So Your Picture’s in the Directory?

 You have chosen to be identified as a member of this local church.

 Sometimes “church” is used in a general term to mean everyone in Christ’s body. (Hebrews 12:23)  Sometimes “church” refers to a specific group or local congregation in Christ’s body. (1 Corinthians 14:23)

Acts 14:25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. NKJV 1. When in a new place, Paul went to the congregation 2. The congregation “gathered” 3. They stayed there a “long time”

 You have chosen to be identified as a member of this local church. Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. NKJV

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

 Membership has its privileges “Generally” speaking. – It is God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:16) – Jesus is the builder (Matt. 16:18-20) – Jesus is the head of the body (Col 1:18) – Jesus died for the church (Eph 5:25-27) – Jesus will save those in the body (Eph 5:23) – Christ represents His Church (1 John 2:1-2) – Pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:14-15) – Has been glorified by God (Eph. 3:21) – It is the “fullness of Him” (Eph. 1:23) – Receives all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3)

 Membership has its privileges “generally” speaking. 1 Cor. 3:16It is God’s temple Matt. 16:18-20Jesus is the builder Col 1:18Jesus is the head of the body Eph 5:25-27Jesus died for the church Eph 5:23Jesus will save those in the body 1 John 2:1-2Christ represents His Church Eph. 3:21Has been glorified by God Eph. 1:23It is the “fullness of Him” Eph 1:3Receives all spiritual blessings

 Membership has its privileges “locally” speaking. – A large, loving family Luke 18:28 Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You” 29 So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” NKJV

Rom 16:13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Mothers 2 Cor. 2:13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother Brothers Rom 16:1 Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea Sisters 1 Tim 1:2 :To Timothy, a true son in the faith Sons

 Membership has its privileges “locally” speaking. – A large, loving family 1 Tim 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. NKJV

 Membership has its privileges “locally” speaking. – A large, loving family – Care and Protection Acts 20: Peter 5:1-4 Galatians 6:1

 Membership has its privileges “locally” speaking. – A large, loving family – Care and Protection – Provisions for those needful things Ephesians 4: Corinthians 14:1-12 Romans 12:15 James 5:13-20 Acts 4:34

 Membership has its privileges “locally” speaking. – A large, loving family – Care and Protection – Provisions for those needful things – Fellowship in a great work 1 Corinthians 12:18 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Romans 10: Thessalonians 1:6-8 Ephesians 3:21

 Membership has its privileges “locally” speaking. – A large, loving family – Care and Protection – Provisions for those needful things – Fellowship in a great work

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES