A PICTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

JANUARY 4, 2026

“This really is a beautifully loaded Sunday, Rob –  almost a living parable of the Christian life all happening at once: union (communion), belonging (membership), leadership (elders), new birth (baptism), and legacy (19 years of God’s faithfulness).”

ChatGPT

The Christian Life:

• • Water baptisms (new birth – salvation)
  • Inducting new members (belonging)
  • Communion (union)
  • Inducting new elder (leadership)
  • 19th birthday (legacy/God’s faithfulness)
  • (Not to mention – tonight is our monthly prayer service)

• • New birth (baptism)
  • Belonging (membership)
  • Union (communion)
  • Leadership (elders)
  • Legacy/Faithfulness (birthday)

1. BAPTISM (NEW BIRTH)

ROMANS 6:3-4 – Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

2. MEMBERSHIP (BELONGING)

1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-20 – For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Local Church in NT:

1. 1. A body
   2. A temple
   3. A flock
   4. A family

3. COMMUNION (UNION)

JOHN 15:4-5 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

EXODUS 20:8 – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

DEUTERONOMY 5:15 – You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out…

PSALM 77:11-12 – I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 

4. ELDERS (LEADERSHIP)

1 PETER 5:1-5 – So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 

5. BIRTHDAY (LEGACY/FAITHFULNESS)

PSALM 78:4 – We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.