What It Means to Be A Member of the Warfield Blvd. church of Christ

Membership Is… Some Christians have a wrong understanding of local church membership (their own idea, what they have experienced in other churches, never been taught, etc.) We must return to the biblical understanding of membership

Membership Is… Church membership in the universal sense: involuntary (Ac.2:47) Church membership in the local sense: voluntary (Acts 9:26-28) Some today float around, never place membership, others worship at home, or not at all

Membership Is Not… Political party: it is not a place to follow your favorite leader (1 Cor. 1-4) Support group: it is not a place to be accepted with any lifestyle (1 Cor. 5-7) Resort & spa: it is not a place to be pampered with your way (1 Cor. 8-10)

Membership Is Not… Social club: it is not a place to be fed with food (1 Cor. 11) Talent show: it is not a place to show off your talent (1 Cor. 12-14) Open forum: it is not a place to share your own ideas about life (1 Cor. 15)

Three Principles of Membership Acts 9:26-28 Identification: “Barnabas took him…” Dedication: “he attempted to join…” Collaboration: “he was with them…”

Identification The shepherds must know who the sheep are (1 Pet. 5:2) The sheep must know who the sheep are (1 Thess. 5:14; etc.) The church directory should be correct, complete, and meaningful

Identification The church directory is not the Lamb’s Book of Life. A faithful Christian can be in the Book of Life and not be in a directory, just as a unfaithful Christian can be in a directory and not in the Book of Life (Rev.3:5; 20:11-15; 21:25-27).

Three Principles of Membership Acts 9:26-28 Identification: “Barnabas took him…” Dedication: “he attempted to join…” Collaboration: “he was with them…”

Dedication Members are to enter into a solemn covenant; a covenant to serve and to serve together Membership has great honor, privileges, blessings, and responsibilities

Dedication The members serve together – a “body” of “members”… Like the Romans (Rom.12:3-8) Like the Corinthians (1 Cor.12:14-31) Like the Ephesians (Eph.4:7-16)

Dedication We have… “Come together” responsibilities “One another” responsibilities (there are more than 20 listed in the NT!) A need for more teachers, volunteers

Dedication 90% of the work done by 10% Too “busy” to teach or volunteer Burden others when I can do it “Retire” after teaching many years

Three Principles of Membership Acts 9:26-28 Identification: “Barnabas took him…” Dedication: “he attempted to join…” Collaboration: “he was with them…”

Collaboration The members owe something to the body like… Loyalty – it must be a priority in your life, a duty (Lk. 17:10) Dependability – the elders can count on you anytime, any place (1 Thess.5:12-13; Heb.13:7,17)

Collaboration Performance – if every member was just like me, what kind of church would this be (Eph. 4:16)? Attendance – if I can stay away, so can the rest (Heb.10:25) Disorderly – if I can act unruly, so can the rest (1 Cor. 14:40)

Collaboration Contribution - if I can give little or nothing, so can the rest (2 Cor.9:6-7) Influence – if I can set a poor example, so can the rest (Mt.5:12-13) Teaching – if I can refrain from teaching, so can the rest (Heb. 5:12)

Collaboration Inactivity – if I can make excuses, so can the rest (Lk. 14:18; Mt. 25:25)

What is membership to you? What is Local Church Membership to You? How you answer that questions will determine your eternal destiny Have a biblical view!