1. Local Churches Rom. 16:16 Antioch (Acts 13:1) Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2)
Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1)
Philippi (Phil. 1:1)
Ephesus (Rev. 2:1)
Smyrna (Rev. 2:8)
Pergamos (Rev. 2:12)
Thyatira (Rev. 2:18)
Sardis (Rev. 3:1)
Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7)
Laodicea (Rev. 3:14)
Thessalonica (1 Th 1:1)
Crete (Titus 1:5)
Iconium (Acts 14:23)
Derbe (Acts 14:23)
Lystra (Acts 14:23)
Local Churches
Rom. 16:16

2. New Testament Christians Joined Themselves With Local Churches
Acts 2:42-47
Acts 9:26-28
Acts 11:25-26
Rom. 16:1

3. Some Christians
Act As If
The Local
Church Is
Not Important
No obligations
Never be a member
Wander from one to another

4. Three Questions:
Is there such a thing as local church membership?
What are my responsibilities as a member?
Can one worship in an imperfect congregation?

5. The Local Church & My Responsibility
Membership

6. Membership Membership Is Necessary Without it - No local congregation
If one does not need be a member –
No one needs to be a member!
For elders to have oversight (Acts 20:28)
To carry out discipline (1 Cor. 5)

7. Membership Membership Is Necessary Examples: Paul (Acts 9:26-28)
Apollos (Acts 18:27)
Phebe (Rom. 16:1-2)

8. Churches have a right & duty to accept & reject members
Membership
Membership Is Necessary
Examples
Accepting & Rejecting Members
Churches have a right & duty to
accept & reject members

9. Accepting & Rejecting Not arbitrary (3 John)
Must be based upon - walking according to word
1 Cor. 5:1-13
2 Thess. 3:6-14

10. Acts 9:26-28
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
“join”
“identify”
“placing membership” }
Would not accept
just any one
Gathered information from the person & others
Accepted & Active

11. Accepting & Rejecting Not arbitrary (3 John)
Must be based upon - walking according to word
1 Cor. 5:1-13
2 Thess. 3:6-14
Not accept just anyone (Acts 9:26-28)
Right & responsibility to ask & know (Acts 9:26-28)

12. The Local Church & My Responsibility
Membership
Responsibility

13. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Faithful Attendance
Christians assembled together (Acts 4:31; 11:26; 14:27; 20:7-8; 1 Cor. 5:4; 11:17-18; 14:23, 26).
We are to assemble (Heb. 10:25).
What faithful attendance is NOT:
Attending Sunday morning only
Attending more than I am absent
Attending only when there is no conflict

14. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Financial Support
The church has financial obligations to meet
Met by offerings of its members (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

15. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Financial Support
Divine principles regulating such:
I am to give (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7)
Give weekly (1 Cor. 16:2)
Give as prospered (1 Cor. 16:2)
Give bountifully (2 Cor. 9:6)
Give as purposed (2 Cor. 9:7)
Give sacrificially (2 Sam. 24:24; Mk. 12:41-44)
Give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7)

16. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Good Influence
We are saints (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Pet. 2:9; Eph. 5:3).
Influence passages:
Matthew 5:13-16
Philippians 2:15
2 Corinthians 3:2
1 Timothy 4:12

17. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Involvement In Its Work
The Lord has always had work for His people to do
As the vineyard of the Lord, the church is a workplace (Mt. 20:1)
Ephesians 4:16
1 Corinthians 15:58
Work harmoniously (Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 12)

18. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Participation In Its Worship
John 4:24
Not a spectator sport
Every member is to be a participant (Active / not passive)
Each one is to sing (Eph. 5:19)

19. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Care And Concern
1 Corinthians 12:25
Too many are indifferent & apathetic (Lam. 1:12; Lk. 10:30-32)
Be concerned and show your care!

20. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
Help Restore the Erring
All who are spiritual – seek the one taken in fault (Gal. 6:1)
Support disciplinary action (1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thess. 3)

21. What I Owe the Local Church
Responsibility
What I Owe the Local Church
My Faithful Attendance
My Financial Support
My Good Influence
My Involvement In Its Work
My Participation In Its Worship
My Care And Concern
Help Restore the Erring

22. The Local Church & My Responsibility
Membership
Responsibility
Choosing

23. Choosing Can I worship in an Imperfect church? We all do
One any of us are in now is imperfect
If decides to go – it will be imperfect
If decides to stay – it will be imperfect
“All churches have problem” – is like “all marriages have problems”
Some minor issues –
Some on verge of coming apart -

24. Choosing Can I worship in an Imperfect church? We all do
Principles to answer the Q:
Question: what about worshiping with churches that:
Liberal / institutional practices?
Unscriptural elders?
Fellowship those continue in sin?

25. Choosing Can I worship in an Imperfect church? We all do
Principles to answer the Q:
Violate my conscience (Rom. 14:23)?
Practice – makes me participate?
Instrument in assembly?
Hum during worship?
Support out of treasury? (Org / Error)
Fellowship in sin (Eph. 5:11)?

26. Choosing Can I worship in an Imperfect church? We all do
Principles to answer the Q:
Violate my conscience (Rom. 14:23)?
Practice – makes me participate?
Individual matters?
Some go into military, war, police officer?
Covering issue
Nothing is bound upon me
Example: Issues of Rom. 14

27. Choosing Can I worship in an Imperfect church? We all do
Principles to answer the Q:
Violate my conscience (Rom. 14:23)?
Practice – makes me participate?
Individual matters?
Will I be in fellowship with sin?
Does the church accept anyone?
Does the church accept adulterers?
Does the church accept without correction?
Does the church practice discipline?

28. Choosing Can I worship in an Imperfect church? We all do
Principles to answer the Q:
Violate my conscience (Rom. 14:23)?
Practice – makes me participate?
Individual matters?
Will I be in fellowship with sin?
Qual. of elders: principle or degree of application?
“Apt to teach” – can’t teach / or degree?
“Husband one wife” – not married / or remarried after wife died?
“Faithful children” – none faithful /or part?

29. Choosing Can I worship in an Imperfect church? We all do
Principles to answer the Q:
Violate my conscience (Rom. 14:23)?
Practice – makes me participate?
Individual matters?
Will I be in fellowship with sin?
Qual. of elders: principle or degree of application?
My personal spiritual welfare?
Where I am now – what future?
Where I might go – what future?

30. The Local Church & My Responsibility
Membership
Responsibility
Choosing

31. Conclusion
Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25).
He shed His blood to purchase it (Acts 20:28).
I should feel a sense of obligation to it!