Master the Bible: How to Get and Keep the Big Picture of the Bible's Story

Chapter 6: Growi ng to Matur i t y , Ser i es 4

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a raffle ticket which later is placed in a pot for a cash prize at the end of the service! Another church is handing out free gasoline cards to all who attend their Sunday service. What is right or wrong about such approaches to evangelism and Christian growth? Do such prac tices send mixed signals about the nature of faith in Christ, and if so, how? Can you think of any one of the teachings of Christ that might call such tactics into question? “I don’t need a local church to love my Lord!” After a small group meeting discussing issues related to discipleship, one of the students in the college class asked for a meeting with the young adult minister. “I just wanted you to know that I won’t be coming to the college class any longer. Honestly, I probably won’t be coming to church anymore, either.” “Why? What’s going on?,” the minister asked. “It’s nothing wrong with you, or even the class or church. I’ve been studying the Scripture with some friends at the dorm, and we are convinced that the ‘local church’ idea is not found in the Bible at all. We don’t see anything in the Bible about ‘Sunday School,’ a ‘Senior Pastor,’ ‘Missions committee’ or any of that stuff. We believe that we can love the Lord together, without coming to a ‘local church’ the way it’s set up.” “That may be,” responded the minister, “but be careful. There are many things we do, use, and apply today that are not in the Bible, which we do in freedom in order to help us grow to maturity in Christ. Churches are free to organize themselves around the prin ciples of the Bible, as long as they do not violate its truths. We are free in Christ, not to sin or do wrong, but to love God and love our neighbor. I frankly do not see how you and your friends at the dorm can ignore the assembly of believers and truly grow to maturity in Christ. Where will you find the fellowship, the sacraments, the preaching, the friendship, the worship? We need the body to grow. No hand or foot, severed from the body, can expect to live long. Stay connected or dry up!” What do you think about the positions taken by the student and the minister? How does a local church figure in our ongoing discipleship and Christian growth? Who’s right and who’s wrong? Are they both right? Are they both wrong? Explain.

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