The Act of Inclusion
A. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:
• during this last period of time among you before sabbatical, our message times will be focused on questions that I would like you to think about over the next number of months. I believe that these items are critical to the future of the congregation & how we might be more genuinely effective in fulfilling the purposes stated on the front of your bulletin.
• Today, in the first place, this passage speaks to the issue of the need of believers to be people who are relationally inclusive. Please notice that I am not talking about just “being friendly
B. MAIN THOUGHT:
- The verses we consider today speak to what every Christian hopes to truly & sincerely experience when they consider their relationship to a church body:inclusion.
C. KEY QUESTION:
- What does it mean – in real, practical terms – to be an inclusive people?
I. Inclusion Reflects the Priorities of Jesus Christ for His People (1:13,14)
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.”
A. These verses indicate that God gave the best of His resources for us, so that we could be included in him.
• This act of inclusion goes beyond simple belief & faith: that isn’t the issue! The issue for any local church is about how we involve & include all who believe in Christ as Savior & Lord.
B. This giving of the best is the model for us to pattern our lives after. Jesus Christ claimed that the Kingdom of God is like a banquet where the best is offered up.
• when people come, desiring to connect to this body, do they get the best of who we are?
II. Inclusion Recognizes that the Individual Belongs to the Body of Christ (1:13,14)
“ When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…”
A. These verses further teach that when a person receives Christ he or she is marked “with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” After acceptance of the truth, theindividual believes & is marked instantly by the presence of God in a remarkable & powerful way, initiating change of character & person.
B. Notice that Paul uses “in him” to describe the standing of the person who believes. It is a clear statement – they belong! Once the person belongs to Christ,he/she belongs to the body in a very real sense.
III. Inclusion Acts as Confirmation of the “Guaranteed Investment Certificate” (1:14)
“… the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession….”
A. This passage also teaches us that when the Holy Spirit is present, it is a guarantee that we belong to Jesus Christ. God’s promise to us is real & everlasting: when sincerely accepting Christ as Savior & Lord,
B. When we include people in our lives, we become instruments in accomplishingthe task of the Holy Spirit, helping people toward an experience of belonging & feeling significant.
IMPLICATIONS FOR LIFE
1. Before this congregation can ever do effective outreach, it must commit itself to ensuring effective “in-reach”.
2. This is vital, to not only survival, but growth. We are facing significant loss of membership through normal means over the next 5 years. NOW is the time to give our selves to the survival & growth of this body through the act of inclusion.
