1. Membership in a local church Acts 9:26-28 3 4 Acts 9:26-28 “ When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were

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Membership in a local church

Acts 9:26-28

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Acts 9:26-28

“When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all

afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. [27] But Barnabas took hold of him

and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

[28] And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of

the Lord.”

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What it will NOT provide

•Salvation–We must understand that salvation does not come through the local congregation.

–Let’s look at the seven churches of Asia found in Revelation 2 & 3

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•Ephesus–Jesus is addressing a problem in the entire congregation

“'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Revelation 2:4

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•Ephesus“ … repent and do the deeds you did at

first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its

place—unless you repent.”Revelation 2:5

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•Pergamum–Only some of the members–Revelation 2:14-16

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Revelation 2:14-16

“'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold

the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts

of immorality. …”

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Revelation 2:14-16

“…[15] 'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. [16] 'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the

sword of My mouth.”

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•Thyatira–It is allowing sin to remain in its midst

–Revelation 2:20-24

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Revelation 2:20-24

“'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls

herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things

sacrificed to idols. [21] 'I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of

her immorality. …”

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Revelation 2:20-24

“…[22] 'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they

repent of her deeds. [23] 'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the

churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your

deeds. …”

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Revelation 2:20-24

“…[24] 'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this

teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I

place no other burden on you.”

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•Sardis–The Lord is displeased with the congregation as a whole

–But some “have not soiled their garments”

–Revelation 3:1-4

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Revelation 3:1-4

“'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are

dead. [2] 'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to

die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. [3] 'So remember what you have received

and heard; and keep it, and repent. …”

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Revelation 3:1-4

“…Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

[4] 'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their

garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

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What it will provide

•Encouragement–Hebrews 3:13

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called

"Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

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Hebrews 10:24,25

“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

[25] not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the

more as you see the day drawing near.”

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•Support–No person is an island

•Hebrews 12:12

“Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are

feeble,”

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Romans 12: 15-16

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. [16] Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your

own estimation.”

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•Support–No person is an island–Synergy

•combined action or operation

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•Teaching–Along with the command to “Go

… and make disciples” –we have the charge to teach them more fully afterward•Matthew 28:19,20

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Matthew 28:19,20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe

all that I commanded you.”

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Ephesians 4:11-12

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as

evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the

saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

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1 Thessalonians 3:2

“and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage

you as to your faith,”

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1 Thessalonians 5:12

“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you

instruction,”

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2 Timothy 2:2

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will

be able to teach others also.”

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Colossians 3:16

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your

hearts to God.”

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•Rebuke–James 5:19-20

“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him

back, [20] let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his

way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

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•Rebuke–1 Thessalonians 5:14

“We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted,

help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

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Matthew 18:15-17

“"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you

have won your brother. [16] "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with

you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. [17] "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile

and a tax collector.”

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Galatians 6:1

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual,

restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to

yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

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•Help with temptations–James 5:16

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective

prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

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•Help with temptations–1 Thessalonians 5:14

“We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted,

help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

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•Fellowship–Jesus desired that we care for one another•John 13:34

“"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I

have loved you, that you also love one another.”

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John 17:21-23

“that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may

believe that You sent Me. [22] "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are

one; [23] I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the

world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

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•Fellowship–The early church was concerned with & daily practiced fellowship with one another•Acts 2:42

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Acts 2:42

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of

bread and to prayer.”

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Acts 2:44-47

“And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

[45] and they began selling their property and possessions and were

sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. [46] Day by day continuing

with one mind in the temple, …”

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Acts 2:44-47

“…and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals

together with gladness and sincerity of heart, [47] praising God and having

favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day

those who were being saved.”

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Hear the Word of God

•Romans 10:17"So faith comes from hearing, and

hearing by the word of Christ."

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Believe and have Faith

•Romans 10:10"for with the heart a person believes,

resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in

salvation."•But faith alone isn’t enough

–James 2:14-18

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James 2:14-18

“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has

no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of

you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," …”

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James 2:14-18

“… and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is

that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But

someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you

my faith by my works.”

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Repent of your sins

•Acts 17:30-31“Therefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He

will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed,

having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

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Confess your faith in Jesus

•Romans 10:9"that if you confess with your mouth

Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the

dead, you will be saved;"

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Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many

will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, …”

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Matthew 7:21-23

“… and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many

miracles? 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'”

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Must be Baptized in His Name

•Acts 2:38"Peter said to them, "Repent, and each

of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of

your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

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Must be Baptized in His Name

•Mark 16:16"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who

has disbelieved shall be condemned."

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Continue Faithfully

•God does not expect perfection –Romans 3:23

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

•He just expects us to obey His will…–Romans 12:1

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Romans 12:1

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service

of worship."

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James 4:14

"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while

and then vanishes away."

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2 Peter 3:10

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up."

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Documents

1. Membership in a local church Acts 9:26-28 3 4 Acts 9:26-28 “ When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were