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:
- Our involvement in the local church is an important area where we can grow in faith and in exercising our gifts.
- In church membership we commit ourselves to a community where we are sanctified and blessed.
- Church membership is the closest of relationships, where we are supernaturally made brothers and sisters who then minister to one another.
- There are many specific ways that our familial relationship in the church is demonstrated (cf. Rom. 12:9-13).
- These disciplines of spiritual life are not natural, but they need to be cultivated into habits.
- Make reading God's truth a priority. Make prayer a priority. Genuinely share your needs and pray for one another. Memorize Scripture.
- We are God's people and the gospel is central to all we say and do.
- Because we are God's people we interact differently with one another.
- 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.
- When a brother or sister is falling into sin, we need to call them back, urging them to cling to what is good.
- Because we are united together by the blood of Jesus, we are to share one another’s joys and sorrows.
- We are deeply connected with brothers and sisters around the world who are facing persecution.
- Encourage and recognize the gifts in others, and at the same time be ready to provide correction and rebuke.
- Get to know those around you; be observant of their needs.
- Outdo one another in showing honour to your brothers and sisters.
- Take your eyes off yourself and look for ways to bless others.
- Children, look for ways to honour your parents by being quiet or by resolving a conflict with a sibling.
- George Muller was constantly in need for the orphanage and saw the Lord’s provision through prayer.
- To be constantly in prayer stems from an awareness of our own limitations and our need to receive from a very holy God.
- Hospitality is a practical way to share in the lives of the saints and to find out how you can serve them.
- Sharing your life is the essence of hospitality; it’s not about a fancy meal.
- Take the disciplines of Romans 12 and make them goals for your family this New Year.
Application Questions:
- What implications does our membership in the family of God have for our life priorities?
- What is the key to being in constant prayer?
- Why do we tend to hold fellow Christians at arm’s length?
- What are some practical ways we can shun evil and cling to what is good?
- What does it mean to show honour to your employer in all circumstances?
- Who can we show hospitality toward this week to better know their needs and to be in prayer for them?
- As we enter the New Year what goals can we set for our church involvement?
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