What will your reaction be? ACTS 2:37 John 6:66 Membership Part 4 “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.

Today’s Thought Question: What Does Jesus Require of Me To Give The Church of Which I Am A Member? ANSWER: “Mindful Service” Heb 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” 2Co 8:12, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

What Does Jesus Require Of Me To Give To The Congregation That I Am A Member Of? Matthew 16:23, 24, “But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. …If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Obviously, we are bought with a price from heaven, even the death of God’s own son so that we can serve.

What Does Jesus Require Of Me To Give To The Congregation That I Am A Member Of? Matthew 4:10, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’” Obviously, we are bought with a price from heaven, even the death of God’s own son so that we can serve.

My Influence Through A Good Example What Does Jesus Require Of Me To Give To The Congregation That I Am A Member Of? My Influence Through A Good Example Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Pet. 2:12; Titus 2:12; Galatians 5:13; John 15:12; Psalm 119:97; 1 Tim. 4:12 Sin in the camp stifles the progress of God’s people (Josh. 7:1; 2 Cor. 12:19-13:2, 10, 11) “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:12) Galatians 5:13, “…but through love serve one another.” What non-Christians should see when they see us is a people who serve one another through love. Even the young as we observe Timothy… 1Ti 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

My Heart In Hospitality What Does Jesus Require Of Me To Give To The Congregation That I Am A Member Of? My Heart In Hospitality An open heart to members (1 Pet. 4:9; Titus 3:14) An open heart to strangers (Heb. 13:2; Titus 3:8) Taking interest in visitors! My Mind In Being Teachable Mark 4:20; Romans 15:14; Ephesians 4:15 HOSPITABLE HEART “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9). It should be a delight to do something for a brother/sister. And it should be allowed to be done too! “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14). There are some needs that are urgent and without maintaining good works in an urgent way, we become unfruitful, the need is lost and the opportunity to do good with it is lost also. Christianity is all about producing fruit and being slow to do good is an evil that swallows up a church’s progress. To visitors/strangers…RE: Titus 3:8, “good works” require “care” to maintain. When we are careless, good opportunities float by without us taking advantage of them. We must open our eyes to see what is given to us by God and then take advantage of it fulfilling it. This what Jesus pleaded with his people to do, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest‘? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (Jn. 4:35). Waiting to let someone else do it is a clear violation of not just the content but also the spirit of Titus 3:8. We should seek to find ways to serve them. A TEACHABLE mind...who can underestimate what the importance of such is. We are called “disciples” for a reason. If we ever grow so much that we can no longer be taught, we have outgrown discipleship.

My Support Through Thoughtful Contribution What Does Jesus Require Of Me To Give To The Congregation That I Am A Member Of? My Support Through Thoughtful Contribution 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Giving is a practical measurement of my spiritual priorities” (Kyle Campbell, Gospel Teacher, Vol. XXXVIII, NO. 43, 2008) When a person thinks little of spending a good amount of money on entertainment or eating out, but then has a hard time spending money in the church contribution, it is telling what he values and what he does not. 2 Samuel 24:24 shows David’s heart after God’s own heart, “Then the king said to Araunah, [uh-RAW-nuh, sjw] ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.’”

Old Testament Principles What Does Jesus Require Of Me To Give To The Congregation That I Am A Member Of? Old Testament Principles My giving should cost me something (2 Sam. 24:24) “Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD” (2 Chron. 31:4) 2 Samuel 24:24 shows David’s heart after God’s own heart, “Then the king said to Araunah, [uh-RAW-nuh, sjw] ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.’” Does my giving cost? In order to not give grudgingly, some have looked at the contribution as a “chip in” or perhaps give what is left over. The same type of mentality was addressed in the Old Bible (see Lev. 22:19-24)? Later some were charged with robbing God for offering such defects as an offering (Mal. 3:8).

