Transcript I Am a Church Member - The Montwood Church of Christ

Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
January 19, 2014
Montwood church of Christ
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
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Sunday School Rules
1.
2.
3.
4.
This is not a lecture series
Participation is expected
Questions and comments are welcome
Gifts will be given (if earned) or at the
discretion of the class facilitator
5. Have fun and love one another
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I Am A Church Member
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I Am a Church Member
90% of churches are declining
• Less than 20% of Americans attend church
• Hawaii is the only state where church growth is outpacing population growth
• In 2050, the percentage of the U.S. population attending church will be almost half of
what it was in 1990.
66% of the Builder Generation (those born prior to 1946) are
Christians
• Spend regular time in private devotional activity
• Have a strong sense of belonging to their denomination
• Be involved in church-based community service, justice or welfare activities
• Be involved in community-based service, care or welfare activities
15% of the Millennial Generation (born 1980-2000) are Christians
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• High Desire for Relationships, Doctrinally Serious and Community Focused
• Will check facts of church life (smart phone)
• Shaping the churchI Am
of the
future Member
A Church
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Group Exercise (WERP Analysis)
Why Weak Congregations?
- Robust SCM processes supported
W
- Lack of experienced people being able
WERP
Analysis
Responsibility
- Region governance (business growth in EMEA)
- Regional SCM support – build team of regional experts
(task force and process audit)
-
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Expectations Upon Joining
Church
R
E
Privileges
- HP strategic decisions – hard stops (VMI provider, ELF
project, RCTO forwarder, Rationalization projects)
-
I Am A Church Member
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What Does the Bible Say About the Church?
House
Soldiers
Church
Bride
Body
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1. Just as stones in a house, we
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (Soldiers)
must
do our
part to support the
1 1Peter
2:4-5
– (House)
•
Ephesians
6:10-18
– Full
Corinthians
12:12-13
(Body)
Ephesians
5:25-27
(Bride)
of theof
church.
•work
Living
stones
Armor
God / Spiritual
•
1
Corinthians
12:27
–
• • Ephesians
5:23
–
Christ
2. We
must
never
be
guilty
of
Ephesians
6:12
–
Our
house – Ephesians 2:20-22
Christ
is the
head
becoming
ahead
deserter
from the
is
the
–
submit
to
Enemy
Defined
• Holy Priesthood – 1 Peter
army
Christ. 6:12 – Fight
the
•• Christ
11ofTimothy
Corinthians
12:24-26
2:9
good
fight
of
the faith.
Take a
3. We must
never
become
–
No
division,
all
have
• 1Spiritual
Corinthians
7:10 –to
– Rom.
•unfaithful
Sacrifices
hold
of
eternal
tothe
Christ
thelife
church's
responsibility,
suffer
Cleave
to
Christ
which
you
were
called
and
12:1,
Heb.
13:15-16
bridegroom
about
which
you
made
and
rejoice
together
One
loose
stone
can the
cause
• 2must
Corinthians
11:2-3
–
4. •We
all
work
together
good confession in the
the
foundation
crumble
under
the
direction
our
head
Don’t
cheat
onoftoChrist
presence
of many
for the
good of the body of
witnesses.
Christ.
I Am A Church Member
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Next Week
• Functioning Membership
• Unity
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I Am A Church Member
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Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
January 26, 2014
Montwood church of Christ
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
7
Sunday School Rules
1.
2.
3.
4.
This is not a lecture series
Participation is expected
Questions and comments are welcome
Gifts will be given (if earned) or at the
discretion of the class facilitator
5. Have fun and love one another
CNH
I Am A Church Member
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What Does the Bible Say About the Church?
House
Soldiers
Church
Bride
Body
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1. Just as stones in a house, we
Where did the church come from?
must do our part to support the
Matthew 16:16-18 - 16 Simon Peter
work of the church.
replied, “You are the Christ, the Son
2. We must never17be guilty of
of the living God.” And Jesus
becoming a deserter from the
answered him, “Blessed are
army of Christ.
you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and
3. We must never become
blood has not revealed this to
unfaithful to Christ the church's
you, but my Father who is in
bridegroom
heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are
4. We must all work together
Peter, and on this rock I will build
under the direction of our head
my church, and the gates
for the good of the body of
of hell shall not prevail against it.
Christ.
