Is Local Church Membership Essential?
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?
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).
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).
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).
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
A. THE LOCAL CHURCH IS GOD’S INVENTION.
B. HIS BLUEPRINT CALLS FOR US TO PARTICIPATE.
C. SALVATION IS IN THE PATTERN.
