Posts Tagged ‘membership’
Should I leave a congregation with no elders for one that has elders?
Question: I worship at a church of Christ that has no elders. There are qualified men who do not desire the office. There is a sound church of Christ nearby that has elders. Am I putting my salvation in jeopardy? Should I move my membership? My desire is to be pleasing to God. Answer: By…
Read MoreWe have concerns about the local church and there are no other churches nearby. Is it biblical to study at home?
Question: There is one local church of Christ where I live. My family has been a part of this church in the past; however, due to great conflict and many issues surrounding this one church, my family decided that we were best not to attend there. No, we did not vocalize our concerns to anyone…
Read MoreCan you choose the wrong church to attend as a Christian?
Question: Dear sirs, I thank you for your site. It has been a great source of information as a new believer. Although I always considered myself a Christian, I never truly understood its true meaning until starting and completing, cover-to-cover for the first time, the Bible last year culminating in accepting Christ as my Savior…
Read MoreIs membership in a local church essential?
Question: As always, love your dedication to the Lord and the time you take to answer so many questions. I come to your site often. It is one of my favorite resources! In regards to the recent post: Should a divisive non-member be told not to come to worship? One point that has been on my mind lately is regarding…
Read MoreTerms of Membership
by Irven Lee Truth Magazine – January 3, 1980 The Lord built His church and paid for it with His blood. He is its head and has all authority in it. It is not my church, your church, or our church. It is not ours to plan its mission or work, nor do we enter it…
Read MoreWould it be a sin to worship in a congregation where the elders are not correct?
Question: Would it be a sin to worship in a congregation where the elders are not correct (I Corinthians 5:11)? Answer: “Not correct” is too vague. Not correct by who’s standard? If anyone is in sin, then what have you done to rescue them? To point fingers but to seek no restoration is to hate…
Read MoreIf a congregation retains an elder who is a widower, should we leave?
Question: We’re conducting a class in which we’re going over the basics of Christianity and just last night, we started discussing the qualifications of elders and deacons. I almost fell out of my seat when our minister stated it’s OK for an elder to keep on serving after his wife dies or passes on. Both…
Read MoreHow do you get added to Jesus Christ’s church?
Question: How do you get added to Jesus Christ’s church? Answer: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. … So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and…
Read MoreI just realized that the church I grew up in is getting old. Is there something I can do?
Question: Hi Brother Hamilton, I’ve been thinking a lot about moving back home to try to build my home congregation back up. I’m currently going to school, not in the area, and this summer break has really been a wake-up call. My congregation is scantly populated by mostly grey-haired people. I love everyone with grey…
Read MoreWhile my parents call themselves Christian, they don’t go to a church. How can I do?
Question: My parents both identify as Christians, Mom more so than Dad, but neither has been to church in years. I have attended independently since high school. While my father and younger brother were away, my mother confided in me that she would like to find a local church to attend, but that my father…
Read MoreCan you join the church?
Question: I do appreciate the sermon outlines but figured this was an oversight that could stand some tweaking. In Why Are There Denominations? V. “Join the church of your choice” is a foolish idea A. It is advocating pleasing self. B. We need to join the church of God’s choice. We cannot “join” but we can be added to…
Read MoreShould I leave a church that is not withdrawing from sinful members?
Question: Dear Sir, I belong to a church of Christ that is sound in its teaching. I enjoy worshiping God there and the people are loving and kind. The problem I have is that we have leaders who are too kind to take a real stand to correct people who are in error to the…
Read MoreEvery Christian is Necessary
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/EveryChristianIsNecessary.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Read MoreWhat if you feel that a particular church is not suitable for you?
Question: What are the suggestions if one cannot afford monetarily to attend church, or feels that a particular church is not suitable for him? If he does private bible study, is this enough? Does he have to go through the baptism ceremony? If a Christian continues to study other religions and philosophies, is this against…
Read MoreCan I be a Christian and not go to church?
Question: Is it wrong to feel like as long as you keep God in your head, and you do right, and all you listen to is Christian music, and you talk to Him on a regular basis, to not go to church? It’s just that church is a place I don’t feel like I fit…
Read MoreMust a person formally place membership with a local church before they participate in the work?
Question: What are your thoughts regarding “placing membership” with a local congregation? I understand the biblical authority for someone working under the oversight of the elders of a congregation. If someone has been attending a congregation regularly for a period of time, can it be assumed they wish to work under the oversight of the…
Read MoreShould people be checked out before accepting them in a congregation?
Question: I believe that there is a certain amount of due diligence necessary when a person, a couple, or a family move into the area and want to become members of a local congregation of the Lord’s church. What do you recommend? What do you do? One scripture that comes to mind is II John…
Read MoreMy congregation is becoming more unscriptural. Should I find another one?
