Sermon Tone Analysis

1.

The Universal Family

2. The Local Family

3. Joining the Family

3.How does one become a {member} of the Church?

{how do I belong?}

A. Joining the Universal Church

a.To become a member of the {universal} {body} of Christ:

i.Christ is the {builder} of His church:

Mat.

16:18; Acts 2:47; 2 Thess.

2:13{Jesus elects, saves, and sanctifies those who are His; He causes all growth: 1Co 3:6}

ii.

{Faith} in Christ places us into the body of Christ: Acts 16:31; 1 Cor.

12:13{the moment one is saved is when he becomes part of the Church; no works needed}

B. Joining the Local Church

b.To become a member of a {local} {assembly} of believers:

1. Confession

i.There must be an outward {confession} of faith in Christ as one’s personal Savior: Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10 {we should witness this act of faith}

2. Water Baptism

Conclusion: We believe that triune immersion may not be circumvented except for medical reasons of a physical nature.

Helen LaCroix baptized at close to 90 years old

ii.There must be the outward act of obedience to Christ’s command to be baptized by triune immersion {for membership in a CGBCI church}: Matt 28:16-20 Conclusion: We believe confession of faith and triune immersion to be the two essential scriptural requirements for membership in the local church.

4. Helping Other Families

4.The local church is autonomous yet interdependent with other churches:

a.Autonomous means {self-governing} with no outside hierarchy.

{there is no human authority structure over the local Church.

Christ is Head of each church}

i.Each local church shall determine its own specific membership {requirements} :{such as requiring consent to the church constitution; membership course; etc.}Acts 2:42-47 {each church can set it’s own meeting times (daily, v46), place (temple, houses, v46), & program; care for its own property; determine it’s own staff, etc.}

ii.Each local church is responsible for the discipline of it’s own members:1 Cor 5:3-5 {Paul rebukes the Corinthians for not disciplining a sinning member, implying that they were responsible to do so; cf.

Gal 6:1; Mt.18:15-20 (restoration)}

Conclusion: We believe that each local church shall determine its own additional membership requirements (Ac.

2:42-47), and the discipline of its own members (1 Cor.

5:3-5).

b.Interdependent means a local church needs to cooperate with other like-minded churches in order to fulfill the world-wide scope of the Great Commission.

{theCGBCI are united in conviction in our Statement of faith; co-working in church-planting}

Conclusion: We believe that triune immersion may not be circumvented except for medical reasons of a physical nature.

5.What role do you play in your local church to glorify and serve Jesus Christ?