Member or Attender: The Greatest Gift
Church Membership • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Imagine with me a child who is faced with two scenarios.
First: Billy must clean his room and it must be spotless! Cleaner that it has ever been before! Perfect!
It will take most of the day…
Second: Billy is told that he has been given an incredible gift. It is wrapped and ready to open. This gift is the greatest gift he has ever recieved or will ever receive. He will experience countless hours of joy with this gift.
What will Billy choose?
Seems like a No-Brainer…
You face the same choices today!
You can choose to be the type of church member that we spoke about in our first lesson of this series.
What can church do for me?
Pastor is going to feed me through sermons
(as long as they are not to long…)
Some of you act like you are on a spiritual diet!
I am a part as long as the music is what I like.
The programs suit my families needs.
As long as the perks and privileges suit me and my needs!
Don’t ask me to do anything...
Work for anything...
Serve in any capacity...
Or serve in any other capacity than I already am...
Second option: choose to see the church as the gift it is!
The treasure it is!
The opportunity to serve.
Look from the beginning
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin = death
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
How does this happen?
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Grace: the life you did not earn!
I had earned death
BUT by his grace we have life!
When we were born again, something special happened!
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
When we were filled with the Spirit of God
We became part of the Body of Christ
Universal Church vs Local Church
Some would argue that this is in reference to the church at large.
All born again believers
There is an element of truth to that.
BUT to use that to downplay the importance of the local assemble is to ignore the some very important truths and more than a little scripture.
If the local church is unimportant, why is the bulk of the New Testament written to LOCAL CHURCHES?
Acts is the narrative of the Spiritual work being done in the local churches in:
Jerusalem, Antioch, Cyprus, Pisidia, Inconium, Lystra, Pamphylia, Macedonia, Thyatira, Ephesus, Troas, Rome, Malta, and others
Antioch
Cyprus
Pisidia
Inconium
Lystra
Pamphylia
Macedonia
Thyatira
Ephesus
Troas
Rome
Malta
Others
Eight New Testament books written to churches:
1 Cor, 2 Cor, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
Four of Pauls books were written to specific ppl in specific churches:
1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon
Even the book of Revelations was written to churches!
The point? You are wrong to downplay the local assembly!
The point? You are wrong to downplay the local assembly!
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Understand the Gift of the Church
Being a part of a church is a gift.
Should be special and treasured.
NEVER taken for granted or considered lightly!
ALWAYS be thankful for it!
When you see your church as the gift it is, it becomes a privilege to serve!
Pastor I’ve cleaned this church for 30 years, let someone else do it!
I’ve put in my time...
Welcome to the country club, you’ve just identified yourself as an attender and not a member of this church!
DON’T GET MAD AT ME, THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
For a member, it is a privilege to work in the House of God!
Conclusion:
True picture of church membership
The disciples were fussing about who was going to be the most important in the Kingdom...
Jesus said your attitude stinks!
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
When you receive a gift you thank the entire family...
Jesus said your attitude stinks!
The Sixth Pledge
I am a church member
This membership is a gift. When I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, I became a part of the body of Christ. I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptised. And now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church. I pray that I will never take this membership for granted, but see it as a gift and opportunity to serve others and to be a part of something so much greater than any one person or member.