CHURCH MEMBERS (Part Two) (Kent Smith Notes 10/29/23)

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP (Part Two)

THE BODY OF CHRIST

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REVIEW

Salvation is evident in Conversion and Faith

This makes you a member of the BRIDE OF CHRIST and the BUILDING OF GOD

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God is the One who saves us.

When He saves you, He keeps you saved.

Matthew 18:3 “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

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THE BODY OF CHRIST

Being a part of the Body of Christ is not automatic at salvation.

In the Bible the Body of Christ is the community of local believers.

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Romans 12:5

we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ..

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

Acts 16: 22-34

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WHAT IS MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH?

Church membership is a formal relationship between

a local church and an individual Christian

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What Is Church Membership? : 9Marks

BY Jonathan Leeman

A contract / an agreement / a partnership

A Covenant

In marriage we make promises, vows to one another. Church membership is likewise a formal agreement that governs our relationship with one another.

Over the next year I hope we can establish a new church covenant for River Hills that is meaningful and that it would help us govern ourselves and improve our ability to care for one another and faithfully develop one another as disciples.

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THE CHURCH’S OBLIGATION

Affirm the individual is a disciple of Jesus
Exercise oversight (responsibility) for their development as a disciple of Jesus
Accept responsibility for the benevolent care of the individual.

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At a minimum a new church covenant would include the following obligations on the part of the church.

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THE CHRISTIAN’S OBLIGATION

Accept the care of others offered in love
Serve the body
Submit to the authority of the local body and its leader

TO LIVE OUT THEIR DISCIPLESHIP IN THE CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY.

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At a minimum a new church covenant would include the following obligations on the part of the individual member.

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IDENTIFYING THE LOCAL CHURCH

The New Testament action that announced that a person had become a follower of Christ, and identified themselves with the local church was always baptism.

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Acts 16:30-34

He brought them out of the prison.

He asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

(Faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin.)

[You and your household] implies that he took them to his home.

He ministered to their bodily needs that night.

He was immediately baptized (and his household) (THAT NIGHT)

He welcomed them into his home and served them as family

He rejoiced with them.

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