Acts 2:47; I Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:21

But by what procedure does one become a member of a local church?

• Acts 22:1-16

What is the purpose of local church membership?

• It is God’s arrangement for saints in an area to work and worship together, doing what God has ordained. The purpose is to glorify God, edify each other, and seek and save the lost.
  • Ephesians 4:16; II Corinthians 11:7-8
• All members have special obligation.

Who is really in the local fellowship?

• One that joined and is actively serving God with the local church.

• Those who cease to function in their service to God are not really in local fellowship. I Corinthians 5.

Is a local church to control its fellowship?

• Yes! I Corinthians 5

• Acts 9:26 – The saints tried to keep Paul out when they thought he was a threat.

What is to be the action of a member toward one who has been refused fellowship?

• II Corinthians 6:14-17

• II Thessalonians 3:14-15

• I Corinthians 5:11

When one insists on having company with one who has been withdrawn from, what is to be the action of the local church?

• That member must be disciplined as well and withdrawn from if necessary.

• Numbers 16 – Israelites who sympathized with the rebellion of Korah were killed.

• What about students? They are members where they are working and worshiping at the time.

John 2:13-17

2020 Theme: Jesus, lesson 2

Jesus brought a spiritual kingdom

• Isaiah 9:7

• Amos 9:11

• John 6:13-15, 35, 45-51; 8:31-33; 18:36-37

• Luke 17:20-21

• Matthew 16:19 à Acts 2

• To advance in this kingdom, develop your heart

  • Matthew 5:3, 10; Mark 9:35

• Quit focusing on physical things.

  • Matthew 8:18-20; 19:21

• Fight spiritual battles

  • II Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:17

Jesus would leave, and people would need to get to work!

• Daniel 2:44

• Isaiah 9:7

• II Kings 25:5-7 – The physical kingdom was destroyed. The Jews expected a Messiah that would keep this from ever happening again.

• Mark 8:27-33; 9:31-32; 10:32-34 – The Messiah would be killed?!

• Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9; 10:1-8 – Jesus was recruiting apostles and preparing to leave!

• Luke 10:1, 16

• John 14:26; 16:13

• We have to take on the responsibility before us.

  • II Timothy 2:2

Jesus defanged Satan, but sin is still our choice.

• Hebrews 2:14

• I Peter 5:8

• James 4:7

• Matthew 4:1-11

• Jesus taught us how to resist Satan.

  • I Corinthians 10:13

False dilemma (“either … or”)

• Spiritual importance

  • Can you think of any other possibilities for each of the following?

    • “Either you have faith, or you are rational.”

    • “The Bible vs. science.”

    • “The Bible teaches that ‘in Christ all things hold together’ (Colossians 1:17). But we now know that the forces of gravity and electromagnetism are what hold the universe together.”

      • Hebrews 1:2-3

    • “You must not really believe that God is going to answer your request for healing; otherwise you would not have gone to the doctor.”

      • Colossians 4:3

  • Perhaps the most common example of this fallacy occurs with the topic of salvation – “Either we’re saved by grace or by works!”

    • Salvation by grace only is a core doctrine of many churches.

    • Compare Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:24. Make sure you avoid the equivocation fallacy in regard to the word “works” in these passages.

Special pleading

• What is it?

  • Proverbs 20:23

  • “Special pleading is the fallacy of applying a double standard.”

• Spiritual importance

  • Romans 2:1-3, 17-24

  • Notice the hypocrisy in Matthew 23:3-4. Could that sort of thing happen to so-called Christians today?

  • Evaluate the declaration “You shouldn’t judge people!”

• Acts 15:1; Colossians 2:16-17; Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 5:8; 6:15; Colossians 2:11-13

Introduction

• Acts 15:19

• Romans 10:1

Learn the truth about Jesus!

• Matthew 28:18-20

• Acts 2; 8:35; 9:22

• Romans 10:9-10

Do what He wants!

• James 2:17

• Luke 6:46

• Repent: Luke 24:45-47; Acts 17:30-31

• Get baptized: Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21

• Walk in newness of life: Ephesians 3; Romans 6; Colossians 3

• Join a local church: Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:2; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-2; Hebrews 13:17

Where are you in this process of conversion?

• Do you need to learn more before you can fully believe and confess Jesus?

• Are you ready to repent of your sins?

• Are you not sure what your status is about baptism?

• Maybe you’ve done those things, but then didn’t walk in newness of life. Repent!

• Do you need to join a church?