Can’t we let someone else think about discipleship for us?
Gavin at “Simple Church Alliance” has written a very good post called “What is a Disciple and How Do We Make Them?”
He focuses on the two questions in the title of his post: 1) What is a disciple? 2) How does someone make a disciple?
Obviously, Gavin is not saying that we are supposed to create disciples. Only God can do that through his Holy Spirit. However, we do see examples and instructions in Scripture that indicate that we should be able the business of helping one another grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
But, what does this mean? Isn’t that what the church is for? I mean, don’t we have leaders (pastors, elders, bishops, teachers, etc.) to take care of making disciples so the rest of us can go on about our normal lives?
Gavin says:
It is surprising to me how long I was able to go on as a Christian without ever really taking time to address these two important questions. For most of my life walking with Jesus, I’ve ended up doing a bunch of spiritual stuff (meetings, programs, etc) with the hope that some of it sticks on the wall of discipleship. I do believe that, despite me, God has probably used some of my frenzied activity to make disciples. As of late, however, I have been under the conviction to allow the answers I find in Scripture about the Great Commission (What is a disciple and how am I supposed to make them?) to dictate my time and activities.
Ah, yes. Filling our lives with “spiritual stuff”… I’ve been there, done that, and I have the embroidered polo shirt to prove it. In fact, if I’m not careful, I can easily wander into that way of life again.
While Gavin doesn’t answer the two questions that he asks in this post, he does promise to do so in later posts.
So, I’ll post those questions to you: 1) What is a disciple? 2) How does one go about discipling others?
My coffee cup is stained…
I’m not a coffee addict. Really, I’m not. But, I do drink coffee at work. Occasionally, I’ll drink coffee at other times and places, but most of my coffee drinking occurs Monday through Friday when I’m at work.
I have a special coffee cup that I use at work. My friends Maël and Cindy gave it to me. (They were going to save it for a PhD graduation present, but they’re not sure I’ll ever graduate.) It has Hebrews 10:24-25 printed on the side, and it’s larger than most cups. (It’s so large that I’ve never filled it to the top.)
Even though my coffee cup is special, I’ve noticed something recently. My coffee cup is stained. The bottom of the cup especially is discolored from the coffee that’s been in it. If anyone looked at my coffee cup for very long, they would know that it was used to hold coffee… because it has been stained by the coffee. The coffee has left a lasting mark on the cup.
I’ve heard that the same thing can happen with tea. When a cup is used over and over again to hold tea, the cup will become stained by the tea.
Growing up, I remember having cups that were stained from Kool Aid. We particularly liked red Kool Aid, and many of our cups had a red sheen to them. We could tell which cups we used to drink Kool Aid because the Kool Aid had left its mark on the cup.
Those of us who are in Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. When we submit to him, he fills us like coffee fills a cup. When he fills us, he leaves his mark on us like coffee or tea or Kool Aid stains a cup. Like those cups, people should be able to tell that we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. It should be as obvious as the stains on my coffee cup.
Apostles, Church Gatherings, and the Great Commission
Okay, so this is not a post about hose apostles relate to either church gatherings or the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Instead, I want to point out three very good posts on the three topics in the title: apostles, church gatherings, and the great commission.
First, Josh at “Called to Rebuild” talks about the different apostles found in Scripture in his post “What is an apostle?”
Second, Craig at “New Covenant Bible Fellowship of Las Vegas” asks and answers the question “Why Does the Church Meet?”
Finally, Christopher at “A New Testament Student” writes a post called “Observance: Matthew 28:20,” starting a series on the commands of Jesus in the Gospels.
These are all great posts, and I would encourage you to read them. I’m glad that I continually find more and more people writing about (and living) the examples and instructions concerning church that we find in the New Testament.
The Sharp Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
In Acts 13, God sends Paul and Barnabas out of Antioch into the wilds of the Roman empire in order to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to gather together and strengthen those who begin following Jesus. They took Barnabas’ cousin John Mark with them. They travel through Cyprus to the southern part of modern day Turkey and the cities of Attalia, Antioch (of Pisidia), Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Somewhere between Cyprus and Antioch (of Pisidia), John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. When they had been in Derbe for some time, Paul and Barnabas traveled back through those same cities before sailing back to Antioch.
