Embracing Church Membership: A Vital Spiritual Journey

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the significance of church membership and its profound impact on our spiritual journey. We began by acknowledging the decline in church attendance and the common reasons people give for not attending. Despite this trend, the church remains a vital part of a believer's life, serving as the body of Christ where each member plays a crucial role. We delved into Hebrews 10:24-25, which emphasizes the importance of gathering together to encourage one another in love and good works. This passage reminds us that our faith is not meant to be a private affair but a communal journey where we support and uplift each other.

Membership in a church is not just about having your name on a list; it's about being an active, functioning part of the body. Just as organs in a body must be connected to function properly, so must we be connected to the church to fulfill our purpose. The church is not merely an organization but a living organism where each member contributes to the health and growth of the whole. We discussed the four stages of becoming a meaningful member: awareness, attendance, activation, and assimilation. These stages help us grow in maturity, ministry, and mission.

We also explored the benefits of church membership, which include physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Studies show that active church members tend to be healthier and happier, with stronger family and community ties. Spiritually, church membership provides identity, maturity, ministry opportunities, authority, and accountability. It identifies us as believers, helps us grow in faith, allows us to use our spiritual gifts, places us under pastoral guidance, and holds us accountable to one another.

Finally, we emphasized the importance of finding a church that preaches the Word of God, offers uplifting worship, prioritizes the Great Commission, and provides opportunities for service. Being part of a church is not just about receiving but also about giving and encouraging others. As we draw near to God and each other, we strengthen our faith and prepare for the day when Christ returns.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Church Membership: Church membership is not just a formality but a vital connection to the body of Christ. Each member plays a crucial role, much like organs in a body, contributing to the health and growth of the church. This connection is essential for fulfilling our purpose as believers. [33:42]

2. The Communal Nature of Faith: Our relationship with Jesus is personal but not private. We are called to gather together, encourage one another, and be accountable to each other. This communal aspect of faith strengthens us and helps us grow in love and good works. [37:35]

3. Benefits of Church Membership: Being an active member of a church brings physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. It promotes health, happiness, and a sense of belonging, while also providing opportunities for spiritual growth and service. [51:20]

4. Finding the Right Church: When choosing a church, look for one that faithfully preaches the Word of God, offers inspiring worship, prioritizes the Great Commission, and provides opportunities for service. These elements are crucial for spiritual nourishment and growth. [01:00:35]

5. Encouragement and Service: Encouragement is a ministry every church member can participate in. By encouraging one another, we inspire love and good works. Serving in the church allows us to use our spiritual gifts and contribute to the mission of spreading the gospel. [56:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:01:30] - Decline in Church Attendance
- [00:05:00] - Importance of Church Membership
- [00:10:00] - Hebrews 10:24-25 Reading
- [00:15:00] - The Church as a Body
- [00:20:00] - Stages of Meaningful Membership
- [00:25:00] - Physical and Emotional Benefits
- [00:30:00] - Spiritual Benefits of Membership
- [00:35:00] - Identity and Maturity in the Church
- [00:40:00] - Ministry and Authority
- [00:45:00] - Accountability and Encouragement
- [00:50:00] - Finding the Right Church
- [00:55:00] - Encouragement and Service
- [01:00:00] - The Great Commission
- [01:05:00] - Invitation to Join the Church

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 10:24-25

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Observation Questions:

1. What reasons were given in the sermon for the decline in church attendance, and how does this relate to the importance of church membership? [00:01:30]

2. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, what are believers encouraged to do when they gather together? [37:35]

3. What are the four stages of becoming a meaningful church member as discussed in the sermon? [37:35]

4. How does the sermon describe the church as a body, and what role does each member play in it? [33:42]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the communal nature of faith, as described in Hebrews 10:24-25, challenge the idea of faith being a private matter? [37:35]

2. What are the spiritual benefits of church membership mentioned in the sermon, and how do they contribute to a believer's growth? [51:20]

3. How does the sermon suggest that church membership provides accountability, and why is this important for spiritual growth? [51:20]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that finding the right church can impact a believer's spiritual journey? [01:00:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current involvement in church. Are you more of a spectator or a contributor? What steps can you take to become more actively involved? [56:58]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of encouragement within the church. How can you intentionally encourage someone in your church community this week? [56:58]

