Welcoming New Members: A Journey of Partnership

Devotional

Day 1: Membership as Partnership

Membership at Integrity Church is not just a formality but a partnership. It allows us to know each other deeply and grow together in Christ. This partnership is essential for maturing and multiplying believers, helping us leave a gospel legacy. When new members join, they are not just adding to the numbers but are becoming integral parts of a living, breathing community that seeks to honor God in all aspects of life. This partnership is a commitment to mutual growth, accountability, and support, ensuring that each member is equipped to fulfill their God-given purpose.

This partnership is also a call to action. It requires active participation and engagement from every member. By investing in each other’s lives, we create a strong, supportive network that can withstand challenges and celebrate victories together. This collective effort is what helps us mature in our faith and multiply believers, ultimately leaving a lasting gospel legacy. [04:15]

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: How can you actively participate in the life of your church community this week to help build up the body of Christ?

Day 2: Community and Connection

Being part of a church community means more than attending services; it involves building meaningful relationships. We encourage all members to reach out to new members, invite them into community groups, and invest in their lives. This mutual investment often leads to blessings for both parties. When we take the time to know each other deeply, we create a supportive environment where everyone can grow and thrive.

Building these connections requires intentionality. It means going beyond surface-level interactions and being willing to share our lives with one another. This kind of community fosters spiritual growth and provides a network of support that can help us navigate the challenges of life. By investing in each other, we not only bless others but also receive blessings in return. [05:00]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Who is one new person in your church community you can reach out to this week to build a meaningful connection?

Day 3: Invitation to Belong

For those not yet members, the Starting Point class is an excellent opportunity to learn about Integrity Church and what we believe. It’s a chance to get to know us better and see if this is the community where you can grow and serve. This class provides an overview of our mission, values, and beliefs, helping you make an informed decision about joining our church family.

Joining a church is a significant step in your spiritual journey. It’s about finding a place where you can belong, grow, and serve. The Starting Point class is designed to help you understand who we are and what we stand for, giving you the information you need to decide if Integrity Church is the right fit for you. We invite you to take this step and see how God might be calling you to be part of our community. [05:25]

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."

Reflection: What are you looking for in a church community, and how can you take a step towards finding that this week?

Day 4: Prayer for Growth

We prayed for our new members, asking God to bring the right people into their lives to help them grow in their pursuit of Christ. This prayer underscores the importance of community and support in our spiritual journeys. Growth in faith is not something we do in isolation; it happens within the context of relationships and community.

Prayer is a powerful tool that connects us to God and to each other. By praying for one another, we invite God to work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. This communal aspect of prayer helps us to support and uplift each other, fostering an environment where spiritual growth can flourish. [05:51]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: Who is one person you can pray for today, asking God to bring the right people into their life to help them grow in their faith?

Day 5: Striving Together

As a church, we are committed to striving together to leave a gospel legacy. This involves maturing in our faith and multiplying believers. It’s a collective effort that requires each member to be actively involved and supportive of one another. By working together, we can achieve more than we ever could alone.

Striving together means being united in purpose and action. It means supporting each other, holding each other accountable, and working towards common goals. This collective effort is what helps us to mature in our faith and to multiply believers, ultimately leaving a lasting gospel legacy. [06:34]

Philippians 1:27 (ESV): "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel."

Reflection: What is one way you can contribute to the collective effort of your church community this week to help leave a gospel legacy?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we had the joy of welcoming new members into our Integrity Church family. Membership at Integrity is more than just a formality; it’s a partnership that allows us to know each other deeply and grow together in Christ. We introduced three new members in this service: Austin Cleaver, and Ryan and Megan McNamara. These individuals have completed our Starting Point class and have met with our church leadership, expressing their desire to join us in our mission to mature and multiply believers, leaving a gospel legacy.

We are honored to have them as part of our community and look forward to partnering with them as they continue their spiritual journey. We encourage all current members to reach out, get to know these new members, and invite them into their community groups. This is not just for their benefit but also for ours, as God often uses these relationships to bless both parties.

For those who are not yet members, we invite you to join our next Starting Point class next Sunday. This class will provide an overview of who we are and what we believe, offering a great opportunity to get to know us better. You can register using the QR code on the seat in front of you or through our website.