I Am A Church Member
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the church, the Body
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
–
–
–
–
Many members, one body, vs. 12, 14, 20
Baptized into one Spirit, one body, vs. 13
Each part of the body (church member), has a function, vs 17
Parts of the body must work together to function, vs 19
• 1 Corinthians 12:25-26
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– No division (Mark 3:25)
– Must care for one another, vs25
– Suffer and rejoice together, vs26
I Am A Church Member
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…. And the Work (Service)
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11
– Varieties of gifts – but the same spirit, varieties of
service – but the same Lord and varieties of activities –
but the same God empowers them in everyone, vs. 4-6
– These gifts are given for the good of the church, vs. 7
– God gives these gifts as He sees fit and to whom He
choses, vs. 11
Be a Functioning Church Member
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I Am A Church Member
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…. And the Work (Service)
• 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
Word of Wisdom
• Knowledge guided by understanding
Word of Knowledge
• Knowledge of God and His ways
Faith
• Ability to take God at His word
Gifts of Healing
Working of Miracles
Prophecy
Discerning of Spirits
Various Tongues
• Ability to restore health to a person
• Ability to alter natural events
• Speaking forth the word of God
• Insight to another's motives, attitude, purpose
• Ability to speak in different languages
interpret different languages
Interpretation of Tongues • Ability toI Am
A Church Member
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Be a
Functioning
Church
Member
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…. And the Work (Service)
• 1 Corinthians 12:27-28
– Apostles – chosen and commissioned by Jesus himself to
establish the churches after his ascension
• Ordained ministers, elders and deacons
• apostolic teaching is what prophets are to proclaim and what teachers
are to make plain
• 1 Corinthians 12:29-31
– Everyone and their different gifts contributes to the well-being
of the whole (church body).
– Desire the higher gifts
Be a Functioning Church Member
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I Am A Church Member
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Thom S. Rainer – “The concept of an
inactive church member is an
oxymoron. Biblically, no such church
member really exists.”
Commit to being a Functioning Church Member
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I Am A Church Member
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Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
February 2, 2014
Montwood church of Christ
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
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I Am A Church Member
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Unity of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:1-6 - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to
which you have been called, 2 with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another
in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just
as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your
call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God
and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in
all.
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I Am A Church Member
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Calling
• 1:4 - God chose us for himself before the world was created.
• 1:5 - he predestined us to be his children—and that means heirs of all
our Father owns!
• 1:7 - he sent Christ to atone for all our trespasses.
• 1:12 - we are "destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory."
• 1:13 - he sealed us with his Holy Spirit to preserve us forever.
• 2:7 - he promises to spend an eternity increasing our joy in the
immeasurable riches of his grace.
• 3:10 - he has given us the mission as a church to display his wisdom,
even to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
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I Am A Church Member
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Unity of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:1-6 - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to
which you have been called, 2 with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another
in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just
as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your
call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God
and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in
all.
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I Am A Church Member
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Unity – Attained and Maintained
• Unity Attained by Christ
– Ephesians 2:13-16
• Unity to be Maintained by Christ’s church
– Ephesians 4:11-13
– Ephesians 4:2
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I Am A Church Member
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Unity Attained
Ephesians 2:13-16 - 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who
once were far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both
one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of
hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments
expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself
one new man in place of the two, so making peace,16 and
might reconcile us both to God in one body through the
cross, thereby killing the hostility.
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I Am A Church Member
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Unity Maintained
Ephesians 4:11-13 - And he gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and
teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of
ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until
we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature
manhood, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ,
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I Am A Church Member
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Unity Maintained Continued
Ephesians 4:2 - with all humility and gentleness,
with patience, bearing with one another in love,
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I Am A Church Member
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I Am A Church Member
God and Father
Baptism
Faith
Lord
Hope
Spirit
Body
Unity through Oneness in God
Eph. 4:4-6 -There
is one body and one
Spirit—just as you
were called to the
one hope that belongs
to your call— 5 one
Lord, one faith, one
baptism, 6 one God
and Father of all, who
is over all and through
all and in all.
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Summary
Phil 2:2 - complete my joy by
being of the same mind,
having the same love, being in
full accord and of one mind.
1. We have been called
2. To maintain the Unity of the Spirit
1. Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Forbearing, Love
2. Unity of Faith – shared belief in Christ Jesus
3. Unity of Knowledge – shared conviction about Christ
3. We are One – Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith,
Baptism, God
Be a Unifying Church Member
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I Am A Church Member
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Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
February 9, 2014
Montwood church of Christ
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
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Class Review
•
•
•
•
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What / Who is the church?