They remained in Antioch for “no little time.” During that time, some believers from Judea began teaching that Gentiles must keep the law and be circumcised in order to be saved. So, Paul, Barnabas, and other traveled down to Jerusalem to find out what the believers (including the apostles and elders) in Judea were teaching concerning this matter. Once that was straightened out, Paul and Barnabas along with Judas and Silas (and probably others) traveled back to Antioch, and they all worked with the church to build up the believers there.
Eventually, Paul suggested to Barnabas that they return to the places they had visited in Cyprus and Asia. (Acts 15:36) Barnabas thought it was a great idea, and wanted to take his cousin John Mark along again. (Acts 15:37) Paul disagreed.
This is how Luke describes what happens because of their disagreement:
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:36-41 ESV)
Now, I’ve heard this “sharp disagreement” described in many ways today – usually in terms of modern denominational disagreements. But, there are some clues in Paul’s letters that the disagreement was not as disastrous as we might think.
Most commentators point out that Paul mentions John Mark in later writings (that is, after this disagreement) such as Colossians 4:10, Philemon 24, and 2 Timothy 4:11. They conclude that Paul and John Mark had “made up” between the time of the disagreement and the times when Paul mentioned him in this letters.
But, what about Barnabas? Some point to Galatians 2:13 as an indication that Paul harbored some kind of resentment toward Barnabas. However, I noticed something interesting recently that may show that Paul and Barnabas remained in close communication, even though they were serving Jesus in different areas.
Consider this passage in Paul’s first letter to the believers in Corinth:
Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? (1 Corinthians 9:4-6 ESV)
In this passage, Paul associates very closely with Barnabas. He presents himself and Barnabas as examples for the Corinthians. Yet, Barnabas was not with Paul when Paul came to Corinth. Paul’s disagreement with Barnabas – and their separation – happened about 2 years before Paul traveled to Corinth, and the disagreement occurred 4-5 years before Paul wrote the letter that we call 1 Corinthians.
Yet, Paul knew Barnabas’ practices (i.e., that he worked to support himself), and he knew that the Corinthians would be familiar with Barnabas and his practices, familiar enough that Paul could use Barnabas as an example without further explanation.
While Paul and Barnabas certainly disagreed about whether or not to take John Mark with them, and they certainly began serving separately. But, I’m beginning to wonder if this “sharp disagreement” caused the same kind of break in fellowship that we often see today because of disagreement. To me, it seems more likely that Paul and Barnabas maintained fellowship and even maintained communication with one another in spite of their disagreement and in spite of deciding to continue their work separately.
What are you thoughts on this topic?
When the Gospel is not the Gospel
There is alot of discussion these days about the gospel – the good news. A few books have been written lately which seek to help explain what is and what is not included in “the gospel.” There have been blog posts and articles written about the gospel.
But could we still be missing “the gospel” for the most part? One blogger thinks so…
Arthur at “The Voice of One Crying Out in Suburbia” writes about this in his post “Are We Too Gospel Focused?” While he admits that this is a strange question to ask, Arthur explains what he means:
One can spend a lifetime reading about theology, digging deep into the ordo salutis, studying the great thinkers and preachers and writers of the church and miss the significance of the Gospel. It is spiritually unhealthy to spend all of our time talking about, thinking about and reading about the Gospel while not actually living as the Gospel commands us. We end up with spiritual bodies that have giant brains and bodies withered away from atrophy.
Think about that: Facts about Jesus Christ or about the gospel (even true facts) are NOT the gospel.
Or, as Arthur emphasizes later in his post, “We can get so caught up in studying the Gospel that we forget to live out the Gospel.”
I like the way that Paul put it when he wrote a letter to the believers in Colossae: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6 ESV)
Apparently, “walking in Christ” was part of the gospel that Paul (and others) taught. I say “and others” because Paul had never been to Colossae. But he knew the gospel that Epaphras had brought to them.
This is something that I’ve been thinking about alot lately.
As you proclaim and teach the gospel, how are you including this “active” part of the gospel? How are you helping people understand that the gospel is not a set of facts, but a new way of life?
