Exploring Church Membership Session 1 DISCOVERY CLASS Exploring Church Membership Session 1

Ephesians 2.19 "You are a member of God's very own family and you belong in God's household with every other Christian."

Key Truths The church is a family. God expects me to be a member of a family. A Christian without a church family is an orphan.

What makes us a family The gift we’ve received The ground rules we’ve been taught The game plan for reaching our goal The organization that helps us work together

THE GIFT Questions we all ask why am I here? what is the meaning of life? is there a God? if there is, how can I know him? can I find peace? how can I be happy & fulfilled?

Where we look for answers Speculation: figuring it out on my own So we seek purpose & meaning through… Achievement Possessions Pleasure & experiences Power

A second option Revelation: what our Creator says about us Revealed in his Word, the Bible

The Bible on why are we here 1) God made me to love me and enjoy a personal relationship with him Jeremiah 31.3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” 2) Manage the rest of creation – Genesis 1.28

The result of knowing God Purpose Inner peace Strength in hard times Help with our weaknesses Security Clear conscience

This purposeful life doesn’t come through religion, but through a personal relationship with Jesus

What’s the problem? A natural desire to be “the boss” It’s all about “us” The Bible calls this attitude sin “Anything in thought, word and deed that is contrary to the will of God.” Westminster Confession F. Sinatra, “I did it my way.”

This attitude impacts us all "All of us like sheep have gone astray and each of us have turned to his own way." Isaiah 53.6 "If we say we never sin we're only fooling ourselves and we refuse to accept the truth." 1 John 1.8

What is the result? Sin breaks our relationship with God Sin causes problems in all areas of our lives Relationships: marriage & family Work Anxiety

We try to know God through… Nationality Heritage Sincerity Subtraction Service Organized religion

What is the solution? FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

5 things to believe Jesus is God who became man Jesus died on the cross as our substitute and rose from the dead paying the penalty for our sin Jesus is the one and only bridge between us and God “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

The “offense” of the cross Historical: I must reckon with this 1st century Jew Philosophical: one person is the source of salvation for all people Religious: all other systems are deficient Moral: I can’t save myself

5 things to believe Through Jesus, God offers eternal life to us as a free gift “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 We must receive Jesus by faith

How to receive Jesus by faith Admit that God has not been first place in your life and ask him to forgive your sins “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 John 1:9 Believe that Jesus died for your sins and that he rose again, and is alive today! “If you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

How to receive Jesus by faith Accept God’s free gift of eternal life. Don’t try to earn it. “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

How to receive Jesus by faith Invite Jesus Christ to come into your life and be the director (“Lord”) of your life. “To all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God. All we need to do is to trust Him to save us. All those who believe this are reborn! – not a physical rebirth...but from the will of God.” John 1:12-13

A prayer to receive Christ “Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me, even when I’ve ignored you and gone my own way. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. I realize I need you in my life and I’m sorry for my sins. I ask you to forgive me. As much as I know how, I want to follow you from now on. Please come into my life and make me a new person inside. I accept your gift of salvation. Show me how to live and help me to follow you always. In your name I pray. Amen.”

God’s great promise “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13