Be a Functioning church Member
Be a Unifying church Member
Be a Service Oriented church Member
I Am A Church Member
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Service
• Luke 6:38 - give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For
with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
• Romans 7:6 - But now we are released from the law, having died to
that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the
Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
• Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do
not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through
love serve one another.
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Service
Mark 9:33-35 - 33 And they came to Capernaum. And when
he was in the house he asked them, “What were you
discussing on the way?”34 But they kept silent, for on the
way they had argued with one another about who was the
greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he
said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of
all and servant of all.”
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Our Challenge – Be a Service Oriented church Member
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Service Oriented Church
Inward Focus
Worship Services, Bible Studies,
Pre-school childcare, Children’s
and youth programs and
activities, leadership training,
new member classes, discipleship,
prayer meetings, buildings, staff
salaries, counseling services,
capital campaigns
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Outward Focus
Crisis pregnancy help, job
counseling, GED classes,
Mothering classes, financial
counseling, benevolence, food
and clothing pantry,
local/nation/international
mission trips, disaster relief,
block parties
Both "inward" and "outward" are important. You must take care of the "base" (inward)
in order to have "place" to launch vibrant ministries (outward).
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Varying Views of Church Membership
Church
Country Club
Giving
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Receiving
Serving
Served
Responsibilities
Rights
Sacrifice
Entitlements
Offering
Dues
I Am A Church Member
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Service – Jesus’ Example
Philippians 2:5-11 - 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is
yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did
not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied
himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness
of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on
him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
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I Am A Church Member
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“A church that will positively impact the lives of
people must be service oriented. A church that
has strong relationships, a church that is a high
quality church will not only change the lives of
people within it, but also the lives of those
outside,” – Dr. Roy Notice – President of
Jamaica Bible College
Be a Service Oriented church Member, so we can have a Service
Oriented church
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I Am A Church Member
33
Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
February 16, 2014
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
34
Class Review
•
•
•
•
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What / Who is the church?
Be a Functioning church Member
Be a Unifying church Member
Be a Service Oriented church Member
I Am A Church Member
35
Service – Jesus’ Example
Philippians 2:5-11 - 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is
yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did
not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied
himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness
of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on
him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
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I Am A Church Member
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10 Dominant Behaviors of Inward
Focused Churches
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Worship wars. One or more factions in the church want the music just the way they like it. Any deviation is
met with anger and demands for change. The order of service must remain constant. Certain instrumentation
is required while others are prohibited.
Prolonged minutia meetings. The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different meetings. Most
of the meetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while the Great Commission and Great
Commandment are rarely the topics of discussion.
Facility focus. The church facilities develop iconic status. One of the highest priorities in the church is the
protection and preservation of rooms, furniture, and other visible parts of the church’s buildings and grounds.
Program driven. Every church has programs even if they don’t admit it…The problem is not with programs.
The problem develops when the program becomes an end instead of a means to greater ministry.
Inwardly focused budget. A disproportionate share of the budget is used to meet the needs and comforts
of the members instead of reaching beyond the walls of the church.
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6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Inordinate demands for pastoral care. All church members deserve care and concern,
especially in times of need and crisis. Problems develop, however, when church members have
unreasonable expectations for even minor matters.
Attitudes of entitlement. This issue could be a catch-all for many of the points named here.
The over-arching attitude is one of demanding and having a sense of deserving special
treatment.
Greater concern about change than the gospel. Almost any noticeable changes in the church
evoke the ire of many; but those same passions are not evident about participating in the work
of the gospel to change lives.
Anger and hostility. Members are consistently angry. They regularly express hostility toward
the church staff and other members.
Evangelistic apathy. Very few members share their faith on a regular basis. More are
concerned about their own needs rather than the greatest eternal needs of the world and
community in which they live.
In almost every behavior above, church members were looking out for their own
needs and preferences….You get the picture. I. Me. Myself. Church membership
from a biblical perspective, however, is about servant hood. It’s about giving. It’s
about putting others first.
