Outline taken from the book, I Am a Church Member by Thom S. Rainer. (C. 2013; B & H Books) Taken from the pages 11-16.

Text: I Corinthians 12:27-28 and Others Title: "Membership Means..

Book: IAm a Church Member by Thom S Rainer (C. 2013: B & H Books)

Introduction

I. I Corinthians 12:27-28 = Now vou are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

II. "This is my church, so you have to play the music just the way I want it."

"Look pastor, you need to remember who pays your salary,"

"If you don't do this program, 'll withhold my check to the church."

"I've been a member of this church for over thirty years, so I have a right to get what I want."

"I don't pay good money to this church to listen to sermons that long."

Those unfortunately typical comments come from members of churches who

have an unbiblical view of membership

Their view of membership is more aligned with country club membership. For them, membership is about receiving instead of giving, being served instead of serving, rights instead of responsibilities. and entitlements instead of sacrifices. This wrongful view of membership sees the tithes and offerings as membership dues

that entitle members to a never-ending list of privileges and expectations. instead of an unconditional cheerful gift to God.

Body

MEMBERSHIP MEANS..

1. We Are All Necessary Parts of the Whole (1 Corinthians 12:12)

A. There are a number of places in the

New Testament where we can see a clear picture of church membership, One of the more lengthy sections is 1 Corinthians 12 to 14. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains the

metaphor of the church being a body with many members. In 1Corinthians 13. he established love as the central attitude and action all members should have. And in 1

Corinthians 14. he returns to the messed-up church at Corinth that has the concept of membership all wrong

B. Some church leaders and members

view membership as a modern business or organizational concept. So the reiect the label of Membership' as unbiblical. Membership, to the contrary, is very

biblical. The Bible explains "members" differently than secular culture. For example. look at the term in 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 'Now you are the body of Christ

and individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church." Do you get the difference? Members of a church comprise the whole and are essential parts of it The apostle Paul would carry the

body metaphor further and explain that members are individual parts of the body. Some are eyes, others are ears. Some are feet. still others are hands. That is why he concludes: 'For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many are one body-so also is Christ" (1 Cor. 12:12)

2. We Are different but We Still Work

Together (1 Corinthians 12:26)

A. If one part suffers, every part suffers withitiftone partis honored, every part rejoices with it.

B. WVith a country club membership you pay others to do the work for you. With church membership, everyone has a role or function. That is why some are hands, feet, ears, or eyes. We are all different but we are necessary parts of the whole. Each part, therefore, has to do its work, or the whole body suffers. There is a beautiful diversity in the midst of unity in church membership. The Bible makes it clear that if one part does not do its iob, the whole body does not function well. But if one part does its iob well, the whole body rejoices and is stronger.

3. Everything We Say and Do is Based on a

Biblical Foundation of Love (1Corinthians 13:4-5)

A. Most Bible readers will speak glowingly of 1 Corinthians 13, commonly known as "the love chapter.' It is read at weddings. It is used for a husband to declare his love for a wife. or vice versa. It is preached to demonstrate a fuller meaning of agape or unconditiona love.

B. While there is nothing wrong with

using the love chapter in these contexts, its original meaning was to demonstrate how church members relate one to another. Can you imagine I Corinthians 13 being read at a hostile church meeting? In its full biblical context that might be the best place to read it. If we could just abide by the principles of the love chapter, we would have completely healthy churches. It would be a revolution!

C. Just look at some of the relational

principles of 1 Corinthians 13. "Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful. Is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. (VV. 4-5). The principles of these two verses alone are sufficient cause a revival in most churches.

D. We are not to love fellow church members just because they are lovable. We are to love the unlovable as well. We are not to pray for and encourage our leaders iust when they are doing things we like. We are to pray for and encourage them when they do things we don't like. We are not to serve the church only when others are joining in. We are to serve the church even if we are alone in doing so. Church membership is founded on love, Authentic, Biblical, unconditional love

E. "The local church should reflect the

truth about God. If it is divided. it teaches evervone that Christ is divided. If love does not mark your church, then it may attract spiritual hobbyists who like to play at religion, but not people of Christian love who will inconvenience themselves for others. " ~ Mark Dever

4. Church Membership is Functioning

Membership (1 Corinthians 12:12-26.)

A. Do you know how to remain a

member of a country club! Pay your

dues. Do that and people will be

available to serve you. Do you

know how to remain a biblical

member of a church? Give without abundantly and serve hesitation.

B. Sure, you can remain on the rolls of

many churches and never show up

or give. You can remain an "active"

member in other churches by being

a CEO Christian: Christmas and

Easter Only. You can even be a

revered member in a number of

churches by giving a nice sum in

the church each year, even though

you never lift a finger in service or

ministry. But please understand.

That type of membership is not

biblical membership. That approach

to membership is man-made,

man-centered, and man-maintained.

It is totally contrary to what the

Bible teaches. It has no place in our

churches.

C. Biblical church membership gives

without qualification, Biblical membership views the tithes and offerings as joyous giving. There are no strings attached. Biblical church membership serves and ministers as a natural way of doing things. Biblical church membership is functioning membership

D. Again, let's return to 1 Corinthians 12 to grasp this concept more fully. When Paul was using the metaphor of the body to speak of the church, he did so for two primary reasons. First, the body is a unified whole. Likewise, the church is to be unified in its mission, purposes, ministries. and activities. Second, the body is not only unified, it is made up of many parts. Think about the parts noted in I Corinthians 12:12-26: The foot: The hand: The ear: The eye; The nose (at least indirectly by referring to the sense of smell) Each of these parts is supposed to function. The foot is to walk. The hand is to grasp and hold, The ear is to hear. The eye is to see. The nose is to smell.

E. We who are church members are all supposed to function in the church The concept of an inactive church member is an oxvmoron. Biblically. no such church member really exists. Such is the reason we are exhorted to know our gifts and abilities. so we can use them best to serve the church for the glory of God. The fact that there is so much diversity in our church is our strength. Everyone has a function. Everyone should be functioning. Everyone should have a role.