We concluded our time together with a prayer, thanking God for the privilege of serving Him and for the new members He has brought into our midst. We prayed for their continued growth and for the right people to come into their lives to help them in their spiritual journey. As we leave today, let’s remember to support and love one another, striving together to leave a gospel legacy.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Membership as Partnership: Membership at Integrity Church is not just a formality but a partnership. It allows us to know each other deeply and grow together in Christ. This partnership is essential for maturing and multiplying believers, helping us leave a gospel legacy. [04:15]
2. Community and Connection: Being part of a church community means more than attending services; it involves building meaningful relationships. We encourage all members to reach out to new members, invite them into community groups, and invest in their lives. This mutual investment often leads to blessings for both parties. [05:00]
3. Invitation to Belong: For those not yet members, the Starting Point class is an excellent opportunity to learn about Integrity Church and what we believe. It’s a chance to get to know us better and see if this is the community where you can grow and serve. [05:25]
4. Prayer for Growth: We prayed for our new members, asking God to bring the right people into their lives to help them grow in their pursuit of Christ. This prayer underscores the importance of community and support in our spiritual journeys. [05:51]
5. Striving Together: As a church, we are committed to striving together to leave a gospel legacy. This involves maturing in our faith and multiplying believers. It’s a collective effort that requires each member to be actively involved and supportive of one another. [06:34]
### [06:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:15] - Introduction of New Members
[05:00] - Partnership and Mission
[05:25] - Invitation to Starting Point Class
[05:51] - Prayer for New Members
[06:34] - Closing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Ephesians 4:11-16 say about the roles within the church and their purpose?
According to Hebrews 10:24-25, why is it important for believers to meet together regularly?
How did the sermon describe the process and significance of becoming a member at Integrity Church? [04:15]
What specific actions were encouraged for current members to take towards new members? [05:00]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of church membership as a partnership (Ephesians 4:11-16) help in maturing and multiplying believers? [04:15]
In what ways can building meaningful relationships within the church community lead to mutual blessings, as mentioned in the sermon? [05:00]
How does the invitation to the Starting Point class (Hebrews 10:24-25) reflect the church’s mission to integrate and grow new members? [05:25]
Why is it important to pray for new members and their spiritual growth, as highlighted in the sermon? [05:51]

Application Questions

Reflecting on Ephesians 4:11-16, what role do you feel called to play within the church to help others grow in their faith?
How can you personally contribute to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for new members at Integrity Church? [05:00]
Think about a time when you were new to a community. What actions from others made you feel welcomed and supported? How can you replicate those actions for new members at Integrity Church? [05:00]
If you are not yet a member, what steps can you take to learn more about Integrity Church and consider joining the community? [05:25]
How can you make a conscious effort to invite new members into your community group and invest in their lives? What specific steps will you take this week? [05:00]
In what ways can you pray for the new members and their spiritual journey? How can you support them in practical ways? [05:51]
How can you strive to leave a gospel legacy in your daily life, both within and outside the church community? [06:34]

Sermon Clips

1. "What membership looks like here at Integrity is basically like a partnership. It gives us a chance to know you and it gives you a chance to get to know who we are, get plugged into the community here at Integrity. And we're so excited for the three that we have to introduce in this service." [04:15] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Three of these new members have been through our starting point class and have met with our church membership. They have decided that they want to partner with Integrity Church on our mission to mature and multiply believers to leave a gospel legacy. And so we're so honored to have y'all to become part of our family." [05:00] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Our prayer is that we can partner with y'all as you continue to grow and pursue Christ and that you will partner with others here as they grow and pursue Christ. And so we're so excited to have y'all join us on that mission." [05:00] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I challenge you, if you're a member here at Integrity Church, come up here, they'll be down here in the front. Meet them, get to know them moving forward. Invite them to your community group. Thank you so much. Y'all are actually already in community groups, but invite them to your community group. Love on them and really invest in their lives and see how God uses that to bless them but also to bless you." [05:25] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you're not a member at Integrity, we'd love to invite you to our starting point class. It's next Sunday right over here through these doors in our office area. You can register using the QR code on the seat in front of you or on our website. And we'd love to meet you. Starting point is just a class that kind of goes through who we are and what we believe here at Integrity. And we'd love the opportunity to get to know you there in that class." [05:25] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, just thank you for the privilege that we have to serve you. Thank you for the privilege that we have to come on a Sunday morning and just gather together as a body of believers to worship who you are. I thank you so much for the work that you're doing in the lives of our members but then also bringing new members to our church to partner with us as we strive to leave a gospel legacy through maturing and multiplying other believers." [05:51] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "I pray that you'll bring the right people across their paths to help them continue to grow in their pursuit of you and as we pursue you together as a church. And I pray that you'll just bless them as we leave from here today. Help us to have a good week. In your name I pray, amen." [06:34] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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