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I Am A Church Member
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“A church that will positively impact the lives of
people must be service oriented. A church that
has strong relationships, a church that is a high
quality church will not only change the lives of
people within it, but also the lives of those
outside,” – Dr. Roy Notice – President of
Jamaica Bible College
Be a Service Oriented church Member, so we can have a Service
Oriented church
CNH
I Am A Church Member
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Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
March 2, 2014
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
40
Class Review
•
•
•
•
•
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What / Who is the church?
Be a Functioning church Member
Be a Unifying church Member
Be a Service Oriented church Member
Be a Prayer Warrior for our church Leadership
I Am A Church Member
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I Timothy 3: 1-7 - The saying is trustworthy: If
anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he
desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer
must be above reproach, the husband of one
wife, sober-minded, self-controlled,
respectable, hospitable, able to teach,3 not a
drunkard, not violent but gentle, not
quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must
manage his own household well, with all
dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if
someone does not know how to manage his
own household, how will he care for God's
church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or
he may become puffed up with conceit and fall
into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover,
he must be well thought of by outsiders, so
that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare
of the devil.
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• Elder Qualifications
I Am A Church Member
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Above reproach
Husband of one wife
Sober minded
Self-controlled
Respectable
Hospitable
Able to teach
Not a drunkard
Not violent, but gentle
Not quarrelsome
Not a lover of money
Manage his own household
well
13. Must not be a recent
convert
14. Well thought of by outsiders
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Elder Responsibilities
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Responsibilities
Rule
Scripture
I Timothy 5:17; I Thessalonians 5:12-13a
Guide / Lead
Guard
Hebrews 13:7, 17
Acts 20:28-31
Watch / Admonish
I Thessalonians 5:14, Hebrews 13:17
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Pray for your church Leadership
• Why Pray for your church leadership?
–
–
–
–
–
–
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Pleases God – 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Request for prayer – 1 Thess. 5:12-13, 25
Harshly Judged– James 3:1
Defense against Satan – 1 Peter 5:1-9
Jesus did it for the apostles – Luke 22:31-32
Spiritual wisdom, revelation of knowledge and
understanding – Eph. 1:15-17, Col. 1:9
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Pray for your church Leadership
• A Practical Example – Acts 12
• Acts 12:5
• Results
–
–
–
–
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God sent divine help into the leaders life – Acts 12:7-10
God protected the leader (divine protection) – Acts 12:11
The schemes of Satan were thwarted – Acts 12:23
The church was strengthened – Acts 12:24
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Pray for your church Leadership
Elder Qualification
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Prayer
Above Reproach (above finding fault)
Pray for his attitude
Husband of one wife
Pray for their marriage
Sober Minded, Self Controlled,
Respectable, Hospitable
Pray for his physical & mental health
Able to Teach
Pray for the sermons, lessons and advice
he gives (wisdom, insight, discernment)
Not drunkard, violent (gentle),
quarrelsome, lover of money
Pray that there are no addictions / there
is focus only on God above
Manage his own household well
Pray for him and his family
No pride or conceit
Pray for his spiritual health
Snare of the devil
Pray for his protection
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Be a Prayer Warrior for our church
Leadership
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Using scriptural backing, explain why the elder’s family is such
an important factor in his ministry?
What is meant by “above reproach” in 1 Timothy 3:2? Is that
standard even possible for the elder?
Explain the implications of the devil’s trap in 1 Timothy 3:7.
What is the meaning of “outsiders” in 1 Timothy 3:7? Why
should they be a concern to church members or pastors?
Find some key passages in the Bible where intercessory prayer
takes place (someone praying for someone else). Relate those
passages to praying for your leadership.
I Am A Church Member
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Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
March 9, 2014
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
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Class Review
•
•
•
•
•
•
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What / Who is the church?
Be a Functioning church Member
Be a Unifying church Member
Be a Service Oriented church Member
Be a Prayer Warrior for our church Leadership
Lead Your Family to be Healthy church Members
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Lead Your Family to be Healthy church Members
• I Am a church Member – Thom S. Rainer
–
–
–
–
–
Story – Love and Serve despite it’s imperfections
Church and Family are one, and the same (Eph. 5&6)
Pray together as a Family for the church
Worship Together as a Family (Eph.6, 1 Cor. 7:14)
Fall Deeply in Love with the bride of Christ (church)
Family being Healthy church Members = Christian Home
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Three Essentials for a Christian Home
1. There must be a
revelation of God
2. There must be a
response to God’s
revelation.