My Word of Prophecy: Stop Listening to Prophetic Voices
Okay, obviously, the title of this post is a little tongue-in-cheek. Hopefully, it will make more sense as you read further.
This post is part of the November synchroblog on the topic “Calling Us Out of Our Numbness.” As with most of the synchroblog topics, I was intrigued by this one. However, I had almost decided not to participate. Why? Because I had already written about “spiritual numbness” and how the church often “helps” the situation. (See my post “Numbing our souls with church activities.”)
But, just before I pulled the plug on this month’s synchroblog, I read through the description again:
Richard Rohr says, “The role of the prophets is to call us out of numbness.” Since the beginning of time, prophetic voices both in and outside of scripture have been calling us to consider change of some sort. Sometimes it is spiritual change, other times it may be economic, political, or systemic change. Regardless of the emphasis, prophets challenge us to consider a better future. Right now there’s a strong sense of change brewing in the church, the world; people are rising up and calling individuals, communities, nations, and everything in between out of numbness and toward justice, mercy, equality, and love.
This month’s Synchroblog is centered on where are you being challenged by some kind of prophetic voice.
What is it stirring up in you?
What is God challenging you to consider?
How does it intersect with your faith & practical experience?
Of course, there is definitely something that I have been challenged by recently, and it fits in nicely with this synchroblog topic. In fact, I have been challenged and challenged and continually challenged with this same observation over the last few years, and it continues to rear its head.
What is the challenge? I’ve noticed the tendency in my life to listen to those who I do not know. I listen to their voices from books, articles, blog posts, lecture halls, and even pulpits. They tell me what to think, what to believe, and how to live. In many cases (perhaps even most cases), they are correct in what they tell me.
So, if these voices are correct, then what’s the problem? Well, there’s certainly nothing wrong with words of prophecy, encouragement, instruction, or even admonishment. However, the problem arises in the fact that I am listening to people that I do not KNOW.
I do not know how they live. I do not know how they treat their spouses or children. I do not know how or if they love their neighbor. I do not know when or where or if they server other people. I do not know anything about them except what they write or say. In other words, I’m listening to the voices of strangers.
Yes, for the most part, even those people who spoke to me from pulpits in church buildings or from podiums in school classrooms (even seminary classrooms) were strangers to me. I may have spoken to them a time or two outside of the lecture setting – I may have even shook their hand or hugged them – but I knew almost nothing about their lives other than what they told me.
This is not the way that prophecy, or teaching, or exhortation, or admonishment, or any other type of speaking is designed to work (or described in Scripture), especially when it comes to discipling and helping one another grow in maturity in Christ. These forms of communication do not point to strange words from strange people. Instead, they point to words from a friend – from those who have shared or are sharing their lives with us.
Paul reminds Timothy about this kind of relational speaking when he wrote him a letter:
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings… (2 Timothy 3:10-11 ESV)
This isn’t the only passage that places speaking within the context of sharing life together. See also Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, and Titus 2:1-15, among others. Even when Paul sent a letter to people he had never met (Colossians), he sent it via someone who planned to stay and live among the people as a living example to go along with Paul’s words. (Colossians 4:7-8)
So, what is God stirring up in me? What is he challenging me to consider? God continues to challenge me concerning the voices that I’m listening to. Do I know them? Do I know their example? Do I know how they live? Do I know how they love God? Do I know how they love others? Do I know if they are truly servants? What do I know about them?
Obviously, it’s not wrong to listen to those you do not know. But, who are my primary sources of encouragement, teaching, prophecy, etc.? If those primary sources are strangers to me – if I do not know how they are living – then, I think, there is a problem.
(Yes, I realize that my blog and this blog post can be one of those strange “voices.” If these posts provide a source of discussion among people you share your life with, then great. If, instead, my writings – and other writings – or sermons or books or whatever are your source of teaching, encouragement, prophecy, etc., then I would recommend spending less time with strangers – i.e., me – and spend more time with those who God has brought into your life.)
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Here is a list of other bloggers who are taking part in November’s synchroblog on the topic “Calling Us Out of Our Numbness”:
- Joy Wilson at Solacetree – The Blessing of Losing Your Faith
- Jeremy Myers at Till He Comes – I Have a Dream
- Glenn Hager at Breathe – Uncomfortably Numb
- Linda at Kingdom Grace – On Earth as it is in Heaven
- Sally at Eternal Echoes – Where are the True Prophets?
