1) Meaningful church membership is necessary because of the diversity of gifts (vs 11)
2) Meaningful church membership is necessary for equipping believers for ministry (vs 12)
3) Meaningful church membership is necessary for preserving the faith (vs 13-14)
4) Meaningful church membership is necessary for the church to work properly (vs 15-16)
What does this mean for the church?
-Clarity of who is a member
-Process for interviewing professions of faith and membership requests
-Congregational authority
-Commitment to encourage members in their faith
-Accountability and encouragement for members to follow Christ
What does this mean for me?
1) The members of a church should be regular attenders
2) Members view the church as their primary context for fellowship and ministry.
3) The members of a church should have certain biblical privileges and responsibilities
-pray for the church
-be in transparent relationships with other church members in which they care for, encourage, rebuke. teach, and learn from each other (Eph. 4:15-16)
-submit to the church's leadership and teaching (Heb. 13:17)
-promote unity in the body (Eph. 4:3)
-Financially support the church's ministry (Gal. 6:6)
-use the spiritual gifts to build up the body however they can (1 Cor. 12:7)