I Will Be a Functioning Church Member

made with Proclaim

Mike Jones

Good News Baptist Church

I Am a Church Member • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago • 1:18:49

Church Membership

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Introduction

Make sure everyone has their book and a pen/pencil.

Remember, the goals of this study are:

to critically examine what it means to be a church member from God’s point of view

to discuss and generate ideas that will help us become more involved in the church ministry

to find and discuss obstacles of effective church membership

I Will Be a Functioning Member

Notes, highlights

What are the differences that we find between secular membership and Biblical membership?

Secular membership is about:

Amenities and perks

Rights

Dues paid entitle us to these perks and rights

For the benefit of the member

Membership Means We Are All Necessary Parts of the Whole

Biblical membership is about:

Function and roles

All parts working together

For the benefit of the church

For the mission of the church

1 Corinthians 12:12–20 KJV 1900

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV 1900

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Membership Means We Are Different, but We Still Work Together

Notes or questions?

Unity does not mean uniformity. Unity means diversity working together for the same goal.

When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. 1 Corinthians 12:26

1 Corinthians 12:26 KJV 1900

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Membership Means Everything We Say and Do Is Based on a Biblical Foundation

Notes or Questions?

If we were to always act out of love, there would be no problems. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Church membership is founded on love. Authentic, biblical, unconditional love.

Church Membership Is Functioning Membership

Notes or Questions?

We function different, but we should all be functioning in some way or another.

“How can I best serve my church?” Never ask “should I serve the church.”

The First Pledge

Questions

Explain how a country club membership and church membership are so different. Give scriptural references to support the differences in church membership.

Explain why church membership is a biblical concept using 1 Corinthians 12 as your Biblical foundation.

How is the “love chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13, related to church membership?

Explain using all 13 verses of the chapter.

How are the different parts of the body related to church membership?

How do the parts play out in your church?

In relation to church membership, why is it important for members to know and use their spiritual gifts?

Relate your answer to 1 Corinthians 12.