New Members Sunday
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household” (Eph 2:19)
“…so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually * members one of another.” (Rom 12:5)
Introduction
When you become a believer in Jesus Christ and receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior you become:
• a new person in Christ
• born again
• part of the “household / family of God
• a member of the church universal of Jesus Christ, made up of all believers all over the world, throughout all cultures
• It is the church made up of every tribe, tongue, nation, people, who call upon the name of the Lord
• You are no longer strangers or aliens as Paul says, you are fellow citizens with the saints. You “belong” – hallelujah
But what does it mean to be a “member of the Church?”
Rick Warren in his book “The Purpose Driven Church” says, “Many American Christians (lets make that North American) are what I call ‘floating believers.’ Any where else in the world, being a believer is synonymous with being connected to a local body of believers. Your rarely find a lone ranger Christian in other countries. Many American Christians, however, hop from one church to another without any identity, accountability or commitment. This is a direct expression of America’s rampant individualism. They have not been taught that the Christian life involves more than just believing – it also includes belonging! We grow in Christ by being in relationship to other Christians. Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” (pg 309)
Many people have a wrong concept of Church membership
• Membership in the Church is not something you have it something you do
o a social club issues a membership
all you need to do is pay your annual dues
show up a the occasional meeting
o Sometimes we the church are guilty of the same kind of thinking
Is so and so a member of your church?
• We yes, he / she attends Sunday service and gives tithes or offering
But is that what membership is?
I. MEMBERSHIP IS FIRST BELONGING TO CHRIST
1. It is relationship entered into by faith
• Not by merely accepting a creed or truth
• But entering into a personal one on one relationship with Jesus Christ the risen living Son of God
• Paul wrote, “I know in whom I have believed”
• He didn’t just acknowledge some essential truth; rather he entered into a very personal relationship with Christ that transformed his very life.
• To be a member is to be in relationship with him. It is to belong to him!
• We used to sing that old chorus, “Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me...”
2. Membership is Belonging to the Body of Christ
• It is one body, yet made up of many members
• Paul says in Romans 12:5 that “each member belongs to all the others
• There is an ‘interdependent relationship established when we become members of the body of Christ – His Church
• You belong to me and I belong to you
• I need your gifting and you need mine
• We all need each other
• It is not about having membership or being on the role
• It is about being a member and belonging to Christ and each other
• When Paul writes his N.T. letters
o Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, etc.
o He is identifying the ‘local church’
o They were identifiable churches
• The local church is God’s instrument for nurturing new born babes in Christ, seeing them raised to mature men and women of God, equipped for service and invested in the work of the Kingdom
• God doesn’t have any orphans, everyone of His children born of His Spirit are to be part of the family of God and cared for
You might ask…
What Value Is There In Being A Member Of A Local Church?
• People in the greater community of society when they talk about church say, ‘That church,’
• Those who visit here at OPC would refer to the church as ‘ this church’
• But those who are members of the local church OPC refer to Ossington as “Our Church”
• To be a member is to belong
• To be a member is to be a contributor to the work of the Kingdom and not just a consumer
Benefits of Membership
(This list can be found in R. Warrens - “Purpose Driven Church”
1. Membership Identifies a person as a believer
2. Membership Provides a Spiritual family to support and encourage a personal walk with Christ
Gal 6:1-2 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
o Growing in Christ is not easy, nor is it automatic. There are many traps along the road, and pitfalls set up by the enemy to discourage, defeat and destroy the believer
o God has established the local church as a means whereby to overcome and defeat the schemes of the enemy in the life of the believer
o We are here to help, support, strengthen, correct, and restore one another
Heb 10:24-25
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
3. It Gives A Place To Discover And Use Spiritual Gifts in Ministry
o 1Cor. 12:4-27
o Teaches that every believer has a gift and is responsible to use it for the mutual edification or growth of the whole body of Christ
o Here at OPC we are committed to helping people grow and use their gifting for God. We offer a Class 301 where we instruct about spiritual gifts and the we meet with the students on and individual basis to assist them to find a place to exercise and use their gifts and talents for the Lord in the local church
o In fact we just finished a Class 301 recently and are now in the process of preparing to meet with them on the individual basis to carry this out.
o Another important and valuable reason to be a member of a local church is..
4. It Place The Believer Under Spiritual Protection of Godly Leaders
o Heb 13:7 says, “Remember those who led you who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
o God has established “all authority” and it is a protection to those who come under it
N.B. You should come out Sunday Evenings for the Study of Under Cover – there you will learn all about God’s plan and the freedom that comes by being under authority.
The Authority that God has established is for our protection
o Someone might say, “Well, that’s all fine and good but I was a member of a church and those in authority went astray. They hurt a lot of people. I got hurt! I’m never going to become member of any church ever!
Sometimes – it is true that leaders fail! Even Godly leaders sometimes fail (note the leaders not God)
Let me ask you this though…
• Does the fact that some moms or dads abuse their children mean that we should abolish the family structure and the authority of the home and replace it with something else? Come up with our own “New Family Order?”
• Of course not! God knew what he was doing when he established that the order and authority and he knows what is best for us.
• If a parent abuses his authority and those under his authority, then you deal with the abusive parent and you place the children who have been abused under others who will assume the role of a loving parent properly for them.
• If a church leader has abused his authority and church members were hurt (you were hurt), the solution isn’t to abolish the system established by God and come up with our own “New Order”
• The proper solution is for those who are in authority to deal with the lead who has failed, and take those who were under his authority and place them under the care and authority of another who will assume the proper nurturing, caring role of a Godly leader in their lives
• To all in leadership God says, in Acts 20:28-30
"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
• Leaders need to be on guard
• Leaders need to protect the flock
• Paul knew there would be wolves in sheep’s clothing
o He doesn’t eliminate the authority structure rather he exhorts it all the more as it is the protection of the flock
Membership places under the authority and spiritual protection of Godly leaders!
5. Membership Provides Accountability Which is Needed For Growth & Maturity
Eph 5:21
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
• In part – we help one another in our accountability by asking members to make certain biblical commitments in becoming a member of Ossington Pentecostal Church
1. Protect the Unity of OPC
o By acting in love towards one another - Rom 14:19; Rom 15:5
o By refusing to gossip - Eph 4:29
o By following the Leaders – Heb 13:7
2. Share In the Responsibility of OPC
o By Praying for it’s growth – 1Thess 1:2
o By inviting the unchurched to attend – Luke 14:23
o By warmly welcoming those who visit – Rom 15:7
3. Serve the Ministry of OPC
o By discovering their gifts and talents – 1 Peter 4:10
o By being equipped to serve – Eph 4:11-12
o By developing a servants heart – Phil 2:3-4, 7
4. Support the Testimony of OPC
o By attending faithfully – Heb 10:25
o By living a godly life – Phil 1:27
o By giving regularly – Lev. 27:30
Now it gives me great pleasure and honor to present to you today those who have accepted this responsibility and are ready to live together with you as “Members of OPC, accountable one to another”
