December 27, 2015

Your Role as a Church Member

Church membership is the closest of relationships where we are supernaturally made brothers and sisters who minister to one another.

Scripture:  Romans 12

Sermon Notes:

  1. Our involvement in the local church is an important area where we can grow in faith and in exercising our gifts.
  2. In church membership we commit ourselves to a community where we are sanctified and blessed.
  3. Church membership is the closest of relationships, where we are supernaturally made brothers and sisters who then minister to one another.
  4. There are many specific ways that our familial relationship in the church is demonstrated (cf. Rom. 12:9-13).
  5. These disciplines of spiritual life are not natural, but they need to be cultivated into habits.
  6. Make reading God's truth a priority. Make prayer a priority. Genuinely share your needs and pray for one another. Memorize Scripture.
  7. We are God's people and the gospel is central to all we say and do. 
  8. Because we are God's people we interact differently with one another.
  9. We need to give up some of our own hopes and priorities to make fellowship and relationship-building a priority with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
  10. When a brother or sister is falling into sin, we need to call them back, urging them to cling to what is good.
  11. Because we are united together by the blood of Jesus, we are to share one another’s joys and sorrows.
  12. We are deeply connected with brothers and sisters around the world who are facing persecution.
  13. Encourage and recognize the gifts in others, and at the same time be ready to provide correction and rebuke.
  14. Get to know those around you; be observant of their needs.
  15. Outdo one another in showing honour to your brothers and sisters.
  16. Take your eyes off yourself and look for ways to bless others.
  17. Children, look for ways to honour your parents by being quiet or by resolving a conflict with a sibling.
  18. George Muller was constantly in need for the orphanage and saw the Lord’s provision through prayer.
  19. To be constantly in prayer stems from an awareness of our own limitations and our need to receive from a very holy God.
  20. Hospitality is a practical way to share in the lives of the saints and to find out how you can serve them.
  21. Sharing your life is the essence of hospitality; it’s not about a fancy meal.
  22. Take the disciplines of Romans 12 and make them goals for your family this New Year.

Application Questions:

  1. What implications does our membership in the family of God have for our life priorities?
  2. What is the key to being in constant prayer?
  3. Why do we tend to hold fellow Christians at arm’s length?
  4. What are some practical ways we can shun evil and cling to what is good?
  5. What does it mean to show honour to your employer in all circumstances?
  6. Who can we show hospitality toward this week to better know their needs and to be in prayer for them?
  7. As we enter the New Year what goals can we set for our church involvement?
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