Most people want to belong.•Organization.•Group.•Club.

Thousands of $

WorthyUnworthy

Discriminate

Charter

One group to which all ought to belong.•No payment to join.•No discrimination, Gal. 3:26, 27•No man-made charter, Col. 3:17•Worthy goals, Mk. 16:15, 16•Membership controlled by God.•Best of companions.

Those who call on the Lord, Acts 2:16-21

•Saints, 1 Cor. 1:2•Heirs, 1 Pt. 1:2-5•Priests, 1 Pt. 2:9, 10

Membership is not determined by:•Money, 1 Pt. 1:18, 19•Decree of man, Col. 2:8•Associating with a local church.

Membership is determined by the Lord, Acts 2:47

•Call on the Lord, Acts 2:16-21·Believe, Acts 2:22-35; Rom. 10:8-13·What shall we do, Acts 2:37, 38; 9:4-6; 22:12-16·Added to the church, Acts 2:41, 47

Membership is determined by the Lord, Acts 2:47

•Logical order:·Hear, Acts 2:14; Rom. 10:17·Believe, Rom. 10:8-13·Repent, Acts 2:38·Confess, Rom. 10:8-13·Be baptized, Acts 2:38

Membership brings obligations.•Live faithfully, Lk. 9:23•Pray, 1 Thes. 5:17•Grow, 2 Pt. 3:18•Example, 1 Tim. 4:12•Teach, Acts 8:4

Ideally: the faithful, Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1, 2; 1 Thes. 1:1; Gal. 1:1

•Geographical.•Autonomous, 1 Pt. 5:1-4; Phil. 1:1

Membership is not by:•Baptism.•Family association.•Association with friends.•Assumption.•Attendance.

Membership is by mutual agreement, Acts 9:26-28•Join: kollao (Thayer).

·“to glue, glue to, glue together, cement, fasten together.”·“…to join or fasten firmly together.”·“…to join one’s self to, cleave to.”

Membership is by mutual agreement,Acts 9:26-28

•Process.·Paul made an effort, 9:26·Church inquired, 9:27; 20:28-32·Being found faithful, mutual agreement was reached, 9:27·Paul worked with the church, 9:28

Membership brings obligations.•Attendance, Heb. 10:24, 25•Contribution, 1 Cor. 16:1, 2•Respect, 1 Thes. 5:12, 13•Submission, Heb. 13:7, 17•Exhortation & rebuke, 1 Thes. 5:14•Discipline, 2 Thes. 3:6-15

Most people want to belong.•Organization.•Group.•Club.

Thousands of $

WorthyUnworthy

Discriminate

Charter

One group to which all ought to belong.•No payment to join.•No discrimination, Gal. 3:26, 27•No man-made charter, Col. 3:17•Worthy goals, Mk. 16:15, 16•Membership controlled by God.•Best of companions.