Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

Church Membership
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. Soon after conversion, or when moving to a new area, people often seek church membership...
a. They desire to become members of a local congregation
b. Which is a good thing, for both them and the church
2. Often there are questions regarding church membership...
a. What is church membership?
b. Is church membership really necessary?
c. What benefits are there to church membership?
d. What obligations are there to church membership?
e. How does one become a member of the church?
[This study will seek to answer such questions. Because the Bible speaks of the church in two primary
senses (universal and local), let’s first consider membership...]
I. IN THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL
A. DEFINITION...
1. The church universal is that church Jesus promised to build - Mt 16:18
2. It is referred to as the body of Christ - Ep 1:22-23
3. There is only one body, or church - Ep 4:4
4. This one body is made up of individual members - Ro 12:4-5; 1 Co 12:27
-- The church universal consists of all Christians, with Christ as the head
B. PRIVILEGES...
1. Those in this church are saved, as Christ is the Savior of the body - Ep 5:23
2. They enjoy all spiritual blessings, which are found only in Christ - Ep 1:3
3. Such blessings include forgiveness of sins - Ep 1:7
4. Such blessings include the privilege of prayer - He 4:14-16
-- Those in the church universal enjoy blessings now and in the future
C. OBLIGATIONS...
1. To remain connected to the Head, the Branch (Christ) - cf. Jn 15:1-8
2. To do their part in the body - Ep 4:15-16
3. To fulfill whatever function they can - Ro 12:4-8
4. To love the brotherhood (all Christians) - 1 Pe 2:17; cf. 1:22; 3:8
-- Membership has it privileges, but it also has its obligations
D. BECOMING A MEMBER...
1. Those who were baptized were “added” - Ac 2:41
2. Those being saved were added by the Lord to His church - cf. Ac 2:47
3. By one Spirit they were baptized into one body (the church) - 1 Co 12:13; cf. Ti 3:5
-- One becomes a member of the church universal when they are saved
[If one wishes to be a member of the church universal, they need to obey the gospel of Christ in faith,
Topical Sermons 71