3. Consider the four stages of meaningful membership: awareness, attendance, activation, and assimilation. Which stage are you currently in, and what can you do to progress to the next stage? [37:35]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of finding a church that preaches the Word of God and offers uplifting worship. How does your current church align with these criteria, and what changes, if any, do you feel led to make? [01:00:35]

5. How can you use your spiritual gifts to serve in your church, and what specific ministry opportunities are available for you to explore? [51:20]

6. Reflect on the communal aspect of faith. How can you foster deeper connections with fellow believers in your church community? [37:35]

7. The sermon mentions the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of church membership. How have you experienced these benefits in your own life, and how can you share these experiences with others? [51:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Church Membership as a Vital Connection
Church membership is not merely a formality but a vital connection to the body of Christ. Each member plays a crucial role, much like organs in a body, contributing to the health and growth of the church. This connection is essential for fulfilling our purpose as believers. Being part of a church means actively participating in its life and mission, not just having your name on a list. It involves being an active, functioning part of the body, where each member contributes to the health and growth of the whole. This connection is essential for fulfilling our purpose as believers, as it allows us to grow in maturity, ministry, and mission. [33:42]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively contribute to the health and growth of your church community this week?


Day 2: The Communal Journey of Faith
Our relationship with Jesus is personal but not private. We are called to gather together, encourage one another, and be accountable to each other. This communal aspect of faith strengthens us and helps us grow in love and good works. The passage from Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us that our faith journey is not meant to be solitary. Instead, it is a communal journey where we support and uplift each other. Gathering together as a church allows us to encourage one another in love and good works, fostering a sense of accountability and shared purpose. [37:35]

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV): "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to this week to offer encouragement and support?


Day 3: The Benefits of Active Church Membership
Being an active member of a church brings physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. It promotes health, happiness, and a sense of belonging, while also providing opportunities for spiritual growth and service. Studies have shown that active church members tend to be healthier and happier, with stronger family and community ties. Spiritually, church membership provides identity, maturity, ministry opportunities, authority, and accountability. It identifies us as believers, helps us grow in faith, allows us to use our spiritual gifts, places us under pastoral guidance, and holds us accountable to one another. [51:20]

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV): "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Reflection: What specific spiritual gift can you use to serve your church community this week, and how will you do it?


Day 4: Choosing the Right Church
When choosing a church, look for one that faithfully preaches the Word of God, offers inspiring worship, prioritizes the Great Commission, and provides opportunities for service. These elements are crucial for spiritual nourishment and growth. Finding the right church is essential for spiritual nourishment and growth. A church that preaches the Word of God, offers uplifting worship, prioritizes the Great Commission, and provides opportunities for service will help you grow in your faith and fulfill your purpose as a believer. [01:00:35]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: Reflect on your current church community. How does it align with the elements of a spiritually nourishing church, and what steps can you take to engage more deeply?


Day 5: Encouragement and Service as Ministry
Encouragement is a ministry every church member can participate in. By encouraging one another, we inspire love and good works. Serving in the church allows us to use our spiritual gifts and contribute to the mission of spreading the gospel. Encouragement and service are vital aspects of church life. Every member can participate in the ministry of encouragement, inspiring love and good works within the community. Serving in the church allows us to use our spiritual gifts and contribute to the mission of spreading the gospel, fulfilling our role as active members of the body of Christ. [56:58]

Hebrews 6:10 (ESV): "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do."

Reflection: Identify one person in your church who may need encouragement. How can you intentionally reach out to them this week to offer support and love?

Quotes


So on page 1007, if you're following along in a Black Pew Bible, and if you are, I want to remind you that that Black Pew Bible is yours. If you don't have a Bible, it's a free gift from Oak Grove. We simply ask that you read it and that you obey it. I heard about a man who came home from church one day and he was taking off his tie and he said to his wife, that's it? I'm never going back to that church. She said, yes, you are. And he said, no, I'm not. I'm going to give you three reasons why. One, nobody speaks to me. Two, everybody hates me. Three, I have absolutely no friends. She said to him, and I'm going to give you three reasons why you are going back to that church. Number one, you promised me when we got married that you would attend church regularly. Number two, you need to set an example for our children. And number three, you're the pastor. [00:30:12] (46 seconds)


And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It illuminates us. It gives us our direction in life, and we thank you, Father, for the gift of the Holy Spirit that we have only because of the death of your Son. We thank you for his glorious resurrection and for the life that Jesus affords us, and we thank you, Lord, that the Holy Spirit goes with us everywhere we go. [00:33:42] (35 seconds)


