Church Fellowship By Professor John F. Brug. Church Fellowship The Practice of Fellowship II...

Church FellowshipChurch Fellowship

By Professor John F. BrugBy Professor John F. Brug

Church FellowshipChurch Fellowship

The Practice of Fellowship IIThe Practice of Fellowship II

Situations Dealing with Our Own Situations Dealing with Our Own ServicesServices

GoalsGoals

1.1. To apply the To apply the principles of principles of church fellowship church fellowship to some difficult to some difficult cases.cases.

2.2. To learn to apply To learn to apply the principles the principles evangelically.evangelically.

Introduction and Introduction and ReviewReview

The most basic purpose behind the The most basic purpose behind the principles of church fellowship: principles of church fellowship:

They serve the They serve the good of people’s good of people’s souls by souls by protecting them protecting them from false from false teaching.teaching.


Four goals for helping souls:Four goals for helping souls:

1.1. Warn errorist of danger to his Warn errorist of danger to his faith.faith.

2.2. Warn others Warn others against the against the danger of his danger of his error.error.

……Four goals for helping Four goals for helping souls:souls:

3.3. Avoid giving false impression Avoid giving false impression – We go along with his errors.We go along with his errors.– We think his errors no big deal.We think his errors no big deal.

4.4. Protect Protect ourselves ourselves from the from the errors of errors of false false teaching.teaching.


Underlying these four goals is…Underlying these four goals is… LoveLove for God’s Word for God’s Word

and and LoveLove for all who are for all who are

endangered by false endangered by false teaching.teaching.

Hard cases: situations Hard cases: situations dealing with our own dealing with our own worship servicesworship services Closed CommunionClosed Communion

The practice of giving The practice of giving Communion only to Communion only to members of our members of our congregations and of congregations and of other congregations other congregations in fellowship with us.in fellowship with us.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Closed CommunionClosed Communion

KoinwniaKoinwnia– 1 Corinthians 10:16f1 Corinthians 10:16f

““common-union”common-union”

– 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 11:25-2911:25-29requirementsrequirements


1.1. Communicants must believe Communicants must believe in _____. in _____. (11:25,26)(11:25,26)

2.2. They must be _____. They must be _____. (11:27)(11:27)3.3. They must be able to They must be able to

examine _____. examine _____. (11:28)(11:28)


4.4. Communicants must Communicants must recognize the presence of recognize the presence of Christ’s ______ in the Christ’s ______ in the Sacrament. Sacrament. (11:29)(11:29)

5.5. They must be united with us They must be united with us in _____, so we can be “one in _____, so we can be “one body” as we attend the Lord’s body” as we attend the Lord’s Supper together. Supper together. (10:16,17)(10:16,17)


The word The word communioncommunion does does not refer only to not refer only to “participation” in the body “participation” in the body and blood of Christ, which and blood of Christ, which are united with the bread are united with the bread and wine. and wine.

Three “common-Three “common-unions”unions”

1.1. The body and blood of Christ The body and blood of Christ is in “common-union” with is in “common-union” with the bread and wine.the bread and wine.

2.2. Participants are in “common-Participants are in “common-union” with God through union” with God through faith.faith.

3.3. Participants are in “common-Participants are in “common-union” with all the others union” with all the others who attend Lord’s Supper.who attend Lord’s Supper.

Why do we exclude some Why do we exclude some people from Communion?people from Communion?

To protect them from judgment To protect them from judgment on “unworthy” reception. on “unworthy” reception.

LOVE for neighborLOVE for neighbor To give clear testimony to the To give clear testimony to the

importance of agreement in all importance of agreement in all doctrines of God’s Word. doctrines of God’s Word.

LOVE for GodLOVE for God


How can we help prevent How can we help prevent misunderstanding?misunderstanding?– Patient, ongoing instruction Patient, ongoing instruction

about Lord’s Supper about Lord’s Supper – Review church fellowship.Review church fellowship.– Explain to visitors before Explain to visitors before

they come to our church.they come to our church.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Closed CommunionClosed Communion How can we help prevent How can we help prevent

misunderstanding…?misunderstanding…?– Provide clear, carefully worded Provide clear, carefully worded

announcements in the bulletin announcements in the bulletin and during the service.and during the service.

– Have the pastor or greeters on Have the pastor or greeters on hand to offer an explanation.hand to offer an explanation.

Any exceptions to our Any exceptions to our practice?practice? Jesus recognized exceptions Jesus recognized exceptions

for the sake of mercy. for the sake of mercy. Regulations were made for Regulations were made for

man’s good, not man for man’s good, not man for regulations. regulations.

Mark 2:27Mark 2:27Church FellowshipChurch Fellowship, p. 119, p. 119

Danger in allowing / not Danger in allowing / not allowing exceptionsallowing exceptions

People try to use exceptions People try to use exceptions to undermine the principle. to undermine the principle.

Refusing to recognize any Refusing to recognize any exceptional cases, can lead exceptional cases, can lead to legalistic applications that to legalistic applications that set aside the need for mercy.set aside the need for mercy.

Exceptions: Exceptions: Closed CommunionClosed Communion What should the pastor do in What should the pastor do in

exceptional cases?exceptional cases?– Explain the situation to the Explain the situation to the

church council or to others church council or to others who might be confused or who might be confused or offended by the situation.offended by the situation.

Exceptions: Exceptions: Closed CommunionClosed Communion What unusual circumstance What unusual circumstance

might call for an exception to might call for an exception to our normal practice of our normal practice of communing only our own communing only our own members?members?

Hard cases: Hard cases: FuneralsFunerals

Why do we normally provide a Why do we normally provide a Christian burial only for members?Christian burial only for members?

