Receive Members

I. Membership

A. It is a privilege to welcome new members into the church!

1. I have had opportunity to do so many, many times over the more than 12 years that I have been pastor here.

2. Praise God!

B. Each time we welcome new members, the Lord gives me new thoughts to mix in with the traditional thoughts about membership.

1. Thus every time we welcome new members, I pray that you long-time members receive encouragement in YOUR membership.

2. And that those who have not formally joined the church will be encouraged to do so.

C. Why is church membership important?

1. Taking this formal step emphasizes that a light has come on in your thinking.

2. That you understand and want to obey God’s design for the Christian life.

i. Anyone who would tell you they are a Christian but are NOT part of a local church whether formally or informally is NOT living out BIBLICAL Christianity.

ii. BIBLICAL Christianity ALWAYS involves individual Christians being a part of a local Body of believers.

iii. The Bible does NOT provide for Lone Ranger Christians.

3. Biblical Christians understand that God has placed them in the Body of Christ.

i. Whether or not you make this formal commitment you recognize:

ii. 1 Corinthians 12:18, 27 (NASB95) But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

D. Ephesians 3:10 reminds us that: His [God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

E. Harris, Jeff. Warrior Poet Daily Devotional . Jeff Harris. Kindle Edition.

1. … The mystery of Jesus is revealed in the Church! A Christianity devoid of community is an anomaly that is incongruent with Jesus’ vision and the reality of a unified body. If you are to progress in your faith, the progress always includes the local body of believers, not just a select affinity group, but the messiness of the book of Acts. To serve God divorced from the Body is to deny a local body its vitality. No greater wounded-ness is revealed than by those who live their faith in Jesus alienated from a local body. No amount of hyper-hermeneutics will slither through Jesus' intent through the local body.

F. Words to ponder and pray about!

G. We need the local church to fulfill Jesus’ command in:

1. John 13:34–35 (NASB95) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Bring Members Forward

A. So, this morning New Life Family Church has the privilege of welcoming, loving and COVENENTING WITH 5 new ADULT members and 6 new junior members.

1. 11 people who have elected to put down roots not only in Christ, but also in this church.

2. Brother David Thomason, would come forward?

3. And the Rolando, Lennah and your boys?

4. Nathan, Gina and girls, if you would come forward?

4. Please face the congregation.

B. Would the Board, Madeline, George and Michelle come and join these new members?

Brother Jay is out of town.

C. As New Life Family Church welcomes these new members, I want to remind us that we are not an orphanage but rather a Family.

1. Jesus said in John 14:18 (NIV) I will not leave you as orphans; …

D. In an orphanage:

1. Orphans are not related.

2. Their common bond is merely that they all reside at one location — the orphanage.

E. But, in A Family:

1. It’s NOT that way!

2. The family is BLOOD-related. The BLOOD of Jesus.

3. And here at New Life we don’t merely meet at a physical location, we are united by the blood of Jesus.

F. So it is our privilege to receive into the membership of this church family, __5__Adult members and 6 Junior members who have…

1. … made proper application and have been approved by the Official Board of the church and are now ready to receive the right hand of fellowship by this congregation.2.

G. Our new members, and we as a church are going to remind each other of our responsibilities and privileges.

1. Our FAMILY COVENANT together.

H. I will begin with our newest members:

1. I am going to read a statement and ask that if you agree with it that you say, “I do.”

I. Here goes:

J. Having been led by the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and desiring fellowship with people of like precious faith, and now in the presence of God and this assembly you are entering into a covenant relationship with these members of the Body of Christ.

1. A covenant relationship is a strong bond meant to be broken only in the case of death.

K. So, do you promise that with the help of the Holy Spirit you will:

1. walk together with the other members of this church in Christian love?

2. work for the advancement of this church?

3. help it pursue holiness and a deeper knowledge of Jesus?

4. promote its prosperity and spirituality?

5. sustain its worship, doctrines and disciplines?

6. contribute regularly and cheerfully to the support of its ministries and activities?

7. If so answer: I do.

L. Do you promise to:

1. maintain your personal devotions?

2. seek the salvation of the lost?

3. avoid sin by avoiding the very appearance of evil?

4. seek that love which thinks no evil?

5. If so answer: I do.

M. Do you further promise to:

1. watch over the other members of this church in Christian love?

2. to remember each other in prayer?

3. to aid each other in distress and sickness

4. to be courteous and forgiving to one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you?

5. If so answer: I do.

N. Church, please stand. Do you promise to:

1. watch over Brother and Sister Young AND Brother & Sister Smith in Christian love?

2. to remember them in prayer?

3. to aid them in distress and sickness?

4. to be courteous and forgiving to them even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you?

5. If so answer: I do.

O. We therefore, as the Church of Jesus Christ and members of His Body, now receive you, into our fellowship and communion, recognizing that God has already added you to His Church. And we pray that the blessing of the Lord be upon you always.

P. Prayer with the Board.

Q. ALL come and welcome!

W.