Neh 8:8; 2 Tim 4:1-2
Expository preaching

I Timothy 3:1-15
Biblically qualified leadership

Ephesians 4:11-16
A focus on spiritual growth and discipleship

I Corinthians 12:12-27
Healthy fellowship and one-another ministry

Matt 28:19-20
A clear Gospel preached and an emphasis on evangelism and missions

Rom 12:2
Separation from sin and worldliness taught and lived

Church Life

The practice of belonging and participating in a local church can be summed up in five stages: finding, joining, learning, serving, leading.

Memory Verse

I Tim 3:15

Joining a Church

Why should you seek to join a Biblical local church?

I Corinthians 12 makes it clear that your association with a local church is not to be a sporadic, independent one, but a living, interdependent relationship of belonging. By becoming a member of a local church, you publicly verify your testimony of salvation, making your commitment to that church public and therefore calling on others to hold you accountable. You make a covenant of sorts – promising faithfulness and letting the undershepherds know that you count yourself amongst those requiring discipleship. You also call on the body to minister to you.

Consider these Scriptures and discuss the difference between a member and an attendee. What are the key roles of a church member?
Eph 4:11-12; Matthew 28:20; Heb 10:25

Acts 5:13-14, I Cor 5, compare 2 Cor 2:6; Romans 16:1-2

Learning

The Lord has given ‘pastor-teachers for the equipping of the saints’. Your first priority is to submit to the Word of God as it is taught. You are to learn and observe, taking in the Word in the context of a community of obedient believers. This implies regular attendance – so as to be present whenever the Word is declared.

Eph 4:12; I Peter 4:10-11

Serving

The equipping of individual believers takes place ‘for the work of the ministry’. As you grow in grace and in knowledge, you seek to serve other Christians. The New Testament gives over 28 ‘one another commands’ which teach us how to serve each other. As you seek to love the other believers in a local church – God will empower the spiritual gifts He has given you.

2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:3-4

Leading

As your growth continues, you will reach the point where you are responsible for teaching and training others in their Christian life.

Finding a Church

In whatever area God places you, you should seek out a biblical local church. A biblical local church is one where born again believers regularly gather under the headship of Jesus Christ to hear and carry out His Word. Along those lines, some of the things you should look for are:

• Serious worship, in awe and reverence of God
  Heb 12:28-29, Ps 2:11