– To comfort survivors, a Christian To comfort survivors, a Christian funeral points to evidence of the funeral points to evidence of the deceased’s faith:deceased’s faith:1.1. Christian lifeChristian life – We witnessed. – We witnessed.2.2. ConfessionConfession – We heard. – We heard.


If we know unchurched friends If we know unchurched friends or relatives will not be able to or relatives will not be able to have a Christian burial when have a Christian burial when they die, what should we do?they die, what should we do?

– Share the gospel with them Share the gospel with them while they are still alive.while they are still alive.

– Ask Pastor to put them on Ask Pastor to put them on our evangelism list.our evangelism list.


What might be an exception What might be an exception to our normal practice of to our normal practice of burying only our own burying only our own members?members?

– A nonmember confessed A nonmember confessed his faith, but died before he his faith, but died before he could become a member.could become a member.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Participation in Participation in ServicesServices

Why do we allow…?Why do we allow…?

nonmembenonmembers to rs to attend attend our our worship worship services?services?

Hard cases: Hard cases: Participation in Participation in ServicesServicesFellowship Fellowship

principleprinciples guard s guard people people against against error.error.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Participation in Participation in ServicesServicesThey are not They are not

meant to meant to keep keep anyone anyone from from hearing hearing the truth.the truth.

(Brug, pp. 125-(Brug, pp. 125-127)127)

Hard cases: Hard cases: Choir and MusiciansChoir and Musicians Why don’t we allow Why don’t we allow

nonmembers to serve in choir or nonmembers to serve in choir or as musicians?as musicians?

– We regard these as church We regard these as church offices expressing our faith. offices expressing our faith.

– Musicians are congregational Musicians are congregational representatives. representatives. (Brug, p. 127)(Brug, p. 127)

Hard cases: Hard cases: Musicians Musicians for Weddings and for Weddings and FuneralsFunerals What is our goal in choosing What is our goal in choosing

musicians for special services?musicians for special services?– Give clear testimony of our Give clear testimony of our

love for the truth. love for the truth. (Brug, pp.128f)(Brug, pp.128f) Love friends and relatives by Love friends and relatives by

showing that love for God’s showing that love for God’s Word is more important than Word is more important than our personal feelings.our personal feelings.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Musicians Musicians for Weddings and for Weddings and FuneralsFunerals How can we help prevent hurt How can we help prevent hurt

feelings choosing musicians?feelings choosing musicians?– Review the worship purpose Review the worship purpose

of weddings and funerals. of weddings and funerals. (Brug, pp. 129-131)(Brug, pp. 129-131)

– Ask Pastor first before lining Ask Pastor first before lining up soloists and musicians.up soloists and musicians.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Children SingersChildren Singers Why do we usually allow Why do we usually allow

nonmember students to sing nonmember students to sing with classmates in our services? with classmates in our services?

– We regard them as learners We regard them as learners accepting our instruction.accepting our instruction. Jeremiah 15:19Jeremiah 15:19 John 6:37 John 6:37

Hard cases: Hard cases: Children SingersChildren Singers When would we not allow When would we not allow

nonmember students to sing nonmember students to sing with their classmates?with their classmates?

– If they and their parents If they and their parents clearly reject our doctrine clearly reject our doctrine and regard their participation and regard their participation as fellowship without as fellowship without agreement.agreement.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Sponsors / WitnessesSponsors / Witnesses Can non-WELS or non-ELS Can non-WELS or non-ELS

members serve as sponsors? members serve as sponsors? – Sponsors must promise to Sponsors must promise to

teach the doctrine of the teach the doctrine of the church if the parents die.church if the parents die.

– They must know and accept They must know and accept it, i.e., be in fellowship with it.it, i.e., be in fellowship with it.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Sponsors / WitnessesSponsors / Witnesses What is the difference between What is the difference between

sponsors and witnesses?sponsors and witnesses?– Witnesses simply testify that Witnesses simply testify that

an act has been performed.an act has been performed.– Witnesses do not promise to Witnesses do not promise to

raise the child in the raise the child in the teachings of the church. teachings of the church.

Hard cases: Hard cases: Receiving GiftsReceiving Gifts What principles guide reception What principles guide reception

of gifts from nonmembers?of gifts from nonmembers?– Donations are not to be used Donations are not to be used

for trying to earn God’s favor. for trying to earn God’s favor. – Outside gifts should not…Outside gifts should not…

Hurt stewardshipHurt stewardship Endorse fellowship with errorEndorse fellowship with error

Hard cases: Hard cases: Main Concern…Main Concern… What is our chief concern in What is our chief concern in

all the situations we have all the situations we have been discussing?been discussing?

– We want to give clear We want to give clear testimony to the truth… testimony to the truth… out of love… out of love… in a loving manner.in a loving manner.

SummarySummary

In this lesson we studied some In this lesson we studied some areas of congregational life where areas of congregational life where Christians need to apply church Christians need to apply church fellowship principles. Possible fellowship principles. Possible exceptions involve two or more exceptions involve two or more principles of Scripture. Yet we principles of Scripture. Yet we want to faithfully and clearly want to faithfully and clearly testify to the truth of God’s Word.testify to the truth of God’s Word.

Closing PrayerClosing Prayer

Lord, you gave the principles of Lord, you gave the principles of church fellowship for our good. church fellowship for our good. Help us apply these principles Help us apply these principles with loving firmness, testifying with loving firmness, testifying clearly to the whole truth of your clearly to the whole truth of your Word. Strengthen us to always Word. Strengthen us to always obey your Word above feelings obey your Word above feelings and friendships – never against, and friendships – never against, but always for the truth. Amen.but always for the truth. Amen.

Church Fellowship By Professor John F. Brug. Church Fellowship The Practice of Fellowship II...

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