Lampstand and Limb; God's Purpose for the Local Church (early itinerant message)

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the subject of God's purpose and function for the local church, noting widespread unscriptural thinking. He defines a local church as a group of regenerated…

Martin describes his four years of itinerant ministry across different denominations and doctrinal persuasions, noting the widespread 'shoddy, unscriptural thinking' about the local church. This personal experience establishes the relevance and urgency of his sermon topic.

A land stand and a limb, God's purpose for the local church. The reason I want to do this is because we can never act scripturally until we think scripturally. And as God is present, He has privileged me to get about to different parts of the country for these past four years in this itinerant ministry. I do not advertise myself as a world traveler and nationally known evangelist.

5:04 - 5:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The function of a local church is to be a lampstand to bear the light of the glories of the person of the risen Lord. The function of a lampstand or a candlestick is to bear a light not its own.

The function of a lampstand is to bear a light not its own. This analogy illustrates that the church's purpose is to display the glory of Christ, not its own achievements or character.

I saw one light unto the Son of Man in the midst of the lampstand. The function of a local church is to be a lampstand to bear the light of the glories of the person of the risen Lord. The function of a lampstand or a candlestick is to bear a light not its own.

12:34 - 13:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider if men in the community see the church as a bearer of Christ's light.

Martin contrasts the glorified Christ John saw with a 'cheap, tawdry, sentimental Jesus who's the creation of 20th century evangelism.' This analogy highlights the need for the church to display the true, glorious Christ, not a watered-down version.

Among and in his people. The first function of the local church is to be a lampstand to display the glories of the person of the risen glorified Son of God. Not the cheap, tawdry, sentimental Jesus who's the creation of 20th century evangelism. God never called anybody to display that kind of Jesus.

13:54 - 14:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider if men in the community see the church as a bearer of Christ's light.

He describes people not coming with 'unsanctified hands smeared with the blood of Christ and pat the church on the back and go walking down the street together.' This analogy emphasizes the holy fear and respect that the early church commanded, contrasting it with a casual, irreverent approach.

There was something that demanded a holy fear and a sober respect. The church didn't come up with its unsanctified hands smeared with the blood of Christ and pat the church on the back and go walking down the street together.

14:43 - 14:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second function is for the church to be a 'limb' (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4) to do Christ's bidding and accomplish His work. Martin warns that if a church fails in these…

Martin uses the familiar New Testament picture of the church functioning like a body (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4) to illustrate how different members contribute to the whole, defining the church as a 'limb' to do Christ's work.

Well I beg to differ with them and stand with the historic position of the great spiritual commentators that there is the picture of the church universal. When we have in Ephesians 4 that God has given gifts, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints and of the work of ministry till we all come to the unity of the faith and we have that picture of coming up into the stature and the fullness of the stature of Christ. The picture of God's people as a great body coming into maturity. But in 1 Corinthians 12 the body concept is dealt with on a local basis.

17:00 - 17:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not believe that merely coming to the sacred building and hearing the sacred man discharges your obligation to God.

Martin uses the Roman Catholic focus on the 'sacred cathedral' and 'sacred man' (priest) as an example of an unscriptural concept, drawing a parallel to how some Protestants view their church buildings and pastors.

The Roman Catholic, he looks to his sacred cathedral, to his sacred man, the priest, in whose hands that wafer becomes the very flesh, of Jesus Christ.

31:28 - 31:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Proclaim the gospel to every creature in your 'world' of contacts, whether as a housewife to a milkman or a man at a gas station.

Martin asks, 'Who reproduces the sheep? The shepherd or the sheep?' He explains that the shepherd's role is to feed and protect, and healthy sheep naturally reproduce. This illustrates that while pastors feed the flock, individual believers (sheep) are responsible for spiritual reproduction (evangelism).

The shepherd or the sheep?

39:46 - 39:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He confronts the idea that ministry to the lost and edification of believers are solely the pastor's responsibility. Citing Acts 8, James 5, Romans 15, and Hebrews 3, Martin…

This story illustrates the cooperation between individual witness and pulpit proclamation. Mrs. Smith's faithful witnessing and demonstration of Christ prepares Mrs. Jones's heart, so when Mrs. Jones hears the preacher, the Holy Spirit gives the increase. This shows how personal evangelism and corporate worship work together.

How blessed when a man comes fresh from the presence of God and filled with the Spirit of God and exalts the Son of God. And in the congregation there's a Mrs. Jones, whose next door neighbor, Mrs. Smith, is a believer.

41:26 - 41:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He confronts the idea that ministry to the lost and edification of believers are solely the pastor's responsibility. Citing Acts 8, James 5, Romans 15, and Hebrews 3, Martin…

Martin recounts how Charles Spurgeon's congregation included men and women who were alert to troubled souls during sermons and would minister the Word to them. This anecdote exemplifies the active participation of all believers in ministry, not just the pastor.

This is never is to work in cooperation with the proclamation of the Word in the pulpit. Bringing men and women to hear our pastor is never to be a substitute for our own individual fitness. Charles Spurgeon had several thousands, I believe. Wasn't there a brethren that stood with him near me when he had made that covenant with them that would stand together with him and be alert for opportunities to minister to the souls of men?

42:23 - 42:51 Read in full sermon

The point: If you are a stranger to God's grace, be disturbed, awakened, and called to Himself by the Holy Spirit.

Martin asks if someone would mow a neighbor's lawn if that neighbor had deposited $1000 in their bank account. This analogy sets up the question of whether believers, having received Christ's ultimate sacrifice, are willing to do simple acts of witness like handing out tracts.

and then when he was leaving on vacation, if he would ask you to slip by and know his law, and I wonder if you'd be willing to do that.

58:54 - 59:00 Read in full sermon