become too detailed and technical here. As your student(s) grows, he'll get more of this through the teaching ministry of the church. Time limits you in six one-hour lessons.

B. Next, teach your student(s) that there are two basic requirements to true worship of God: (Add John 4:23-24 to the chart, and have your student(s) turn there.)

1. God seeks people to worship Him "in spirit." That means the attitude and motive in worship must be right. Remember the section of study we've done on "love" and it being the only true motive for anything we do in the work of God. Just to go through the motions of worship when our heart is not in it becomes vain worship. The best offering, the prettiest song, the finest prayer offered when the heart is not humbly in tune with God is vain.

2. God also seeks people to worship Him "in truth." It is not enough to be sincere, earnest, and have a good spirit about our worship of God. We are not at liberty to do merely what we feel like doing, and have it blessed of God. God has prescribed that certain things be done in a certain way. For example, when it's time to assemble in worship, we cannot skip it in favor of our own fireside service at the lakeside and expect God will accept our worship. When we worship in singing, our songs must tell the truth. There's a right amount to give, and a right place to give it. Teach your student(s) that one of the responsibilities of the leadershipof the Lord's church is to teach people how to properly worship God in truth.

IV. Now, tell your student(s) that God also wants His children to "serve" Him: (Add "Serve" to the chart.)

A. Tell your student(s) to be careful not to confuse service with worship:

1. Many people think because they are faithful to go to church and worship that they are "serving" God. Worship is adoration and praise to God. Service is active engagement in activities that enhance the cause of Christ, and which bring honor and glory to Him. A person may very well be faithful to the worship times of the church, yet never serve God. Worship encourages service, but they are not one and the same.

2. In a general sense, service is what one does before and after the worship of God. Yes, there are service capacities in a church. One may serve as a deacon, serve as a teacher, or serve in a ministry like the bus ministry, printing ministry, or the treasury. In fact, there are many, many places to serve in a good church.

But, church service is just one part of the bigger service picture. Being a Christian is not just a Sunday proposition. Our lives are to represent well and serve God every day, wherever we are. We're to be good employees every day. Whether or not we realize it, we represent and are serving (or not serving) God every day at work. We're to be good mates, good parents, and good citizens. Every opportunity we have to stand up for Jesus in word or deed is an opportunity to serve Him. People are coming into our lives every day, and God views our responses to them as personal: just as though we had treated Him the way we treated them. Teacher, write Matthew 25:31-40 on the chart, and read it to your student(s). It is sobering indeed. Particularly note Verse 40. Jesus views our treatment of those around us as treatment of Him personally. Yes, teach your student(s) to serve God: every day.

B. Teacher, show your student(s) that now that he is saved, serving God is to be his life's work:

1. Add Eph. 2:10 to the chart, and read or quote it. Teach your student(s) to ever be on the lookout for opportunities to do good works in serving God.

2. A good way to wrap up this point, which basically concludes the new material of these lessons, is to encourage your student(s) to begin doing exactly what you are doing. Encourage him to get into a training course and learn this material so that he can begin teaching others, even as you have taught him. Remind him that there are many out there who need it; many more than you can possibly teach personally. This work needs help; more teachers. In fact, point out to him that there are doubtless people who would let him teach them who would never allow you to teach them. This is also a good time to ask him if he knows of someone with whom he could set up these lessons. Tell him you'll be glad to teach them. This will help you get new prospects to teach, and can set up a forum by which you can now start training your student(s) to become a teacher.

V. Now, tell your student(s) that you would like to conclude the Six Lessons by illustrating the progressive nature of the truths involved in the lessons:

Teacher, look at the big arrow on the chart at the end of this chapter. Draw it on to your chart beginning at the point (not the tail) of the arrow. You are going to draw the arrow onto the sheet in reverse order of the way you taught the material. This will serve as your comprehensive review of the Six Lessons.

As you draw the arrow onto the chart, explain it something like this: Every child of God ought to "serve" God (Draw in your arrow point.): but no child of God will be in any position to serve God, nor will he long to do so, who does not first "worship" God. (Extend your arrow shaft through "worship.") But, no one is qualified to worship God who is not a part of the Lord's church, for worship is to be done in the church. (The arrow shaft now goes through "church.") But, no one is part of the Lord's church until he is baptized. (Arrow shaft now through "baptism.") But, everyone who is baptized should do it because he loves God and wants to be baptized; not because he has to be baptized. (Arrow shaft now through "love.") But, no one is going to be successful in any of this who doesn't learn to walk in fellowship with God. (Arrow shaft now goes up through "fellowship.") But, there is no way to be in fellowship with God until he first has a relationship established with God. (Arrow shaft now goes to "relationship.") But, all who get into relationship with God must come by way of the cross of Jesus Christ. (Arrow shaft now passes through the cross.) But no one is going to come to Jesus Christ until he recognizes himself as a lost, hopeless sinner, unable to save himself. (At this point, run the arrow shaft down through the "X'd" out good works section and on up to the top of the left hand column as shown. Add on the feathers at the rear of the arrow.) So, you can say to your student(s), there is a progressive order involved in God's truth. And, with that, you can encourage him again to become a part of the program of sharing it with others.

1. Thank your student(s) for giving you the opportunity to share these precious truths with him.

2. Tell him you look forward to working with him in the church in the days ahead. Assure him you will do everything you can to help him grow in the Lord.

3. Ask if there are any questions you might clear up before you leave.

4. Lead in prayer thanking God for the privilege you've had to share these truths, and asking His blessings upon the effort put forth, and upon this home.

5. Rise up and make your way to the door with a warm good-bye.

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"