Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB)

24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

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Theme: Remember the responsibilities & privileges of Church Membership!

Four Biblical Bases for Local Church Membership:

1) The Example of the Early Church

2) The Exercise of Church Discipline

3) The Existence of Church Gov’t

4) The Exhortation of the One-Another Commands

FBC “I Will” Statements:

· I will always be willing to both give and receive admonition and instruction with meekness and in love, and humbly submit to the practice of church discipline.

· I will be subject to spiritually gifted elders and their biblical teachings for the edification of Christ’s church.

· I will commit to praying for the ministry here in this church, for my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for the lost who need the Savior.

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Theme: Remember the responsibilities & privileges of Church Membership!

1) I will take seriously my relationship to others in the body of Christ, striving to maintain unity, and doing all I can to stimulate others to love and good deeds for the glory of God.

2) I will consistently serve and contribute, as a good steward of God’s blessings, such time, talent, and money, in the measure that God prospers me, so that our ministry of spreading the Gospel locally & worldwide may continue.

3) I will teach biblical truth to my family and acquaintances, as God gives me opportunity, with a desire to see them come to trust in Jesus Christ and be saved.

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Four biblical bases which clearly imply & instruct Christians to become members of a local church.

1) The Example of the Early Church (Acts; NT Epistles)

2) The Existence of Church Government

(1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5)

3) The Exercise of Church Discipline (Matt. 18:15-19; 1 Cor. 5)

4) The Exhortations to Mutual Edification (NT Epistles)

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Theme: As Christians, we should know what the Bible says about church membership and soberly evaluate our own level of commitment to the local church.

Outline: 4 clear bases from the Bible which strongly imply & instruct that Christians be committed to local church membership:

1. The Example of the Early Church (Acts, Epistles)
2. The Existence of Church Government (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5)
3. The Exercise of Church Discipline (Matt. 18:15-19; 1 Cor. 5)
4. The Exhortations to Mutual Edification (Epistles)

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