Steps of Faith: Following Christ Together into Church Membership
Multitude members in Gardners, PA, taking one step at a time towards Church Membership at Grace Bible Chapel. Sessions cover Salvation, Structure, Statements, and Strategy. Emphasis on growth through Bible preaching, fellowship, persecution, and fear of the Lord.
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Steps of Faith Multitude Member Following Christ together ... one step at a time ... into Church Membership Grace Bible Chapel Gardners, PA
Our Salvation (Session 1) Our Structure (Session 2) Our Statements (Session 3) Purpose Statement Doctrinal Statement Church Covenant
Session Four - Our Strategy Do not be afraid; but speak and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many peoplein this city. Acts 18:9,10 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. John 15:16 If we are committed to glorifying the Father individually and as a church, then we will want to follow the qualities of the early churchfound in the Bible. With God s help and our faithfulness, fruit will be produced in God s timing.
1. GROWTH FOLLOWS BIBLE PREACHING With many other words Peter testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation . Then those who gladly received his word were baptized: and that about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:40,41 God uses the Bible to reach and change people. As you personally come to worship God, come with a humble heart ready to obey God. And when you pray, ask God to use the preaching and teaching of His Word in the lives of many more here in Gardners.
2. GROWTH FOLLOWS FELLOWSHIP Continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46,47 When people really love the Lord and others, it shows beyond the times spent together in the church building. God s love is contagious, and according to Jesus, is what earmarks His disciples.
3. GROWTH FOLLOWS PERSECUTION And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.Acts 4:3,4 Persecution comes in many forms other than going to jail (such as ridicule, misunderstanding, rejection). God is free to bless people and churches who are not ashamed of Him, despite the cost.
4. GROWTH FOLLOWS FEAR OF THE LORD Great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things(God s dealing with blatant liars in the church) ... And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.Acts 5:11-14 When there is a seriousness about pleasing God and avoiding sin, God can bless. Ask God to keep us from being hypocrites.
5. GROWTH FOLLOWS TEAMWORK They set (Deacons)before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.Acts 6:6,7 As a new member of GBC, look around for ways you can serve others. God will use your abilities and strengths as you purpose to be available, dependable, and teachable. We need each other!
6. GROWTH FOLLOWS COSTLY COMMITMENT Many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed. Acts 19:19,20 Don t let old habits hinder God s working. If there are sinful things in our lives, we must confess them to God and ask Him to help us make a clean break, no matter the personal cost.
Christian Unity at GBC Unity in any church is a very valuable commodity. Jesus Christ, while ministering on earth, prayed for a oneness among all who followed Him then and now. I pray, not for these alone, but for those also which will believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, are in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us. John 17:20,21
This kind of onenessdoesnt just happen naturally. It comes when people have certain foundational things in common. A Common Descent - SALVATION Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters) to dwell together in unity!Psalm 133:1
A Common Descent - SALVATION A Common Denominator - SCRIPTURE All the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. Exodus 19:8
A Common Descent - SALVATION A Common Denominator - SCRIPTURE A Common Dignity - SIGNIFICANCE God has set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him. I Cor 12:18
A Common Descent - SALVATION A Common Denominator - SCRIPTURE A Common Dignity - SIGNIFICANCE Some Common Dates - SERVICES O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3
A Common Descent - SALVATION A Common Denominator - SCRIPTURE A Common Dignity - SIGNIFICANCE Some Common Dates - SERVICES Avoid a Common Danger - SLANDER/GOSSIP An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends.Prov. 16:27,28 Gossip = Sharing hurtful information with someone who is not part of the problem, or of the solution.
A Common Direction - STEPS of FAITH These all continued with one accord. (Acts 1:14) They were all with one accord in one place. (Acts 2:1) They lifted up their voice to God with one accord. (Acts 4:24) The people with one accordgave heed. (Acts 8:6) Being assembled with one accord... (Acts 15:25)
Steps of Faith Maturing Missions Multitude Member Ministering Following Christ together ... one step at a time.
Our desire at GBC is to help people come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior, and then to grow in their walk with the Lord and each other. These four basic areas of commitment move us forward together: 1. MEMBERSHIP calls for a commitment to Jesus Christ and to GBC . Those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about 3,000 souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:41,42
2. MATURING calls for a commitment to the HABITS necessary for growing spiritually. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.II Peter 3:18 3. MINISTERING calls for a commitment to uncover, develop, and use the abilities and gifts God has given to SERVE Him and others. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God I Peter 4:10
4. MISSIONS calls for a commitment to spread the GOODNEWS of God s saving grace through praying, giving, and serving regardless of where that leads or what it costs. Then Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Mark 1:17 As much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel ... For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Romans 1:15,16
WHY HAVE COMMITMENTS? WE BECOME WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER The difference between ATTENDERS and MEMBERS can be summed up in one word: COMMITTMENT .
We ask you to commit to formal membership for 4 reasons: Biblical Reason: It is the local Body of Christ. ... Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. Ephesians 5:25b
Cultural Reason: It is an antidote to our society. We live at a time when very few want to be committed to anything... a job... a marriage... our country. This attitude has even produced a generation of church shoppers and hoppers . Membership swims against the current of America s consumer religion . It is an unselfish decision. Commitment always builds character.
Practical Reason It defines who can be counted on. Every army has an enlistment. Every team has a roster. Even our country takes a census and requires voter registration. Membership identifies our church family.
Personal Reason It produces spiritual growth. The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. You cannot be consistently helped or help others to grow closer to the Lord when you are not committed to any specific church family.
What is expected of me as a member? At Grace Bible Chapel we never ask our members to do more than the Bible clearly teaches. Our Church Covenant and Doctrine Statement spell out the kinds of things we know God wants us to believe and do individually and as a church family.
WHAT NOW? - Prayerfully consider if you are ready to return the membership questionnaire & sign the Membership Commitment .
MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT In simple faith I have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and identify with Him publicly in believers baptism. It is my desire to become a member of Grace Bible Chapel, and a supporter of its biblical structure, statements, and strategy. I commit myself to God and to the other church members for:
MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT Regular Church attendance (Psalm 122:1) Regular participation in the Lord's Supper. (I Corinthians 11:28) Continued growth together in ministry & missions. (Colossians 2:6,7) Signed ___________________ Date _________
WHAT NOW? - March 4 (M), 6 (W) or 9 (Sa) - Meet w/ Pastor & Deacons to share salvation testimonies and ask and answer any questions. - 10 (Su) - Baptisms at the end of the 10:30 Service. - 17 (Su) - Salvation Testimonies & Membership Requests to the Congregation during the 10:30 AM Service.
- The congregation will respond to your testimony and the Deacons recommendation by voting. - We will enjoy singing your Favorite Hymns. - Continue taking Steps of Faith . Multitude Maturity Missions Member Ministry
