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What Do I owe my home congregation?

What Do I owe my home congregation?. Acts 2:42-47. Introduction. Paul assayed to join himself to the disciples Acts 9:26 – And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

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What Do I owe my home congregation?

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  1. What Do I owe my home congregation? Acts 2:42-47

  2. Introduction • Paul assayed to join himself to the disciples • Acts 9:26 – And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. • Membership and fellowship • I John 1:3,6,7 – 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOVE CHRIST ARE HERE TODAY (John 14:15, 21, 23, 24)

  3. I owe: THE EXAMPLE OF A GOOD LIFE

  4. The example of a good life • (Matt. 5:13-16; John 15:1-10) • A. Church can’t have redeeming influence in community if I am ungodly. • Admonitions to personal purity are many (I Tim. 5:22; James 4-8; • I Thess. 5:22 – “abstain from every form of evil” • Since the church is composed of individuals then whenever one member becomes impure to that extent the church is impure. (I Cor. 12:12-20) • World picks worse members to look at. (The weakest link)

  5. The example of a good life • The example of a good life (Matt. 5:13-16; John 15:1-10) • B. Purity begins in the heart. This is where The greatest battles are fought. (Phil. 4:8; II Cor. 10:5) • In the heart decisions are made that await only opportunity. • C. Christ died for purity of the church (Eph. 5:26f) • When one becomes impure he undoes what Christ did. • D. II Cor. 7:1 – Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

  6. I OWE: THE SHOWING OF FRIENDLINESS TO VISITORS

  7. The showing of friendliness to visitors • Want strangers who enter doors to feel at home, to love us, and to return. Loneliness is magnified by a crowd. • Includes hospitality (Heb. 13:2; I Pet. 4:9) • Should be without respect of persons (James 2:1-10) • Effects of hospitality: • 1. Closer personal relationship – less critical • 2. Strength to each other – help get to know better • 3. Provides wholesome surrounding and lasting memories (especially for young people) • 4. III John 5,6 – “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul propereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”

  8. I OWE: MY SUPPORT TO LEADERS

  9. My support to leaders • No congregation can make progress without faithful and efficient leaders. • To a certain extent member make or break their leaders. • Our part toward elders: • 1. Know them (I Thess. 5:12) • 2. Esteem them (I Thess. 5:13) • 3. Submit to them (Heb. 13:17) • 4. Imitate them (Heb. 13:7) • 5. Call them when you need them (James 5:14) • Elders have trouble working well without cooperation. Encourage them, stand with them, advise them, and realize the awesome responsibility that rests on their shoulders. • Rebellion against expediencies is rebellion against God’s established order. (Heb. 3:7,17)

  10. I OWE: FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  11. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY • Financial obligations are due at regular intervals. Whether I give or not, these must be paid. • 1. Inflation has taken its toll (cost of living raise should affect contribution, too). • 2. Try raising contribution $1 over inflation rate each three months. • Though circumstances may force me to be absent at times, my contributions must find their way to the treasury. (I Cor. 16:1,2) • (When out of town – money isn’t yours just because you weren’t at services.)

  12. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY • True Christian is more than a token giver. • 1. Men are having to return from hard places because of no support. All when people are wealthier and more prosperous than any in 19 centuries! • 2. Paying preacher (I Cor. 9:4-14) • Marvelous Macedonians (II Cor. 5:1-6) • 1. Gave freely & willingly • 2. Gave liberally even though in poverty • 3. Gave beyond all Paul’s expectations • 4. Enthusiastically and eagerly • 5. Saw this as a fellowship • 6. Key in verse 5 – Gave self first to the Lord.

  13. I OWE: ATTENDANCE AT ALL SERVICES

  14. Attendance AT ALL SERVICES • Attendance is the life line of the church for in this we gather to study, edify, exhort, comfort and share. • Wouldn’t it be terrible if this congregation perished because members wouldn’t attend? • Missing services could be compared to leaving wife or husband, coming back in three months, with no apology. • Heb. 10:19ff - Attendance is a privilege and a duty with penalties attached to shirking these duties. • Teaching program is the backbone of the church. If members are not consistent with attendance, what does this teach children and visitors? (Eph. 4:11-12)

  15. I OWE: PERSONAL EVANGELISM

  16. Personal Evangelism • All should want the church to grow and multiply in numbers. This can only be done by teaching and persuading with persistent effort. (Prov. 11:30; Psa. 122:1) • An identifying mark of the church: • 1. Acts 2:41 – 3,000 added • 2. Acts 2:47 – daily additions • 3. Acts 4:4 – 5,000 men plus women • 4. Acts 5:14 – multitudes • 5. Acts 6:7 – disciples multiplied exceedingly • EDIFICATION RESULTED IN MULTIPLICATION. EDIFICATION AND TEACHING ARE A MEANS TO AN END, NOT AN END IN ITSELF.

  17. Personal Evangelism • To multiply conversions we must multiply the time spent trying to reach lost souls. The early church knew this. • Mission of Christ – Seek and Save the Lost (Luke 19:10) • Mission of many churches today is to hold weekly services. • a. Christ said “Go”. We say “come”. • b. We are not using a concentrated effort, but just using opportunity.

  18. I OWE: FREEDOM FROM DIVISION,CONTENTIOUSNESS AND INDIFFERENCE

  19. FREEDOM FROM DIVISION,CONTENTIOUSNESS AND INDIFFERENCE • Kingdom divided can’t stand. (Mk. 3:24,25) • 1. Church can’t survive in a frigid atmosphere. • James 3:16 – “where there is strife there is every evil work.” • 2. Weak lost in shuffle…church in constant turmoil. • Need men who will step out and do what needs to be done regardless of price. • Must not carelessly allow church to be a place where hearts are chilled. Instead make it a place where hearts are warmed with love. (Rev. 2:1-5)

  20. FREEDOM FROM DIVISION,CONTENTIOUSNESS AND INDIFFERENCE • Need for Unity • 1. To answer Jesus’ prayer (Jn. 17:20-23) • 2. For pleasant work (Psa. 133) • 3. So world may believe (Jn. 17:21-23) • 4. To see Lord (Heb. 12:14) • 5. To be blessed (Matt. 5:9) • Not look upon church as if I were an outsider. • 1. “They” vs. “we” • 2. Not they, but we • 3. If not involved, get involved. Plenty of room for workers.

  21. CONCLUSION

  22. CONCLUSION • We are all necessary to the success of this work. • We must give a clear and consistent message to each other and this community. • Pledge your allegiance to God, His Son, and Holy Spirit AND to this church. • Can we count on you???

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