Responsibilities of Church Membership

Both a Privilege and a Blessing in this life to be in the Lord’s Church.• Associate with people who are genuinely concerned about my soul.• Associate with people who are genuinely concerned about my physical life.

Need to be able to recognize those who are willing to work for the Lord in a given area (Acts 9:26).

Responsibilities Accompany Blessings & Privileges

• American Citizenship:– Obey laws of the land– Pay taxes– Support armed forces

• Marriage:– Husband Wife love and care for–Wife Husband love and help– Parents Children raise in godly

home– Children Parents obey

No one has a right to the blessings of any

relationship unless he accepts the corresponding

responsibilities!

Responsibilities of Church Membership

1. Thoroughly convinced the church is right.– God will NOT accept half-hearted

service (Mt. 22:37).• He wants people who want to serve Him.• He wants those who will fight for His cause.• He wants people who want to see and help His

kingdom grow.• No one is forced into God’s church!

– Not all will lead singing, teach classes, etc.• But ALL can be faithful!!!• Those who willfully absent themselves from the

services of the Lord are NOT doing all they can.

Responsibilities of Church Membership

1. Thoroughly convinced the church is right.–Must be willing to pay the price (Lk.

14:25-33).

–Must decide to put Christ before:• Mother and father• Brothers and sisters• Husband or wife or children, or even self• Worldly interests: sports, hobbies,

vacation, career, etc.• If someone kin to me or close to me does

something out of harmony with God’s will; Where will I stand?

Responsibilities of Church Membership

1. Thoroughly convinced the church is right.–Must have absolute faith in the gospel

• There is a definite plan of salvation• There is one church (Mt. 16:18; Eph. 4:3)

– Paul had this faith:• For I am not ashamed… (Rom. 1:16)• He was thoroughly convinced (2 Tim. 1:12-13)

– Having this kind of faith makes it easy to talk to others about Christ & His church.• “Come, see a Man…”John 4:29• “As much as in me is…” Rom. 1:15

Responsibilities of Church Membership

2. Must support gospel preaching.–Offer no apology for powerful

preaching– Great commission should be

preached without fear or favor• Don't compromise the truth (Eph. 4:15)• True love for neighbor warn of danger

which lies ahead (Acts 24:25)• Paul’s charge (2 Tim. 4:1-5)• Christ was compassionate, yet honest–Rich young ruler (Mk. 10:21)–Woman at the well (Jn. 4:22)

Responsibilities of Church Membership

3. Must forsake the world.– 1 Jn. 2:15-16; Tit. 2:11-12– Realm of this world led by Satan is

opposed to God• And this is the condemnation, that light

is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19 ).

–Not entangled in worldly affairs• No one engaged in warfare entangles

himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Tim. 2:4).

Responsibilities of Church Membership

3. Must forsake the world.– Not entangled in worldly affairs• Friendship with world is enmity with God (Jas.

4:4)• Cannot serve God and mammon (Mt. 6:24)• Seek things above, not things on the earth

(Col. 3:1-2)• “knowing that from the Lord you will receive

the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:24).• Must not allow temporal to distract us (Lk.

9:57-62)• Excuses won’t be accepted (Lk. 14:15-24)• Must seek God first (Mt. 6:33)

Responsibilities of Church Membership

4. Must finance the work of the church.– It is the Lord’s way• 1st Day of week (1 Cor. 16:1-2)• Attitude (2 Cor. 9:6-7)

– Need to have vision (Phil. 4:14-18)