Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Special Services

Membership 2

INTRO: Did you know that many civic and professional organizations have much higher requirements for membership than the church?

                                                                          WERU RADIO STATION
General Meetings are held on a regular basis on campus. They are conducted by WERU's General Manager, and play a vital role in keeping WERU Campus Radio active members informed on the happenings and progress of the station. Considering the importance of these meetings, it is expected that you will make a whole hearted attempt to attend. Attendance is required for all active members, Attendance will be recorded and kept on file, and, although perfect attendance isn't always possible, repeated absences will result in expulsion from the Program. It is important to understand that doing is time-committing, and WERU only wants members who are dedicated to making the station a success.

EXP: No other organization has been commissioned by God.
         No other organization has the promise of the presence of God.
         None, but the church of God.  Yet, the church often asks far less of it's members than these other organizations...it's sad.

    And what happens in these other organizations, when you do not live up to the requirements of membership...you are removed.  Often, that is not true in the church. We don't want to offend anyone after all, we are about love. Well perhaps the best demonstration of love would be for the church to take it's membership requirements more seriously and admonish  and discipline those who do not.

TRANS: Last week I challenged you who are members here at CBC to examine your 'church life' to see if you are a member in good standing. How would you know?

III. What are the responsibilities of Church Membership?
   1. Submit
       A. To the teaching of the church
             Acts 2:42 says that they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. They submitted to the official teaching of the church and we are called in God's Word to do the same.  (1 Tim. 6:3; 1 Tim. 4:6-11)

 B. To those in authority in the church
     Heb. 13:17 tells believers to submit to those in authority over you. That means unless what they are telling you is sinful,  you obey without complaint. You may disagree but you are not to disobey. Leaders will answer for how they lead, others will answer for how they follow.

    We hate to submit to the authority of others, especially when we know what is right for our lives, our ministries and our church. But, God has raised up leaders in the church, to be in authority over the life God has given you, over the ministry God has placed you in and over God's church He has led you to. Not to submit to their authority is to be openly disobedient to God.

 Well to balance things out, especially for those who I have just upset, God has determined that  we are to be subject

 C. To one another in the church
     Eph. 5:21 tells us to submit to one another out of love. We are be each others servants and desire to help them grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord and to help them to that end in a loving way, through servanthood.

Ask Yourself:
 Do I constantly disagree and teach/believe doctrine other than what is taught in the church?
 Do I often refuse to submit to the authority of the Elders and other leaders in the church?
 Do I look to my own interests first and refuse to submit to others by acts of servanthood?
     If that is true, you would not be a member in good standing.

    2. Contribute
         Acts 2:44-45, Rom. 12 and 2 Cor. 9 tell us to contribute to the needs of the saints and to the work of God. That means sacrificial, systematic giving. Tithing was not discontinued in the NT church and neither is it today. Neither are offerings which are above and beyond the requirement of the tithe.

Ask Yourself:
 Do I think seriously about how much and how often I give to the church?
 Do I usually give of what is left over, what is easy to give, instead of the first fruits of my labor to the Lord?
    If that is true, then you would not be a member in good standing.

    3. Serve
     Again Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12 and Eph. 4 all tell us that God has given gifts and talents to believers to be used for the building up of the body, which is the church. To use them you must serve in some way.
     Membership w/o service is no membership at all. It is spectatorship, not membership.

Ask Yourself:
 Do I serve in any capacity in the church?
 Do I use the gifts and talents God has given to me for the good of the church?
     If this your answer is no and there is no physical reason why you can't serve, then you would not be a member in good standing.

    4. Fellowship
ILL: Someone once told this amusing story 'Coffee was always served at our church after the sermon. One Sunday our minister asked one of the younger members of the congregation if he knew why we had coffee hour. Without hesitating, the youngster replied, "To wake people up before they have to drive home."

     Acts 2:42,46; 1 Jn. 1 speak of the necessity of fellowship...spending time with the brethren. Becoming friends, loving one another, depending on one another, and supporting one another.  That is all done in the realm of fellowship. It is a requirement, not just a nice thing.

Ask Yourself:
 Do I attend  Calvary Cafe, Dinner 8's or any of the other social activities of the church.
 Do I spend time with others in my church family outside church programs?
     If  you answer no, then you would not be a member in good standing.

    5. Worship
     Hebrews 10:24-25 tells believers not to forsake assembling together. The writer is talking about coming together for worship.The Bible is full of admonition for people to be consistent in their worship of God..and to be passionate about it as well. That means not only must we attend worship services as the leadership organizes, but we are to attend with a passionate heart expecting to meet God.

     In our very busy lives that requires making priorities because there will always be something else to do on Sunday mornings. Worship or a Yankee game, Worship or a wedding shower, Worship or a birthday party, Worship or a family picnic, Worship or the beach...Worship or you add the rest. The priority of God's people must always be Worship.

Ask Yourself:
 Do I sometimes not go to Worship services when there is something else I just gotta do..like, a wedding shower, ball game, picnic, family dinner or beach with the kids?
 Do I sometimes not go to worship services with the excuse that I don't feel well, even though I wouldn't stay home if it were a work day?
     If you answered yes, then you would not be a member in good standing.

     Understand that when you skip Worship on Sunday mornings for these other activities, the people who see you at these other activities and know you are a Christian , will also know you skipped church. This will speak volumes of what they think of your testimony, of your commitment to Christianity and the importance of worshipping God.

   6. Abiding in God's Word
     Faithful members of God's family and of a local church abide in God's Word. They stay connected to the vine as John 15 tells us. Ultimately  it is the responsibility of each member to read, study and obey God's Word.

Ask Yourself:
 Do I regularly study  and read God's Word?
 Do I regularly attend the Bible Studies leadership makes available here at the church?
 If you say no, then you would not be a member in good standing.

TRANS: God's Word takes church membership requirements seriously...and leadership plans to do the same...I hope you will too.

IV. What are the rewards of Church Membership?
    1. A sense of belonging: The knowledge that you are part of a team where you count on the encouragement of others  to help you along.

    2. Spiritual nourishment of the Word: Regular and  systematic teaching of God's Word to feed your soul and will help bring you to maturity in Christ.

    3. Discipline: The necessary correction to put you back on the road to maturity in Christ.

    4. Blessing: When we are obedient to God's Word we are promised blessing by God.

CONCLUSION
READ: Ps 84:1-4
     Is that how you feel about this place of worship?
     Do you long to be here on Sunday morning and at other times of worship?
    Do you long to be able to serve God alongside His people, your brothers and sisters in Christ?
    Do you feel that God has called you here?
    Have you been challenged and enriched by the teaching of this fellowship?
    Has your worship brought you closer to God?
    Are you a believer in Jesus Christ who has repented of your sin and accepted Jesus' death on the cross as payment for your sin? Have you asked Jesus to be your personal Savior and Lord?
    Have you been baptized by water as a sign of your new birth in Jesus Christ?

     Then what is keeping you from membership?Speak to Elder Wes Whalen or I and we will walk you though what is necessary for you to become an active part of our church family.

    Perhaps some of you are members of CBC, but in reality, church for you is  nothing more than an obligation to fulfill on Sunday mornings and you rarely grace the doors of this building at any other time. Perhaps some of you are members here at CBC but have not taken your responsibilities seriously.

     According to Acts 2:41 & 47 God adds Christians to a church, to their number.

 If God added you to this number here at CBC then you are obligated and accountable to Him for being a member in good standing.

 So, are you willing to assume the responsibilities of church membership as I have explained them to you?

 It is my hope and prayer that you are.