1. Acts 9:26

2. Should I Place Membership In A Local Congregation? I. What Does The Bible Say? A. Indicates a responsibility to be involved with brethren (Heb. 10:24-25) B. If we separate ourselves, it is selfishness (Prov. 18:1). C. The pattern is: 1. SEEK to join brethren (Acts 9:26) 2. SEEK out those who will join (Acts 9:27) 3. ENCOURAGE brethren to join / receive when they move (Acts 18:27). Note: ALL these involve COMMUNICATION!

3. Should I Place Membership In A Local Congregation? II. Why Some Have Not Placed Membership A. Some do not know to! B. May not feel the need to. 1. Grew up where they were baptized. 2. Assume they are by just attending. - No one knows for sure. - No one knows to add them to duty lists. - No one knows to look for them when they are absent. 1. College students, go home in summer. 2. Temp. work assignments.

4. Should I Place Membership In A Local Congregation? II. Why Some Have Not Placed Membership C. Sometimes sin is involved. D. May not feel the need to. 1. Church may be practicing sin. - If so, what are you doing there? (Mt. 6:33) 1. College students, go home in summer. 2. Individual may be practicing sin. - Why put off correcting it (Mt. 5:23f)? 2. Some use the Eunuch to justify not doing it (Acts 8:39; Heb. 10:24f; etc.)

5. Should I Place Membership In A Local Congregation? III. Realize Different Ways A. Some require letters of recommendation (cp. Acts 18:27). B. Some actively ask visitors. C. Some expect visitors to ask or express interest first. Best thing - both sides seek, ask, invite. CONCLUSION: Have you placed membership? Desire to be involved more in serving God? Want to help your brethren? Need help growing / correcting self?

6. (Ax 8:35-39) 35 And Philip… beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. 36 …they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 1. Preaching Jesus includes baptism! 2. Baptism is a work OF FAITH!

7. (Ax 8:35-39) 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 1. AFTER Baptism, WHEN came up out of the water… REJOICING! 2. Why did Philip teach baptism (Acts 2:38)? Why did the Eunuch rejoice AFTER baptism?