- Tammy Carter at Blessing the Beloved – No Compromise
- Alan Knox at The Assembling of Church – My Word of Prophecy: Quit Listening to Prophetic Voices
- Liz at Gracerules – Listen
- Christine Sine at Godspace – Surrounded by Prophetic Voices: Clouds of Witnesses That Call Us Out of Numbness
- Amy Martin – The Window of Suffering, the Beginning of Hope
- Kathy Escobar at The Carnival in My Head – Rising Up From Below
- K.W. Leslie at More Christ – What is God Challenging You to Do?
- Katherine Gunn at Truth Makes Freedom – Where is Your Heart?
- Steve Hayes at Khanya – Murder of the Cathedral
- Leah Chang at desertsspiritsfire – Wall Street, Our Street
SEBTS hosts the Southeastern Regional meeting of ETS on the topic of Biblical Theology
So, if you’ve read my profile or if you’ve been around here for a while, then you probably know that I’m a PhD student in Biblical Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS).
A few days ago, I noticed that Southeastern Seminary is hosting the southeastern regional meeting of the Evanglical Theological Society on March 23-24, 2012. And what is the topic of this regional meeting of ETS? Biblical theology. Three prominent writers in the field of biblical theology will be highlighting the meeting: Paul House, Scott Hafemann, and Andreas Köstenberger. I’ve read a couple of books by House and Hafemann, and I’ve read books by and attended seminars by Köstenberger. I expect they will provide a great plenary session.
Now, since this meeting will be held very near my home (6 miles) and in the same complex where I work as a web developer, and since the topic will be within my own field of study, I really should try to present a paper at the meeting.
But… on what topic? There are so many good topics in the field of biblical theology. Of course, I could present a paper on any topic, not just biblical theology.
Maybe I’ll think of a few topics that go along with my dissertation and list them here for your input…
Topic 1: Prophecy and Tongues as Paradigms in 1 Corinthians 14
Topic 2: Edification by the Whole Church in 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14
Topic 3: A Kingdom of Priests: The Priesthood in Action in Hebrews 10:19-25
What do you think? Do any of those topics sound interesting to you? (Of course, as always, I reserve the right to choose any of the above topics… or even a different topic. However, I would appreciate your feedback.)
Guest Blogger: The Faithfulness and Love of God to Us and to His Church
I’ve invited several people to write “guest blog posts” for this blog. There are several reasons for this: 1) To offer different perspectives. 2) To generate even more discussion and conversation between blogs. 3) To introduce other bloggers to my readers.
(If you are interested in writing a guest blog post, please contact me at aknox[at]sebts[dot]com.)
Today’s post was written by Mark Hanson, who has founded a ministry, Sheepfold Ministries, concerned with preparing the Church for increasing opposition and resisting the inroads of wickedness in governmental systems. He writes at the Rabel WebPaper as part of the work of Rabel Christian Civil Liberties.”
(Links: http://www.sheepfoldministries.org.uk, http://www.webpaper.rabel.org.uk. and http://www.rabel.org.uk)
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The Faithfulness and Love of God to Us and to His Church
In the first part of this two part series I covered the Sovereignty of God, both as it relates to us as individuals and to the Church. I made the case that God is ultimately in control and is, indeed, the Sovereign Lord (Habakkuk 3:19).
In this second part, I want to focus on two of God’s other vital characteristics: His faithfulness and His love.
Jesus was very clear that He would not allow anything to defeat His Church. Whatever we as a Church may go through, whatever trials we may face, even what can appear as an existential threat to the Church, cannot in fact bring about the demise of the Church. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says that His Church is built upon a rock, a sure and firm foundation. Although using Peter’s name to refer to the rock, and although the birth of the Church did come about through the preaching of Peter upon Pentecost, this reference by Christ to the Rock also inferred that the firmness of the Church is sure and that Christ Himself preserves her. Jesus declared that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew Henry (1662 – 1714), the great commentator on the Bible, puts it that: “Christ promises to preserve and secure His Church.”
