1 THES. 1:5-8 "HOW TO BE A GOOD CHURCH MEMBER"
* The title Christian appears only 3 times in the Scriptures & implies a number of things!
A) First, it implies that a person who is a Christian is one who is a follower of Jesus Christ!
* Acts 11:26 "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
B) Second, it implies that those who are Christians will be witnesses to the world!
* Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
C) Third, it implies that those who are truly Christians will likely suffer persecution!
* 1Pet.4:16 "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify ..."
* In Acts 2:41-47 & 4:32-34 we see a beautiful picture of Christianity in action!
D) Churches are made up of people! * By definition a church is:
* A visible assembly of called out believers who have been baptized and who have covenanted
together to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ!
E) Every true Christian ought to be a member of a local church!
* There has been much damage done to the name of Jesus Christ because of unfaithfulness
and ignorance on the part of many Christians,
* Especially concerning the expectations of the Lord & their responsibilities to fellow Christians!
F) No church member is perfect & is not likely to behave totally victorious all the time!
* Yet, there’s much in the Bible that we should consider that’ll help us to live more pleasing to God!
* It’s my responsibility to stir you up in living a life that is pleasing to God!
* 1Tim.4:6 "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good ......."
* I would like to share with you some goals & characteristics of an ideal church member!
(1) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE SAVED AND SURE OF IT!
* The biggest problem with Christianity today is the fact that churches all over America are filled
with unregenerate church members! * They have never, ever been born again!
A) A lot of people don’t even know what it means to be born again!
* They are like Nicodemus in John 3, "How can a man be born when he is old?"
* They think just joining a church makes them right with God, but not so!
* When Jesus said, "Ye must be born again," he left no one out, there are no exemptions!
B) Listen at what the Bible says in 2Cor. 13:5!
* "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your
own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
C) Not only should church members be saved, but they should be sure of it!
* 1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the ......."
* If you’re gonna be a good church member, then be saved and sure of it!
(2) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE BAPTIZED BIBLICALLY!
* Here’s what Jesus said about it - Matt.28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach ... baptizing them ..."
A) Baptism is a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection!
* It identifies you who you are and who you are with! * Rom.6:3-4 Turn to
B) Baptism is a picture of the new birth! * A new creation - 2Cor. 5:17 "Therefore if ......."
* It shows to others that you are no longer the person you use to be!
C) Baptism is the first step of obedience in the Christian life!
* Now, there is a denomination that teaches you have to be baptized to get into heaven!
* Turn to 1Pet.3:20-21 - This is the scripture the Church of Christ uses to teach their doctrine!
* But that is not Bible doctrine! * Baptism does not save a soul from sin! * It’s the BLOOD!
D) Now don’t misunderstand me, baptism is very important in the Christian’s life!
* Let me put it to you another way! * If a person "does not" get baptized, he can go to heaven!
* But if a person "will not" get baptized, he can’t go to heaven! * Let me explain .......
* Does not - The thief on the cross was not baptized ... * Will not - open disobedience ...
* Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not ......."
* So, a good church member should be baptized biblically!
(3) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD ATTEND THEIR CHURCH FAITHFULLY!
* Heb. 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of ......."
A) When you come to church, you are obeying a command from God!
* Jesus even said in Matt.18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together ......."
* So when you miss the services of the church, you miss the presence of Christ!
* I’m gonna preach one Sunday on "Why attend every service?"
B) To be a good church member, you should attend your church faithfully!
* When you don’t show up, it makes me wonder where you’re at and what could be more
important in your life than obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ!
* Church is not that important to people anymore!
* So, if you want to be a good church member, attend church faithfully!
(4) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE COOPERATIVE!
* Acts 4:32 "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither
said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had ......."
A) The early church was of one heart and of one soul!
* That means that the person’s whole being was one with all other believers!
* That is a far cry from the way the church and its believers live today!
B) Why is it that churches are not like this anymore?
* I’ll tell you why - It’s because people’s lives are not committed to Christ as these were!
* These people really loved Jesus and was willing to sacrifice!
C) We can’t get people to even work in the nursery without griping & complaining!
* You can’t convince me that you’re in one heart and one soul!
* We should never be guilty of causing dissension within God’s church, and that’s exactly what
you do when you are uncooperative in doing what needs to be done!
* If you want to be a good church member, then be cooperative!
(5) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE CONSISTENT!
* One of the most difficult problems a church faces is a testimony damaged by the inconsistent
living of careless church members!
A) There are so many so called Christians who are wishy-washy in their living!
* They are in and out, up and down, no consistency whatsoever!
B) Look with me at 2Cor.6:14-18 and listen to the Word of God!
* We should be careful about our associations, who we hang out with!
* We should be careful about our activities, the things that we do!
* We should be careful about our music, our language, and our appearance!
* A good church member will be consistent in his living!
(6) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE STUDENTS OF THE BIBLE!
* 2Tim.2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not ......."
* The word study means: the effort to learn by reading and thinking, a careful examination!
* The word approved means: regarded with favor, acceptable!
* Good church members should be students of the Bible!
(7) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER!
* James 5:16 says, "Pray one for another." * Paul requested prayer for himself and he
practiced praying for one another, he always prayed for people everywhere!
* Luke 18:1 " ... Men ought always to pray." * 1Thes. 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."
* 1Sam.12:23 "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."
* A good church member is one who prays for one another!
(8) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE GIVERS!
* 2Cor.9:7 "God loves a cheerful giver!" * A church can’t survive without givers!
* God has a plan to support His work and it’s called tithing - Mal.3:8-10
* Good church members should be givers!
(9) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE WITNESSES FOR CHRIST!
* Be willing to tell the gospel to every creature!
* Good church members are witnesses for Christ!
(10) CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BE COMMITTED!
* 1Cor.15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always ......."
* Commit - to involve oneself, to pledge oneself! * To give your all to Christ!
CLOSE
A) What kind of a member are you tonight?
* Are you a help or a hindrance? * Obey the Lord!
