A Study on the Biblical Church, Part 3: What is Accountability

Accountability:
Responsibility for own acts

-Galatians 6:1-5
    -If it is needed, help others who are struggling
        -do so with maturity, grace, patience, kindness, and gentleness
            -make sure with in this you do not fall into the pit they are also in
                -remember always that you are no better then them, but rather their equal
                    -you have struggles and testing as well, it is no greater or less then theirs
                        -focus on how He is using you, not comparing yourself to others in Him
                            -Different lives, different paths, but initially the same journey!
-1 Thessalonians 5:11
    -"so encourage one another"
        -Paul also speaks of encouragement in Philippians
            -Encouragement is key in the faith
                -we can get dragged under the waves of discouragement
                    -however, if we focus on lifting each other up, unlike the world which says to push others down, we will create a people that no one                     can push down!
-Proverbs 27:17
    -We are the only ones who are going to look out for each other
        -He uses His spirit to work through us
            -like Sharpening a knife, accountability is done delicately, skillfully and done with a huge amount of respect
-Romans 14:12
    -We, in the end will all have to stand before God
        -the previous verses show that He has placed others to help us, that He uses to guide us
            -if we have ignored Him speaking through His spirit, using others, then we will stand with a heavy head
Refection:
Accountability, it is something that we can all see is lacking in the Modern Church. Through these verses you can see that it is something, however, unlike the world says, of caring, trusting, and building up, not judgement, and hypocrisy. This should be done very carefully and respectfully, as Proverbs 27:17 gives us the image of sharpening, one can not help but think of sharpening a knife, which is done this way, in respect and carefully. Accountability focuses on encouragement, it is primarily an action saying, "I know you are better then this, I want you to achieve." It is not an action of bringing one down, but about building up.

A Study of the Biblical Church, Study 2: What is Fellowship?

Fellowship:
A close relationship or unity

-1 John 1:7
    -explains that fellowship is found in the blood of Christ
        -it is the thing that brings us together
            -all differences are put aside, b/c this is the only thing that matters in the end
-1 Corinthians 1:9
    -this is an example of fellowship with Christ
        -God grants it to us
-Philippians 2:1
    -Fellowship granted by the Holy Spirit

Reflection:
Fellowship is primarily with that of Christ, the Father and The Holy Spirit, so God in Summary. It is a unique and special connection with Him, it is experienced with other believers, but only if He is the centre of it all. This means that even when by ones self, fellowship can be experienced, but it is not a fellowship found in a physical worldly context, but a fellowship on a spiritual level that is with our LORD.

A Study of the Biblical Church Part 1: What is Church?

Church:
Assembly

The Body and People
-1 Corinthians 12:18-20
    -like a body the church has many parts, not just one part
        -with many parts there are many differences
            -22-26       
                -these differences may seem like weakness' in some eyes
                    -in reality these are what strengthens the church body
                        -Biblical, they should take this under their care and so they grow and strengthen each other
-Ephesians 1:23
    -The church without Christ is nothing
        -The church needs to be broken
            -He completes and fills it, without him it is empty
-1 Timothy 3:15
    -the church is referred to as "the household of God"
-Acts 2:42-46
    - The church is a place where; "believers met together in on place and shared everything they had"
        - this could be seen in a physical context, or also in a mental context
            -implying that the church was welcoming to all, that there was no restraint or hesitant with sharing issues and problems
                -also note that they gathered in worship, and in giving

Reflection:
Church is the gathering of an imperfect people under one banner, the banner of Christ. It is interesting to see that even with this, the church is still considered "the household of God." And like it says 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, our weakness is our strengthening. If there is weakness in the church, rather then ignoring or dismissing it, we in a biblical manner should build up and strengthen the individual(s), thus making the whole body of the church stronger. However, if Christ is not the centre of this the actions and meeting of the church is useless and means nothing, the focus must be in, through and on Christ. The Church is simply an assembly or gathering of a group of imperfect individuals. Many see this as a weakness, but the Bible says if you stay focused and keep Him as your centre you will only grow stronger.