What is Church?: Raising the Bar

Matthew 16 16-19

Membership history

Name on roll means nothing

List of rules strictly enforced

Members rights (privileges) If I join, I get my way

Unchurched coming into church

Removing name used to be huge punishment

I. New trend in Christianity: Faithful to church but not a member

• I love Jesus

• I’m not bound by church rules

• Easy to leave if I’m not happy

II. Binding and setting free

• I Cor 12:18

• Ordinances: Baptism, Communion

• I Cor 5:5

• Matthew 18:17-18

• Local church approval

III. Commitment to membership

• This is where God has placed me

• Judgment seat of Christ

• I want to be in the flock

• Statistical probabilities