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What Do I Owe The Local Church?. What Do I Owe The Local Church?. What Do I Owe The Local Church?. Obligations In All Our Relationships God made us all to be people-driven cp. Gen 2:18 Mt 5:13-16 All of us need interaction with others cp. Eccl 4:9-12 Prov 27:17
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What Do I Owe The Local Church? What Do I Owe The Local Church? What Do I Owe The Local Church?
Obligations In All Our Relationships • God made us all to be people-driven cp. Gen 2:18 Mt 5:13-16 • All of us need interaction with others cp. Eccl 4:9-12 Prov 27:17 • All our relationships have “obligations” • Especially the one we have with God Mt 22:21
Obligations In The Local Church • The previously-mentioned principles also apply in this relationship • Assumptions to make before proceeding… • We have already answered the gospel’s call for our salvation 2 Thess 2:13-14
Obligations In The Local Church • The previously-mentioned principles also apply in this relationship • Assumptions to make before proceeding… • We have already been added by the Lord to the universal church Acts 2:47 • What then are our obligations “locally?”
Obligations In The Local Church • Initiative in becoming a member • Some Christians fail in this area • Some think if they attend long enough, they are automatically a member of a church • Others think they’ll be asked to join a church • Neither of these views are correct, Biblical
Obligations In The Local Church • Initiative in becoming a member • Saul of Tarsus provides an example Acts 9:26 • He tried to “join” the local group of disciples who worshiped in Jerusalem • “To glue, cement”cp. Lk 10:11 Rom 12:9 • He took it upon himself to identify there
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • In our attendance Heb 10:25 • It needs to be regular, not irregular • “Showing up” anytime the church is meeting indicates support cp. Acts 2:46 • Even punctuality is key cp. Acts 10:33
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • Of her teaching Acts 2:42 • First Christians continued “steadfastly” • Not a “casual” acceptance • They diligently embraced what the apostles taught cp. Lk 10:16
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • Of her teaching Acts 2:42 • Some modern-day Christians don’t react to teaching as did the 1st Christians • Sometimes the preacher, elders catch the ire of disapproving brethren cp. Gal 4:16
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • Toward our brethren • Because the church is people, the root issue is fellowship • Fellowship is both “vertical” (with God) and “horizontal” (with man)1 Jn 1:1-7
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • Toward our brethren • Local church fellowship = a partnership among people with “baggage” • No local church is immune from the pitfalls of brethren’s past failures
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • Toward our brethren • Only the universal church enjoys “Divine protection” cp. 2 Tim 2:19 • At times, local churches make mistakes re: fellowship 2 Jn 9-11 3 Jn 9-10
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • Toward our brethren • Good things happened at the local church in Ephesus Acts 19:17-20 • Yet, she had some problems…some of the “baggage” Rev 2:2-6
Obligations In The Local Church • Support as a member Rom 12:10-11 • Toward our brethren • Notice what wasn’t advocated… • Go start a new church, or “church hop” • What was advocated? Eph 4:2, 3, 16, 32 SUPPORT
Conclusion • Our most important relationship is with God • If we are striving to maintain this covenant with God, that will include our obligations to be fulfilled in the local church • This local church has a lampstand Rev 1:20 2:5
Conclusion • The Lion who was slain, yet lives is in the midst of the throne, and He walks among the lampstands Rev 5:6 2:1 • For Eastside to maintain His approval, we must fulfill our obligations… both individually & collectively Eph 4:16