Local Churches Rom. 16:16

2. Antioch (Acts 13:1) • Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2) • Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1) • Philippi (Phil. 1:1) • Ephesus (Rev. 2:1) • Smyrna (Rev. 2:8) • Pergamos (Rev. 2:12) • Thyatira (Rev. 2:18) • Sardis (Rev. 3:1) • Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7) • Laodicea (Rev. 3:14) • Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1:1) • Crete (Titus 1:5) • Iconium (Acts 14:23) • Derbe (Acts 14:23) • Lystra (Acts 14:23) Local Churches Rom. 16:16

3. Membership • Membership Is Necessary • Without it - No local congregation • For elders to have oversight (Acts 20:28) • To carry out discipline (1 Cor. 5)

4. Membership • Membership Is Necessary • Examples: • Paul (Acts 9:26-28) • Apollos (Acts 18:27) • Phebe (Rom. 16:1-2)

5. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church Fulfilling My Obligations Whether Others Do or Not

6. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church I. Attend

7. I. Attend • Not to forsake (Heb. 10:25) • Context: Persecution • Presence encourages (Heb. 10:24f) • “Of yourselves” – Local assembly • If one regularly miss – then all could • If one gone lot – then all could

8. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church I. Attend II. Contribute

9. II. Contribute • It is an order (1 Cor. 16:1-2) • It is an act of worship (Acts 2:42) • How a local church functions • Withhold contribution – disagree • “Partial Fellowship” – why?

10. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church I. Attend II. Contribute III. Consider One Another

11. III. Consider One Another • Heb. 10:24 – • Means: think about, regard, thoughtful, look at closely, turn over in mind, observe fully. • Reason: What do to promote love & good works!

12. III. Consider One Another • Wear other’s shoes for while • Matt. 7:12 • Phil. 2:4 • Try to understand • Give benefit of doubt (1 Cor. 13:7) • Differences in people

13. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church I. Attend II. Contribute III. Consider One Another IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity

14. Romans 14:19 “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

15. IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity • Learn to work together (1 Cor. 12) • Communicate • Essential to any relationship • Solve problems by communication • Forbear (Col. 3:13) • Not be stubborn / self willed • Matt. 7;12; Tit. 1:7; 3 Jno. • Not refuse to yield, listen or work things out

16. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church I. Attend II. Contribute III. Consider One Another IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity V. Be Kind / Friendly

17. V. Be Kind & Friendly • Command (Eph. 4:32) • To be right – not because I think others are right! • Part of love (1 Cor. 13:4) • Prov. 18:24 • Greet one another (Rom 16:16; 2 Cor. 13:12; Acts 20:37) • In what say to & about others (Col. 4:6)

18. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church I. Attend II. Contribute III. Consider One Another IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity V. Be Kind / Friendly VI. Use Wisdom & Judgment

19. VI. Use Wisdom / Judgment • Brethren often use little judgment • Do things that solve one problem and creates two more. • Fail to see where things lead – conseq. • Reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-9) • Pray for wisdom (Jas. 1:5) • Wisdom promotes peace (Jas. 3:13-17)

20. Wisdom / Judgment • Try to look past our nose – see down the line • Inconsistency • Consequences • Where this will take us • Ask: Is this good or better judgment? • More than question of is this sin • Question of what is best!

21. Responsibilities WithinA Local Church I. Attend II. Contribute III. Consider One Another IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity V. Be Kind / Friendly VI. Use Wisdom & Judgment