13 tribes (Joseph = Ephraim & Manasseh) 12 tribes contr. 10% of TOTAL income to one tribe N.T. does not bind tithing but teaches to give “bountifully” A possible model for households in the church This could serve as a possible model for any local church to strive after or perhaps to excel. Some may object, that we have to pay taxes or perhaps we have loans to pay back. The same was true for the Jew under Roman rule. He still had to render unto Caesar the things to Caesar and to God the things that were God’s (Lk. 20:25). Neither was giving 10% bound on Abraham, but “…he gave him a tithe of all” (Gen. 14:20; cf. Heb. 7:6). All this takes for us is to calculate our total pay, establish the percent we chose to pay and divide by 52 to find our weekly contribution. The mature mind will assess what he gives and honestly ask if God thinks it is bountiful or sparingly. 10% “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Lk. 20:25) Levi

My Time In Faithful Attendance Psalm 122:1 What Does Jesus Require Of Me To Give To The Congregation That I Am A Member Of? My Time In Faithful Attendance Psalm 122:1 Hebrews 10:24, 25 (membership) Forsake (abandon, leave behind, desert) what? Assembling – the public gathering together and worship of the local church “our own assembling together” (NASB) My time spent in pursuing holiness should not be confined to the assembling of the saints, but it should include those precious meeting times. Just consider this reasonable point. It seems very balanced and evenhanded to ask, “Why would Jesus want a people to inherit heaven’s eternity with Him who proved themselves uninterested in spending any time in all the services of His church?” Do you know that He died for you and me to worship like this together here? The purpose of the assembling is to come together as a church (1 Cor. 11:18) The neglect of it carries fault.

Question Would having Paul’s daily attitude of “deep concern for all the churches” encourage a man to meet every time with the church? 2 Cor. 11:28; Heb. 3:13 How would Paul describe my attitude for willfully neglecting the worship times?

OWNING Paul’s Attitude “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8, written in prison) How often would a man meet with the church he was a member of with this attitude? How often would we think and pray about the church with this attitude? How would a man give to encourage and support the church with this attitude? Paul counted everything he lost as rubbish. Physically he lost more than perhaps anyone with a promising career as a Pharisee. Yet he intimates here that if he had it all to over again, he would gladly lose it all again to gain Christ.

“I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ” Philippians 3:8 Attitude Self-centered Attitude Attend All Bible Study and Worship Services Each Week A willingness to prepare for the services Take family and friends to gain knowledge of Christ Stay home: When not convenient Complain often about the distance you have to travel Replace worship time with… Home projects Family visit Entertainment

Some Questionable Attitudes Just to come to partake of the Lord’s Supper then leave Contend that partaking of Lord’s Supper is “the most important” act of worship But, other acts may render the Lord’s Supper as vain (1 Cor. 11:22, 33; Matt. 5:24). Dim view of midweek services “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17) Home Bible studies replace assembling of saints “…So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people…” (Acts 11:26) Read Acts 11:19-26, if the church assembled, where do you suppose Paul and Barnabas were?

Soul Probing Questions Regarding “THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES” Does my attendance-record reflect the attitude of the merchant who sold all to buy the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:45, 46)? Would we expect to hear the words “well done good and faithful” if Jesus decided to come back when we decided to not attend the services of the church (Matt. 25:21)? Was it easier for Jesus to go to the cross, suffer, and die to build the church? …than for me to attend the “assembling of ourselves together?”

Summary: What Does The Lord Require of Me? “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 10:12) “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic. 6:8)

Summary: What Does The Lord Require of Me? My influence through a good example My heart through hospitality My mind in being teachable My support through thoughtful contribution My time in assembling in faithful attendance

Luke 14 33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. 34 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 "It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Salt that loses its flavor is good for nothing. Christians who lose their saltiness (ardor, passion, eagerness) serve no good in the kingdom. They are unfit for the land in that it will not bear fruit of itself and it is not good even for a pile of manure in that it won’t even enrich the land.