1. MY RESPSONSIBILIITY TO THE CHURCH EPHESIANS 5:25-27

2. Two weeks ago we talked about Individual Responsibility. Each person has an individual responsibility to God and will be held accountable on the day of Judgment. Romans 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Salvation is primarily a personal or individual matter. Philippians 2:12 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Each person must decide for themselves whether they will accept or reject God’s plan of salvation and gain the forgiveness that is found only in Christ. IT IS YOUR DECISION!

3. Today, however, we want to talk about “Our Responsibility To The Church.” Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, Ephesians 5:25 He purchased the church with His own blood, Acts 20:28 In I Timothy 3:15, we are told that the church is the pillar and ground (support) of the truth. If Christ attaches this much importance to the church then surely we ought to be concerned about what our responsibility is to it.

4. The Church Can Be No Stronger Than The Members Who Make It Up You and I, as Christians, are the church. I Corinthians 12:20, But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. The church and the body of Christ are the same. If the church is weak and ineffective it is because most of its members are weak and not fulfilling their responsibility to the Lord. If the church is strong and effective it is because you and I (as members) are accepting our responsibility in the service of the Lord. 27

5. The church can remain strong as long as it remains pure. Ephesians 5:26-27 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. If the church is to remain pure its members must remain pure. I Timothy 5:22 Keep yourself pure. James 1:27-Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

6. What is Our Responsibility To The Church? We owe the church our:MoneyTalentsTime These three cannot be separated. I must give liberally of my money for the support of the Lord’s work. II Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. Money alone will not get the work of the church done! To carry out the Lord’s work I must be ready to use My Time My Talents My Influence My presence is needed during the worship service.

7. Each Member Owes The Church An Example Of Godly Living Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Living a Christian life is not something we just talk about IT’S HOW WE ARE SUPPOSE TO LIVE! How can we who are Christians compel others to be- come a Christian when we don’t act like Christians? When any Christian is dishonest, immoral, or is living in any sinful state, he is not only placing his own soul in jeopardy, but he is also bringing reproach upon the church.

8. In the book of Revelation the church is referred to as a candlestick or a lamp-stand, upholding the light of Christ to a lost and sinful world. Unless they are able to see the light of Christ in us, they will have no respect for the church and will pay no attention to what we preach and teach! Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. You must remain pure. The church must remain pure.

9. This is done by: Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil. Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Putting evil out of our lives

10. Ephesians 4:22-24 That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. Start serving the Lord. I Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

11. Let’s start thinking of the church as “us” instead of “they” Let’s throw away the “they” business. WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. If things need correcting it’s up to me and you to pitch-in and get the job done. When we start thinking in terms of “we” and “us” the local church is going to be more EffectiveActiveFriendlyLovingSpiritual Whatever else it needs more of it is up to “us” to make it happen.

12. WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CHURCH ARE YOU MEETING IT HEAD-ON? OR ARE YOU NEGLECTING IT?

13. Given by David Hamlin on May 16, 2010 am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.orgwww.hollisterchurchofchrist.org