3. There must be a
threefold
responsibility
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Revelation of God
His eternality
His plurality
His unity
• God is Lord. God is
without end, the
eternal one
• Father, Son & Holy
Spirit
• “One Lord” the three
person of the Godhead
constitute one God
Jer 10:10 - But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. …
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Response to God’s Revelation
• The Christian family must respond with a total response of
love with all one’s being, heart, soul and mind.
• Matthew 22:37-38 - 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
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Three Fold Responsibility by the Father
Have God’s truth
Govern his heart
• Matt 22:37
• Must be in you soul and spirit
Have God’s truth
Govern his home
• Father teaches God’s truth to his children (formally and
informally) – Eph. 6:4, Col. 3:21
Have God’s truth Govern his
• The Christian home is to be a divine school in which the
habits & conduct personally,
father is to be the teacher, under Christ – Eph. 5:25,28-29
privately & publically
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Three Essentials for a Christian Home
1. There must be a
revelation of God
2. There must be a
response to God’s
revelation.
3. There must be a
threefold
responsibility
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What is a Healthy church Member?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Expositional Listener
Biblical Theologian
Gospel Saturated
Genuinely Converted
Biblical Evangelist
6. Committed Members
7. Seeks Discipline
8. Growing Disciple
9. Humble Follower
10.Prayer Warrior
What is a Healthy Church Member – by Thabiti Anyabwile
Lead Your Families to be Healthy church Members
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I Am A Church Member
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Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
March 16, 2014
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
CNH
I Am a church Member
57
Class Review
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CNH
What / Who is the church?
Be a Functioning church Member
Be a Unifying church Member
Be a Service Oriented church Member
Be a Prayer Warrior for our church Leadership
Lead Your Family to be Healthy church Members
I Will Treasure church Membership as a Gift
I Am A Church Member
58
The Gift
• Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been
saved through faith. And this is not your own
doing; it is the gift of God
• Romans 6:23 -For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Salvation
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I Am A Church Member
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The Gift from God
Gift of
Salvation –
Rom. 6:23
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Gift of
Forgiveness
of Sins – 1
John 1:9
Gift of the
Indwelling
Holy Spirit –
Acts 2:38
Adoption
by God the
Father –
Rom. 8:15
Becoming
part of the
Body of
Christ – 1
Cor. 12:13
From Salvation to becoming
I Am A Churchpart
Memberof the Body of Christ
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When you are Part of the Body of Christ
Salvation from
Gods Wrath – John
3:16
An Intimate
Relationship with
God – John 1:12
New Family – Eph.
2:19
Disdain for Sin and
a desire to be
more like Christ – 1
John 3:9-10
Treasures in
Heaven – Matt.
6:19-20
An Eternal Purpose
– Matt. 28:18-20
When Receiving a Gift You Feel …
•
•
•
•
•
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Thankful
Special
Appreciated
It must be treasured
Like we should respond to the giver, with
gratitude
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Gratitude for God’s Gift
“If you love me,
you will obey
what I command.
“If anyone loves
me, he will obey
my teaching. My
Father will love
him, and we will
come to him and
make our home
with him. He who
does not love me
will not obey my
teaching" (Jn.
14:15, 23, 24).
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"This is how we
know that we love
the children of
God: by loving
God and carrying
out His
commands. This
is love for God: to
obey His
commands. And
His commands are
not
burdensome…" (1
Jn. 5:3).
"So then,
brothers,
stand firm and
hold to the
teachings we
passed on to
you, whether
by word of
mouth or by
letter" (2
Thess. 2:15).
I Am A Church Member
"Now all has
been heard;
here is the
conclusion of
the matter: Fear
God and keep
His
commandments
, for this is the
whole duty of
man" (Ecc.
