What it means to be Presbyterian

Order of Service

• Sunday School Lesson — What It Means to Be Presbyterian
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: What It Means to Be Presbyterian

Scripture: No single passage; primary references include 1 Corinthians 7:14, Galatians 6:1, Hebrews 12:6-10, and Matthew 18:15-20

I. Church Membership

A. Membership defined: acceptance, responsibility, agreement, and covenant commitment within a body

B. Non-communing members (BCO 6.1)

1. Children of believers are members through the Covenant by right of birth
2. Entitled to baptism and to pastoral oversight, instruction, and government of the church
3. Based on 1 Corinthians 7:14 — children of a believing parent are set apart within the covenant community

C. Communing members (BCO 6.2)

1. Those who have professed faith in Christ, been baptized, and been admitted by the session to the Lord's Table
2. Profession is made first before the session, then publicly before the whole congregation

D. All baptized persons (BCO 6.3)

1. Entitled to watchful care, instruction, and government of the church
2. Even adults who have not yet professed faith retain this entitlement

E. Why membership matters

1. Accountability within the covenant body
2. Good order in the church (cf. 1 Corinthians 14; the books of Acts, Numbers, Chronicles, and Nehemiah reflect careful attention to who belongs to the community)
3. The shepherd/sheepfold image: knowing who are Christ's sheep in a particular congregation so that care, instruction, and discipline can be properly administered
4. The word pastor itself derives from the idea of one who watches over sheep

II. The Right to Elect Officers and Pastors

A. The call to office involves both an inward and outward call (BCO 16.1)

1. Inward: the testimony of a good conscience and the Spirit's call
2. Outward: the approbation of God's people and the concurring judgment of a lawful court

B. The people's right to elect is inalienable (BCO 16.2)

1. Government of the church is by officers gifted to represent Christ
2. No man can be forced upon a congregation; the voting will of the people must be present

C. The session's role in ordaining and installing officers (BCO 12)

1. The session examines, ordains, and installs ruling elders and deacons upon election by the congregation
2. Healthy tension: the people elect, the court examines and installs

D. Election of a pastor (BCO 20–21)

1. The congregation approves a search committee and has the final vote to call a pastor
2. No minister or candidate may receive a call except by permission of the presbytery (BCO 21)
3. The presbytery provides a check — examining theology and character — against the congregation being misled by a charismatic but unqualified candidate
4. Teaching elders hold membership at the presbytery level, not the local congregation; installation of a minister is an act of the presbytery

E. Voting rights

1. All communing members in good and regular standing are entitled to vote
2. Non-communing members are not entitled to vote

III. The Right to the Benefit of Spiritual Discipline

A. All baptized members are subject to discipline and entitled to its benefits (BCO)

B. The nature of discipline (BCO 27)

1. Discipline is the exercise of authority given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ to instruct and guide its members and to promote purity and welfare
2. Discipline is a broad category — it includes the preaching of the Word
3. Discipline in its most specific form addresses particular cases of sin or error

C. The purpose of discipline

1. The glory of God
2. The purity of the church
3. The keeping and reclaiming of disobedient sinners
4. Galatians 6:1 — restore the wandering brother in a spirit of gentleness

D. The basis and encouragement for discipline — Hebrews 12:6-10

1. The Lord disciplines the one he loves
2. Discipline confirms sonship; its absence would mark one as illegitimate
3. God disciplines for our good, that we may share his holiness

E. The pattern of discipline — Matthew 18:15-20

1. Discipline does not begin at the top and move downward; it begins horizontally between members
2. Step 1: Go directly to the offending brother alone
3. Step 2: If unrepentant, take one or two witnesses
4. Step 3: If still unrepentant, bring the matter to the church/session
5. The BCO outlines this full process in detail