Now, as you begin to see the church as a body, you realize that the body has vital organs, and every church has vital organs. Paul tells us in Romans 12, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. And so, when we start talking about membership, people start talking, start thinking about paying dues or secret rituals or having your name on a list somewhere that nobody ever looks at. Paul had a very different view of what a membership in a church was. To Paul, being a member was the same as being a vital organ in a body, a heart, a liver, a lung, a brain. [00:34:48] (42 seconds)


All of us are members of the body, and all of us have a function to perform in order for this body of Jesus to be healthy. The same is true for Christians who refuse to become members of the church. They are not healthy organs. The New Testament doesn't know anything of a non-churched Christian. They all gathered together. Now, they gathered together in homes back then, but they all gathered together, and that's what the writer of Hebrews is telling his audience. [00:36:37] (37 seconds)


Sometimes I've witnessed to people, and I've said, I've asked them very clearly, have you ever made a profession of faith in Jesus? And they'll say, well, that's a personal matter. Well, you're only half right when you say that, because when your relationship with Jesus is very personal, but God never intended it to be private. Because the church is a body, every member needs to be connected to the body. The church is also a family, and every family member needs to be a functioning member of the family, and one of the greatest problems we face in the church today is meaningless membership. [00:37:35] (35 seconds)


And in our scripture today, the author of Hebrews is telling us what we should be and what we should be doing as church members. Let me read it again. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Now, so as we're delving into this, it's interesting to note that all the emphasis is placed upon what the church member gives to the church, not what the church member can get from the church. We're told that every, we're told here that one of the ministries that every member of a church has, that every member of a church needs, and that every member of a church should be continuously doing is the ministry of encouragement. Somebody say amen. Amen. I just want to make sure you listen to me. You don't need a college degree. You don't need to go to seminary. You don't have to have money. You don't have to be attractive. Yay. You don't, you don't have to have any special talents to be an encourager. [00:49:33] (64 seconds)


When we get together, when we get together, and I see you loving Jesus, it makes me want to love Jesus. When we get together, and I see you serving Jesus, it makes me want to serve Jesus. When I see you worshiping Jesus, I want to worship Jesus as well. That's why I like playing in the praise team, because normally I'm on the front pew, and I can't see anybody praising. All I can see is that big screen in front of me, but when I'm back here, I can peek around. I can see everybody praising the Lord. I'm like, hey, what great encouragement that is. So, I'm supposed to be a worship leader. You guys are leading me in worship, so thank you. That was great encouragement. [00:51:47] (37 seconds)


You see, the church body is just like your physical body. It's a collection of small cells, and every member of Oak Grove needs to be involved in a small group. Now, what I mean by small group is not necessarily just a Sunday school. Yes, we want you to go to Sunday school, but we also want you to get actively involved in ministry, and we have a lot of ministries here. The Adam ministry, the alcohol drug addiction ministry, meets every Tuesday night. [00:52:28] (26 seconds)


Find a church that is uplifting worship, inspiring, motivating, Christ-centered, directed to the praise of the Lord, the type of worship that, regardless of style, has substance that will feed your soul. Third is witness. Find a church that understands and believes that the church's primary mission is the Great Commission. Any church that doesn't follow the Great Commission is out of commission is out of commission. I've been asked, what's the mission and vision of our church? Matthew 28, 18 to 20. Go, therefore. You see, the church is a place where we come, where believers come, and we get fed. [01:00:12] (42 seconds)


Find a church where you can get enthusiastically involved. Put your spiritual gifts to work in the service of that body because you believe in what the church is trying to do. Oak Grove's mission statement is celebrate the greatness of God, connect to one another, and commit to ministry. Now, that's what's in our bylaws. But what I was saying for the last 10 years is, Oak Grove exists to exalt the Lord Jesus, to know him, and make him known. And you can't get more basic than that. You can't. And that's what all of us should do. So regardless of the nomenclature that we use, the Great Commission is our model. The Great Commission is our mandate. Word, worship, witness, and work. And when you find a church that exhibits all four of those characteristics, then you will find a place where you can come into that house of God and fellowship with the people of God and sing the songs of God, hear the word of God, experience the glory of God. And when you do that, you cannot help but be drawn closer to God. [01:01:35] (58 seconds)


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Transcript
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