Shepherd The Flock

Is it possible for a large church to know its members well enough to discern their salvation and ensure that they are growing in Christ-likeness? Perhaps it is possible if each member is engaged in personal conversation at least monthly by a mature believer representing the church, even if not a church elder. This could be done 1 on 1, or in a small group which would require attending a meeting in addition to the Sunday gathering. Thankfully, in a house church, those interactions happen at least weekly by eating the Lord's Supper as a full meal together and allowing participation while teaching the Bible, under the oversight of the elders. "Shepherding the flock" and "exercising oversight" (1 Peter 5) imply that a pastor/elder knows those he serves personally and interacts with them intimately and frequently.

But why is this question even important? Because after Jesus explained the process of church discipline in Matthew 18, he said, "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." It is the responsibility of the elders of each local church to lead the entire congregation in using the "keys of the Kingdom", knowing its members well enough to discern their salvation & ensure that they are growing in Christ-likeness. It is not loving to give someone false assurance of salvation if the fruit of his life does not show it. This is one of the primary responsibilities of a local church. Would you pray that Arab churches in the Middle East would fulfill this biblical mandate well?

While we see in 1 Corinthians 14:23 that unbelievers sometimes attended the early churches, the local church was primarily a gathering of true believers. Acts 5 says that "none of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord." How were unbelievers in Jerusalem added to the Lord if believers didn't invite them to church? They invited them to Jesus. They shared the gospel with them. Would you pray that Arab believers would do the same?