Is Local Church Membership Essential?

TEXT:  Rom. 16:16;  1 Cor. 1:1-2;  16:19

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE “UNIVERSAL” AND “LOCAL” CHURCHES.

          1.       The universal church (Matt. 16:18;  Eph. 3:10-11).

          2.       References above are obviously to the local church.

B.      ONE BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

BY OBEYING THE GOSPEL (Acts 2:38, 47;  1 Cor. 12:12;  Gal. 3:26-27).

C.      WHAT ABOUT MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CONGREGATION?

I.      HOW DO YOU JOIN UP?

A.      BIBLE EXAMPLES (Acts 9:26-28;  11:26;  13:1;  Acts 18:27).

B.      THE LOCAL CHURCH HAS AN OBLIGATION TO “ACCEPT” OR “REJECT”

          (Rom. 16:1-2;  Acts 9:26-28).

C.      SOME SHOULD BE TURNED DOWN

          (1 Cor. 5:6-7;  13;  Rom. 16:17-18;  2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15;  2 John 9-11).

II.     LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IS NECESSARY.

A.      FOR THERE TO BE LOCAL CHURCHES (Phil. 1:1;  1 Cor. 1:2;  Rom. 16:16).

B.      FOR ELDERS TO HAVE THE OVERSIGHT DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE

          (1 Pet. 1:1;  Acts 20:28;  Heb. 13:17).

C.      FOR THE BODY TO FUNCTION (Rom. 12:3-8).

D.      FOR THE MUTUAL EDIFICATION COMMANDED TO BE CARRIED OUT

          (Eph. 4:11-16).

          1.       Each member is important (1 Cor. 12:22).

          2.       We all have an obligation (Heb. 10:24-25).

E.      THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE BENEFICIAL DISCIPLINE (2 Thess. 3:14-15).

III.    WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A LOCAL CONGREGATION?

A.      AGREEMENT TO WORK TOGETHER.

          1.       Unity of spirit required (Eph. 4:1-3).

          2.       Doctrinal unity is demanded (1 Cor. 1:10).

          3.       Agreement is implied (Acts 9:26-28).

                   a.       Paul assayed to join himself.

                   b.       They were in the position to receive or reject him.

B.      COMMON OVERSIGHT (Col. 3:17;  Acts 14:23;  20:28;  Heb. 13:17).

C.      A POOLING OF RESOURCES (Rom. 12:3-8;  Eph. 4:16).

IV.   THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING WHICH CHURCH TO JOIN.

A.      DO THEY TEACH THE TRUTH? (2 John 9-11;  Eph. 5:11).

B.      CAN I HELP? (John 15:8;  Rom. 12:4-5).

“Ask not what your country can do for you,

 Rather, ask what you can do for your country.”

JFK

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE LOCAL CHURCH IS GOD’S INVENTION.

B.      HIS BLUEPRINT CALLS FOR US TO PARTICIPATE.

C.      SALVATION IS IN THE PATTERN.