12:13)
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Church membership is not a right, but it is a privilege that was purchased at
the Cross of Jesus (Acts 20:28). I ought not to ask whether my local church is
worthy of my membership. As a pastor, I ought never to ask whether any
member of my local church is worthy of my pastoral care. Rather, I ought to
remember that I am unworthy to be a member of my church. I ought to
remember that membership in my church is a job. It is a job to which God has
entrusted His amazing, universe-defining plan. No job is more important than
my job as a member of my church. I ought to remember that it is a job for
which I am entirely unqualified. I qualify for this position only by means of
the gifts of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This position—this placement within
the Body of Christ—is itself a gift from God made according to His desire,
not mine nor my pastors'. I am unworthy of this. That's what makes it a gift. It
is a gift worth cherishing. – Bart Barber
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Treasure your church
membership
as a Gift
I Am A Church
Member
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I Am a church Member
•
•
•
•
Functioning
Unifying
Service Oriented
Prayerful for church
Leadership
• Leading My Family to be
Healthy church Members
• Treasuring church
Membership as a Gift
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The giver of the gift is the one
with the power. The Bible
declares that all power belongs to
Christ (Matt. 28:18), the only
Head of the church. Jesus is Lord,
and biblical church membership
can only take place when we are
surrendered to His lordship over
our individual lives and our local
churches.– Bart Barber
I Am A Church Member
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Do you feel any personal
responsibility to the congregation
that you are a member of?
March 23, 2014
I Am A Church Member
Do you feel any responsibility to
contribute to the work of that
congregation?
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I Am a church Member
66
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Eph. 2 & 4
Mk 9:33-35
1Tim. 2:1-4
Eph 6:1-4
Rom. 6:23
Unifying
Service Oriented
Prayer Warrior
Lead Your Family
– Healthy
Members
Treasure your
Membership
Those that believe Jesus is the
Christ, been baptized and live a
life of obedience
1 Cor. 12:7
What is the church?
Functioning
Body – 1Cor
12:12-13
Bride – Eph 5;2527
Soldiers – 2Tim
2:3-4
House – 1Ptr 2:45
Class Review
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Group Exercise (WERP Analysis)
W
Why Weak Congregations?
- Lack of Fellowship, Truth Not Being
Preached, Lack of Commitment, Lack of
Obedience, Society Feels Self Sufficient,
Always Too Busy, Too Much Sports and TV ,
Gone From BCV
Responsibility
WERP
Analysis
- Grow the Body, Show Up, Be Active and
Participation, Share Gods Word, Give LOVE
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E
Expectations Upon Joining
Church
- People Expect to Be entertained, Expect to
Be Served, Expect To Be Good, People
Expect their Problem to Come to an End
When they come to church, Socialization
R
Privileges
- Eternal Life with God, Forgiveness for Sin,
Grace and Mercy, Ability to walk in the Light
I Am A Church Member
P
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Why Are Congregations Weak?
• Eventually, as congregations age, one by one their
membership is replaced.
– Members die.
– Some fall away.
– New members are added.
• Even though the members are new, many congregations
become aged in character. (Rev. 2:1-5)
– They become comfortable and set in their ways.
– They lose their zeal and no longer serve God with their previous
fervor
– Third generation members tend to fall away
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I Am A Church Member
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Expectations Upon Joining Church
Class Comments
• Be entertained
• Be Served
• Be Good
• Problems to come
to an end
• Socialization
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What should the church provide?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Worship God – Luke 4:8, John 4:23
Discipling / Evangelism – Mat: 28:18-20
Study God’s Word – 2 Tim 2:15, 1 Cor. 4:6
Prayer – Acts 2:42
Love One Another – John 13:35, Phil 1:1-4
Help Each Other – Gal. 6:2
Learn How to Live as Godly People – Tit 2:11-12
Preach the gospel – Mark 1:14-15
Communion/Baptism/ Family – Luke 22:19-20, Eph.
5&6, Col. 3:16
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Member Responsibility
Class Comments
• Grow the Body
• Show Up
• Be Active and Participation
• Share Gods Word
• Give LOVE
Class Lesson
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Be a Functioning church Member
Be a Unifying church Member
Be a Service Oriented church Member
Be a Prayer Warrior for our church
Leadership
Lead Your Family to be Healthy church
Members
Treasure Your church Membership as a
Gift
I Am A Church Member
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Member Privileges
Class Comments
• Eternal Life with God
• Forgiveness for Sin
• Grace and Mercy
• Ability to walk in the Light
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Class Lesson
• Salvation from God’s Wrath –
Rom 3:20-24
• Intimate Relationship with God –
John 1:12, 1 Pet. 1:3-4
• New Family – Eph. 2:19
• Disdain for Sin – 1 Jn. 3:9-10
• Treasures in Heaven – Matt.
6:19-20
• Eternal Purpose – Matt. 28:18-20
I Am A Church Member
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Who is the Church?
I Am a
church
Member
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I Am A Church Member
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