The ACTmosphere of the Church pt. 1

Monuments help us remember something or someone significant from our past. But is it possible for churches to be monuments, something that just honors the past? Jesus' church isn't supposed to just honor past accomplishments, it is to be alive and active in the present and the future.

Country clubs are for paying members. They pay a lot to be members at their club and they expect great service and to be catered to as they enjoy all the benefits of membership. But the church doesn't work that way. If it did, it wouldn't be worth it. In this lesson we'll study the purpose of the church and what it means to be a member.

Gym advertisements show people working out who are already in great shape. But when we go to the gym, we see a different picture. The people there aren't in perfect shape. The same is true with the church. Often we go to church thinking it's perfect, but after a while we realize it's not. The truth is, it won't be because people are there. But this is an opportunity for God to use you to make things better by digging in and serving.

This might sound like a strange question to ask. We like easy. A man asked Jesus about how to inherit eternal life and went down a check list of all he had done. But when Jesus told him he lacked one thing, the man turned away sad because what Jesus had said he needed to do wasn't easy. The man wanted easy religion. Much of Christianity today is watered down to make it easily acceptable to people. But church isn't a hotel where it caters to your comfort. It's a home base for gathering to worship and equip us to do God's work in the world.

When a person becomes a Christian, God adds them to his church. But what does that mean? When we're added to the body of Christ, it means I have a place where I belong, a family I belong to and work I need to do.

There are two basic views of baptism. Either it's important, but not necessary for salvation, or it is necessary for salvation. We'll look at what the Bible says about baptism and what baptism does. We'll also think about how to know when a person is ready to be baptized.

Repenting and confessing play an important role in becoming a Christian. When a person is truly convicted by the gospel message, repentance and confession are natural responses. But, do we just do them once when first becoming a Christian? In this lesson we'll study what the Bible teaches about each.

What's the first thing that has to happen for a person to become a Christian? They need to hear about Jesus. Then, after they hear, they must decide if they believe the news about him. Hearing and believing are fundamental to Christianity and we'll study what the Bible says about them.