Jesus did not say that we, or the Church, should have it easy. He is clear that the battle is one that is fierce and intense, even stating in Matthew 11:12 that “the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence.” We will face great trial. My belief is that the Church will remain present in the world through the Great Tribulation: it cannot be wiped from the world whilst this age remains. But Christ is faithful, and even in the midst of the intense trial of that period, Christ has promised us, and His Church, that “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).
Peter wrote his first epistle to the elect as a time was approaching that is now known as the “little tribulation”, a time when the Church faced the severe and intense persecution from the Roman Emperor Nero, and has come to be regarded by some as the model of the Great Tribulation because many of the foretold signs of the end of the age were manifested in a partial way during that time.
In Peter’s letter he writes: “You, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5.) Peter reassured the elect that whatever they were about to go through, God’s power kept them, God would remain faithful to them, and that God would not allow His Church to be destroyed.
Jesus loves the Church, and He will remain totally committed to His Church. As we look again at the messages to the churches in Asia contained in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we can see not only Christ’s sovereignty over the churches, but also His great love for them. He shows this love in the midst of giving what some may consider harsh warnings: He does not simply state what those churches and some individuals are doing wrong, but provides an admonition and exhortation to repent and overcome. They are encouragements in order that the harm may not come but instead the churches may grow in their communion with Christ.
To conclude, God loves us as individuals and as His Body. Christ’s Church is His Temple, and His love for her is “the love of Christ which passes knowledge.” God has the authority and power to preserve, keep and even bless the Church, and us as individuals, whatever the circumstances, even during times of great hardship, trouble and persecution. In the present uncertainties in the world, only true believers and the true Church can know the “peace which passeth understanding.”
Look to Christ! The Rock of Ages!
We just got a letter
No, this is not an episode of Blue’s Clues… and only those with young children during the last 10 years or so will understand that reference…
Instead, this is about a post written by Josh over at “Reconstructing the First Century Story.” His post is called “Knowing the historical context of the NT.”
In the post, Josh reminds us what it would have been like to receive one of Paul’s letters in the first century. That’s right… the New Testament was not a collection at first. Instead, individual “books” within the New Testament were sent to different groups or individuals scattered around the Roman empire.
What would it have been like to receive one of those letters? Josh writes:
Imagine yourself as a brother or sister in one of the churches of Galatia during the summer of A.D. 50. Everyone is abuzz, for you’ve just received a letter from Paul in Antioch. Rumor has it this letter is no holds barred. They’re saying that it has to do with the men who have come into the assembly of late who are teaching things that contradict the message Paul brought you when he and Barnabas were here.
When you first received this letter you heard it read aloud in the assembly. You may or may not be able to read yourself, so maybe all you ever did was hear it read to you. Eventually, copies of this historic letter were made. Some leading brothers in the church intended to spread its liberating message to all the saints in other cities and regions. These were words that everyone had to hear.
The point is, when you read the letter you read it as just that, a letter. It was not a “book” to you. It was not divided into chapter and verse. Nothing about it resembled a textbook, or a manual on “how to be free from the law and live the Christian life.” Never once was it suggested to you in any way that you had to dissect it, analyze it, and cross reference it with other of Paul’s letters in order to find the “key” to a victorious life. In fact, looking back on the first century from our present-day vantage point, such a thought is ridiculous.
You should definitely jump over to Josh’s post and read the rest.
But, for now, think about these questions: Is it possible to read the New Testament today more like those original recipients would have read it? What are the benefits or dangers of reading it in this way?
Guest Blogger: The Sovereignty of God Over Us and His Church
I’ve invited several people to write “guest blog posts” for this blog. There are several reasons for this: 1) To offer different perspectives. 2) To generate even more discussion and conversation between blogs. 3) To introduce other bloggers to my readers.
(If you are interested in writing a guest blog post, please contact me at aknox[at]sebts[dot]com.)
Today’s post was written by Mark Hanson, who has founded a ministry, Sheepfold Ministries, concerned with preparing the Church for increasing opposition and resisting the inroads of wickedness in governmental systems. He writes at the Rabel WebPaper as part of the work of Rabel Christian Civil Liberties.”
