Membership

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are

one body, so also is Christ” (1 Cor. 12:12)

All verses are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

What will your reaction be? ACTS 2:37John 6:66

P a r t 3

If Jesus Died On A Cruel

Cross So That I Can Be A Member Of HIS SPIRITUAL BODY, Shouldn’t I Want To Be

Actively Joined To A Local Body Of Believers?Ephesians 5:30, “For we are MEMBERS of His BODY, of His flesh and of His bones.”

What KIND OF CHURCH Does Jesus Want

Me To Be A Member Of?

1. One that loves Jesus and hates error (Prov. 23:23; Jn. 8:42; 14:23; 1 Cor. 16:22)

What Kind Of Congregation Does Jesus Want Me To Be Joined To?

Acts 9:26

works, endurance, abhorrence of error

left first love

COMMENDATIONCONDEMNATION2:4, 5 2:2, 3, 6

EPHESUS

1. Remember2. Repent3. Do

Solution:“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:5)

First Works

1. One that loves Jesus and hates error (Prov. 23:23; Jn. 8:42; 14:23; 1 Cor. 16:22)

What Kind Of Congregation Does Jesus Want Me To Be Joined To?

Acts 9:26

works, love, service, faith and patience

allowing error

COMMENDATIONCONDEMNATION2:20-232:19

Thyat i ra

2. One where the members love each other and will discipline disorderly conduct (1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3:6-14)

What Kind Of Congregation Does Jesus Want Me To Be Joined To?

Acts 9:26

3. One that emphasizes the Bible as the rule (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Cor. 4:6)

4. One that demands the whole truth to be taught (Acts 20:20, 26, 27)

◦Even when it is not so pleasant (Acts 20:22-25; Matt. 19:22; etc.)

◦Truth does not regard who is in the audience (Matt. 22:16; Job 34:18, 19)

What Kind Of Congregation Does Jesus Want Me To Be Joined To?

Acts 9:26

5. One that worships in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:23, 24)

◦Prayerful (1 Tim. 2:1-3)◦Congregational singing (Eph. 5:19)◦Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week

(Acts 20:7)◦Bible-based preaching/teaching

(Acts 20:7; 17:11;Lk. 24:27, 32)◦Practices willful giving on first day of week

(1 Cor. 16:1-2)

What Kind Of Congregation Does Jesus Want Me To Be Joined To?

Acts 9:26

6. One that seeks to evangelize the lost with Christ’s plan of salvation (1 Tim. 2:4; Mk. 16:15-16)

7. One that respects and works within the scope of Bible authority(Col. 3:17; Jer. 37:17)

◦ Rightly dividing the word◦ Not loosing where God has bound◦ Not binding where God has loosed

What Kind Of Congregation Does Jesus Want Me To Be Joined To?

Acts 9:26

1. Loves Jesus and hates error2. Loves the brethren enough to

exhort, warn and discipline3. Emphasizes the Bible as the rule4. Demands the whole truth5. Worships is in spirit and truth6. Evangelistic7. Respects authority

A Sound Church:

What Does Jesus Require of Me To Give The Church of Which I Am A Member?

In The Final Lesson: