Now that I am a Christian

My Responsibility to the Local Congregation

TEXT: Acts 9:26INTRODUCTION:

A. LAST WEEK - CHRISTIANS FUNCTION BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS

MEMBERS OF LOCAL CONGREGATIONS.

B THE WORK OF THE CHURCH vs. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.

C.THIS WEEK: MY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LOCAL CHURCH.

I. TO BECOME A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CONGREGATION:

A. Paul serves as our pattern( Acts 9:26 ).

B. There is no "membership at large" or "roving membership."

"I go here but my membership is in Texas."

C. Without people who be counted on, there is absolutely no way a congregation can obligate itself in any effort that requires either work or money.

II. TO DO MY PART AS A MEMBER.

A. Every joint must supply( Eph. 4:16 ).

B. We must use our God-given abilities( Rom. 12:4-9 ).

C. Others need our help( Gal. 6:1-2 ).

D. More than man-power is needed( 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ).

III. TO WORK WITH ELDERS... COOPERATE.

A. God's desire is for men to become spiritually mature to the

point that they can oversee( 1 Tim. 3 ), shepherd( 1 Pet. 5:2 ), and exhort( Titus 1:9 ).

B. Qualifications for elders ARE IN 1 Tim. 3.

1. It is possible that a congregation may not have men who are qualified either physically or spiritually.

2. No congregation has any business appointing men who are not qualified.

3. Any church that has no elders ought to strive to develop men who are qualified beforehand. No church is justified when it becomes satisfied without elders and makes no effort to develop qualified men( Titus 1:5 ).

C. Heb. 13:17; 1 Thes. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17-20.

IV. IN MAINTAINING THE PURITY OF THE BODY AND ITS UNITY.

A. Eph. 4:1-6, "Worthily of the gospel"( Phil. 1:27 ).

B. We must speak only as God would have us( 1 Pet. 4:11 ).

C. We are to speak evil of no man( Titus 3:2 ).

D. We must be conscious of our influence( Rom. 14:21-23; 15:1-3 ).

E. We must seek to rectify wrongs against others( Mat 5:23-24 ).

F. Righteous speech produces harmony( Mat. 12:36-37; Eph. 4:29 ).

G. We must be truthful and control ourselves

( Eph. 4:24-26; James 1:19-20 ).

H. James 1:26-27.

V. SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

A. If a Christian has no responsibility to a local church, how can he receive guidance from elders

( Heb. 13:7; 1 Thes. 5:12-14 ).

B. If we have no responsibility to the local congregation, why are we told to assemble together?( Heb. 10:24-25 ).

C. To what purpose would I lay by in store if there was no need for me in the local church?( 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ).

D. How do I account for 1 Corinthians 12:14-26?

CONCLUSION: MY OBLIGATION TO THE LOCAL CHURCH IS MY OBLIGATION TO GOD.
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