(Links: http://www.sheepfoldministries.org.uk, http://www.webpaper.rabel.org.uk. and http://www.rabel.org.uk)
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The Sovereignty of God Over Us and His Church
When asked by Alan to do a guest post for his blog, I spent some time thinking what I could possibly write about to appear on a blog by a PhD student. Yet due to my particular ministry area I felt it important to write this particular post and the next one on the Sovereignty, Faithfulness and Love of God to Us and to His Church.
My ministry concerns itself with developments in the world where sorrows are increasing, and I believe that persecution of Christian believers is coming in a severe way to those nations where we are not used to such violent opposition.
In such light there is a real need to comfort Christians, as it is too easy a temptation to fall into fear and worry about tomorrow and not focus on Jesus. Therefore we as believers have a real need to be encouraged as to both God’s Sovereignty, and His love.
In this post, I cover the Sovereignty aspect: God is in control.
I cannot answer the question as to the why God allows suffering. As an old English proverb goes: “Ours is not to reason why, ours is just to do and die.” Yet what I do know that is God is able to use suffering and turn it around in the pursuit of goodness. And I do know that Scripture gives many examples of God’s Sovereignty, His omnipotence: He is the Almighty, the Sovereign Lord.
Jesus called the devil “the god of this world”. Yet we are assured that there is no other God but One, and in Job 1:6-12 we can see that, even though the devil is permitted to perform evil, he cannot act without the permission of God, and that God sets stringent limits on the devil’s power. Although creation is under a curse because of the fall, God remains the Lord over all creation (Job 38).
Jesus’ ministry is to restore all things to Himself. Because Jesus died and rose again He is Lord of both the living and the dead (Romans 14:9). He has purchased all creation to become reconciled to Himself and He has an especial authority over we Christians and over His Church. (I am not making comment as to the eternal destiny of those who refuse Christ, merely stating the encompassing grace that marks Jesus’ ministry.)
God is more than able to take what is evil and turn it to good. Remember Paul’s words to the Romans: “And all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28).
As pertaining to the Church, we can see in Scripture that Christ is the Head over her in all things (Eph 1:22-33) and that His power is supreme (Eph 1:15-23).
Revelation, which is perhaps one of the most misunderstood of all Biblical texts, has as its primary message the demonstration that God is ultimately in full control (Revelation, Chapters 4-6). Yes, parts of Revelation may deal with past events, future events and the doctrines of eschatology, yet taken as a whole it shows that God is all-powerful and has a good grasp on the steering wheel. Even in the midst of immense evil and intense persecution, Christians through the ages have taken great comfort from the book of Revelation. Indeed, the Revelation prophecy was given initially to persecuted believers. It therefore fulfills its own statement about itself given in Rev 1:3, that those who keep the words of the prophecy will be blessed.
In regard to the Church, we can trust God with the Church just as much as we can trust God in our own individual lives. The blessings of His Sovereignty can be enjoyed by us as individuals, but they are also to be enjoyed by the Body of Christ as a whole. (I speak not of blessings as the World would understand blessing: popularity, wealth and constant care-free indulgence; but blessings that will have an eternal reward but may be painful at times in this present age.)
Christ demonstrates both His Sovereignty over the Church, and His love to the Church in the seven messages He dictates to the Apostle John in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. I shall let you read these in your own copy of the Bible, but we can see in these prophetic letters that Christ does have the power to expel individual members and even whole congregations from the Universal Church. No, I do not believe that if one is truly a saint, chosen by God, that salvation can be lost. At times, however, excommunication can occur (such as when Paul advised the church in Corinth to excommunicate the member engaged in sexual immorality), yet we can see Christ’s love for His people and His Church in that He gives the chastised believers and churches the required response to the chastisement, and ends each letter with the comforting and exhorting promise that “whoever overcomes will be rewarded”.
To sum up this first post, we need never fear that God will somehow run out of resources, that His dominion does not reach to this or to that extent. God is Almighty; the Lord is the Sovereign Lord. Even in the midst of church wrangling, even as error tries to creep in and, yes, even in church splits and even in fiery persecution, God, ultimately, is in full control. He has a firm grip on the steering wheel.