Hebrews 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5; Eph. 4:11-16 – Church Membership (1) – Sermon Outline
Intro: Christ has constructed His Church to assemble together in local groups with ordained Elders.
Need: Church government is hardly understood in the Church today, and many so-called churches no longer have membership, and many who claim to be Christians refuse to join as members either due to bad experiences in previous churches, conviction that membership is unbelief, or simple un-submissiveness. The issue is very serious and the Church is on the brink of losing her form and identity due to disobedience.
Theme: God commands His people to submit to Elders who shepherd their souls, and holds those ruling Elders accountable for how well they shepherd His sheep.
The Biblical Worldview: Creation, Fall, Redemption in Christ.
God initiates redemption, bringing us to repentance and faith (justification) and then growing us in faith and good works (sanctification) until He returns (glorification).
Baptism initiates one into the visible church, but when joining a different local/particular church, submission to the Eldership of the church must be officially formalized.
There are very few righteous grounds for members leaving their particular/local church, or for Elders to leave the flock God has called them to shepherd.