Question: My home congregation is slowly beginning to make some unscriptural moves. I have been told by another gospel preacher that my home congregation has a bad reputation. Our evangelist holds an erroneous view on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. He believes that Christ’s covenant is for Christians only and that since an alien sinner didn’t…
Read MoreShould I stay with a church that isn’t great but appears to be growing?
Question: Is it OK to stay with a church if you see God changing it and you yourself are helping that change? I was just wondering. There are a lot of downfalls at my church, but things have been looking better, not always just there. It is starting to get out of the state of…
Read MoreIs membership in a local congregation necessary for salvation?
Question: First of all, I want to say that I do like your site and the good information it provides. However, while reading “Christians Without Churches?” I came across the following statement: “Is it possible for a Christian to be part of the “universal” church without being identified with a local church? The Scriptures give…
Read MoreHow can you be in a church when there isn’t one in your area?
Question: I am a Christian from the United States and I’m living in India. I have suffered a lot of abuse in the church in my life – yes, clear abuse and other things. Anyway, I do believe I need to be with other Christians, but I’m really praying and seeking to find out in…
Read MoreWhy do some believe you have to be a part of some building to enter heaven?
Question: This is the first that I have seen, but I am sure there more, Church of Christ site that actually says the Church of Christ is a “Way of Life” and not a particular building. Why do some believe it is the building you need to be a member of to enter Heaven? Answer:…
Read MoreWhat kind of questions should I ask the elders before joining a church?
Question: I think that I have found a church where I would like to worship. But first, I think that I should have a meeting with the elders before I place my membership there. I was wondering what questions I should ask the elders to make sure that they and the church are following the pattern of a…
Read MoreDevaluing the Local Church
by Glen Young via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 25, June 22, 2008. The local church occupies an important position in God’s scheme of things. It is through the local church that Christians execute certain works. These are works that God commands that can only be accomplished as a group in the context of a local…
Read MoreShould a person leave a church that doesn’t have elders or deacons?
Question: How long should a person attend a church that does not have any elders or deacons? What are some of the problems associated with a church not having any elders or deacons? Answer: The follow-on question is: Are there no elders because none one currently attending is qualified, or are there no elders because the…
Read MoreChristians Without Churches?
by Ethan R. Longhenry Over the past few years, a trend has increased among people, especially Americans: the idea that people can be good Christians without being part of a church. Many people will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord, but yet want nothing to do with any church. This attitude fits with…
Read MoreDoes the Bible teach that you don’t have to congregate to go to heaven?
Question: A good friend and fellow sister in Christ called last night to tell me about a conversation she’d had with a few co-workers. One guy said that, although he didn’t know where, he knew the Bible said you ‘don’t have to congregate to go to heaven.’ A woman said someone had once told her…
Read MoreWhat are the requirements for joining the church there and what are the requirements for getting married there?
Question: My fiance and I are looking for a Church of Christ to join in your area. We were wondering if you could give us some information about requirements for joining your congregation and also any rules, regulations, and information about getting married in your church as we’re looking to get married next year. Thank…
Read MoreDo you have to join a church?
Question: I would like to know do you believe in having to join to be a member of the “Church of Christ”? Answer: This question only becomes difficult to answer in that I don’t know if you understand the way the New Testament uses the concept of “church.” “Church” is used in two senses. One…
Read MoreShould I worship with a group that I think is teaching error in order to teach them the truth?
Question: It is only proper to first introduce myself. I am a 19-year-old guy and I live in the Philippines. I have been surfing your web site for almost half a year now (although not very often) and have in fact asked you probably less than five questions. Dear sir, I quite appreciate your labor…
Read MoreCan a church consist of just one person?
Question: Can a church consist of just one person? Answer: A church is an entity separate and distinguishable from a single individual Christian. This can be seen in the separation of responsibility seen in I Timothy 5:16, “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be…
Read MoreHow does a disfellowshiped Christian worship God?
Question: If a person is disfellowshiped at a congregation, then how can that person biblically worship God? How does a person know that they have been disfellowshiped? Today’s churches seem to practice no visible discipline, but many are treated as if they have been disfellowshiped. It seems the decision is made in secret among the…
Read MoreWhy I am a Member of the Church of Christ
by Irvin Himmel via The Voice of West End, Vol. 5, No. 23, Feb. 16, 1964. People have offered a variety of reasons for their religious connections. I am here to present my reasons for being a member of the church of Christ; but, first, some negative thoughts: Not because of wealth The Roman Catholic Church…
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