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A. There are two ways of speaking of the church |
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…the invisible church |
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…the visible church |
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We are speaking of the “Visible church” |
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B. The church is God’s tool to do His will in
the world |
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It is THE CHURCH God builds His kingdom through. |
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None of us can ever be “The Body of Christ.” |
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Six reasons to join the church |
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1. Identification |
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It says, “I’m
in” |
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Becoming a Christian & Joining the church |
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were one at the beginning |
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2. Submission |
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It says, “I am not alone” |
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I submit my beliefs and interpretations |
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to the larger community of Christians past and
present |
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3. Accountability |
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It says, “I’m under authority” |
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Granting the right to others to hold me
accountable |
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i.e. “the family right to ask.” |
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4. To vote |
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It says, “God can guide through me” |
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I will let the Holy Spirit guide the church through me |
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5. To lead |
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It says, “I am willing to lead” |
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I am willing to serve on the board, make
decisions and hold places of service reserved for members. |
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6. Because of what it says if I don’t… |
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I’m not (fully) in? |
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I don’t (completely) submit? |
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I’m not (totally) accountable? |
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I don’t care about decisions & votes? |
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I don’t want to lead? |
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II. So, with such good reasons to join, why do
some folk not join? |
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1. I can’t agree with all of this church’s
doctrines. |
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Different doctrines than my home church. |
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Or one particular doctrine I can’t accept. |
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2. I Can’t accept some of this church’s “rules.” |
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Who says I can’t do that? |
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Where do these rules come from—I don’t see them
in the Bible |
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What gives you the right to tell me how to live? |
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3. I already belong somewhere else |
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I’ll just leave my membership back there and
attend here. |
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I can get almost all the benefits of membership
without joining. |
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III. Finally, some “common opinions” on church
membership |
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1. We ought to give to the church where we attend |
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We ought to support the “storehouse” where we get our food. |
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2. We ought to attend the church where we belong |
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Or perhaps join where we attend. |
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It is too hard for people far away to hold us
accountable |
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3. We don’t have to agree 100% with everything
to join a church |
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All issues are not of equal weight |
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There are doctrines, lifestyle & “snapshot
convictions.” |
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It may not be about agreeing so much as submitting |
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4. Thoughts on “Rules” |
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Christians should live differently. |
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They have always been in the church. |
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The Bible does not deal explicitly with
everything we face—”witness rules.” |
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There are regional differences. |
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They are influenced by larger church culture |
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They change—always with a lag. |
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You can
live in the US and get most of the benefits |
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All you
lose is obligations: voting, holding office, and joining the military. |
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So why be a citizen? |
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