Membership

I.         Becoming a Christian puts you into the church in the universal sense - Acts 2:47

            A.        Calling yourself a Christian doesn’t mean you are - Acts 19:1-7

            B.        Teaching the gospel doesn’t mean you are faithful - Philippians 1:16-17

II.        God wants us to be with other Christians

            A.        Acts 9:26 - Paul tried to join the brethren in Jerusalem

            B.        Hebrews 10:24-25 - Stirring up each other

                        1.         In their case they were losing ground because of persecution and not enduring - Hebrews 10:32-39

III.       Care that we are not supporting error

            A.         I Timothy 5:21-22

            B.        No ties with unbelievers - II Corinthians 6:14-7:1

            C.        Don’t share in sins - Ephesians 5:6-11

IV.      Churches can limit membership

            A.        Ideally membership should be of those in the universal church

            B.        Acts 9:26-29 - Mistaken exclusion

            C.        III John 9-10 - Improper exclusion

            D.        I Corinthians 5:1-2 - Improper inclusion

V.        Letters of Introduction

            A.        Personal Introductions

                        1.         Romans 16:1-2

                        2.         I Corinthians 16:10-11

                        3.         II Corinthians 8:23

                        4.         Ephesians 6:21

                        5.         Philippians 2:19-23

                        6.         Philippians 2:25-30

                        7.         III John 12

                        8.         Colossians 4:7-9

            B.        Introductions by churches

                        1.         I Corinthians 16:3 - Corinth introducing couriers

            C.        Personal Warnings

                        1.         I Timothy 1:19-20

                        2.         II Timothy 1:15

                        3.         II Timothy 4:14-15