Requirements #6: Confession and Constitution

In this part of the sermon: He reviews previous sermons on the purpose of the church and the initial membership requirements (maturity, gospel knowledge/experience, baptism). Martin emphasizes that a church…

Martin quotes John Brown, a Presbyterian minister, who uses the analogy of a shepherd managing a flock of swine and sheep, or an overseer managing a family with intruding aliens, to argue for the necessity of a pure church membership for the church to fulfill its God-given ends.

fanatical or unrealistic idealism or a fool's pursuit of the fanciful notion of a perfectly pure church here on earth. Listen to the words of John Brown, a godly Presbyterian minister and theologian and commentator of another generation. Listen to John Brown. How could a shepherd manage a flock composed of swine as well as of sheep? Or how could an overseer manage a family into which aliens, strange children, were continually intruding themselves? Nothing can be plainer from the New Testament than this, that though Christian churches are the grand means for converting the world, the apparent c...

7:30 - 8:45 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that these requirements are implicit and inferred from Scripture, not explicit mandates, and are wise applications of biblical principles. He identifies their…

The metaphor of the church as a household with a door is used to frame the membership requirements, with the Lord of the house setting the standards for who is welcomed in.

I saw that there was a common thread on which these three beads were hung. See if you can pick up what it is as I mention these. Let's go back to our imagery of the house and the door. We're going to work with that again this morning.

22:28 - 22:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: What the common denominator in all three of those is, is this. It is a disposition of mind and of heart conducive to the harmonious integration into the ministry and life of this congregation.

Martin uses examples like 'cheerful, chirpy disposition,' 'serious disposition,' 'sour disposition,' and 'anxious disposition' to explain what he means by a 'disposition of mind and heart' in the context of church membership.

They're simply an attempt to see if the one coming through the door has a disposition. What do we mean by disposition? We mean a prevailing character or character trait. He's got a cheerful, chirpy disposition.

26:06 - 26:20 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that these requirements are implicit and inferred from Scripture, not explicit mandates, and are wise applications of biblical principles. He identifies their…

The analogy of a regular regimen of exercise and low animal fat intake being 'conducive to good cardiovascular health' is used to explain the meaning of 'conducive' in the context of a disposition leading to harmonious integration.

But it goes beyond a mere intellectual reception. Conducive, something that leads to, tends toward. We might say a regular regimen of exercise. Coupled with a low intake of animal fats is conducive to good cardiovascular health.

27:16 - 27:35 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He defines 'subordinate standards' as human documents (confession and constitution) that encapsulate biblical truth and practice, subordinate to Scripture. Martin provides a…

Martin shares his personal experience with prostate cancer and the 'gold standard' of radical prostatectomy to illustrate the dictionary definition of a 'standard' as a basis of comparison or measurement.

Definition. Something that is established for use as a rule or a basis of comparison in measuring or judging. When I was wrestling with what to do with my prostate cancer. Everything I read said radical prostatectomy is the gold standard for prostate cancer that has not metastasized elsewhere in the body.

29:59 - 30:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin justifies a constitution using 1 Corinthians 14:40 ('let all things be done decently and in order') and 1 Timothy 3:5 (ruling one's household well). He explains that a…

The situation at Corinth with the irresponsible exercise of spiritual gifts is described as an 'ecclesiastical charismatic zoo' to highlight the need for order and discipline in church gatherings.

So there at Corinth, there were people who had a gift of prophecy. Others had a gift in which they could speak in languages they had not ordinarily acquired. They could speak the truth of God which when interpreted was equal to prophecy. And they were like a bunch of kids in a candy shop.

55:03 - 55:20 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin justifies a constitution using 1 Corinthians 14:40 ('let all things be done decently and in order') and 1 Timothy 3:5 (ruling one's household well). He explains that a…

Martin shares personal examples from his own household, such as a 10 PM curfew on Saturday nights and singing hymns in the car on Sundays, to illustrate how a father makes administrative decisions for his family that are not imposed on others, paralleling elders' administration of the church.

For example, he says with Joshua, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. That means the Lord's day is sacred. And because the Lord's day is sacred, as you children come into years of maturity and you have various social actions on Saturday, 10 o'clock Saturday night is curfew time in this house. I can say that because that was a rule I made for my house.

59:38 - 60:02 Read in full sermon