Membership has both:Privileges

&Obligations

• Acts 8:1 “church at Jerusalem”• Acts 13:1 “church at Antioch”• 1 Corinthians 1:2 “church at

Corinth”• Galatians 1:2 “churches of

Galatia”

• Necessary to Worship-–Giving 1 Corinthians 16:1,2–Singing Colossians 3:16–Lord’s Supper Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians

11:18,33• Elders Appointed-–Acts 14:23; 20:28–1 Peter 5:1,2

• Necessary to Accomplish the Work-–Without it:–Needy Saints neglected 1 Corinthians 16:1,2– Paul not Supported Philippians 4:15– Paul & Barnabas not taught in Antioch Acts

11:26–HOW would you teach the lost, support

preachers, help needy saints & edify Christians without LOCAL CONGREGATION?

• Necessary to Accomplish the Work-– Paul told the church at Corinth HOW to DO

the work– 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 “1 Now concerning the

collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

• “One Another” Passages Demand It-– 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 “comfort each other

& edify one another”

• If No Local Church – Some Passages would look Ridiculous–Hebrews 10:25 “assembling of ourselves

together”– 1 Corinthians 11:26-34 “when you come

together to eat”

• Christians were Members of Specific Local Congregations-–Romans 16:1,2 – Phoebe of

Cenchrea–Philippians 2:25 – Epaphroditus of

Philippi–Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras of

Colosee

• Where Christians Enjoy Fellowship–What does it mean to have

fellowship?–Acts 2:41,42 - “the share which one has

in anything, a participation”–Paul’s Example – Acts 9:26; Matthew

19:5; Acts 9:19–Wanting to “associate, participate”–Willing to agree to work with them–Puts many today to shame!

• 2 Corinthians 6:14 – fellowship in the negative sense.• Righteousness has NOTHING IN

COMMON WITH LAWLESSNESS!• Ephesians 5:11 – no fellowship, no

agreement, no common interest and no participation with EVIL!

• Christians have the Most in Common:–Same relationship with Christ 1

Corinthians 1:9–Have all accepted & been called by

the same gospel 2 Thessalonians 2:14–All share a common salvation Jude 3

Do you consider yourself having more in common with the members of this congregation than physical family, co-

workers, co-enthusiasts in a hobby, neighbors, friends?

I only have Fellowship to the extent the I ‘participate.’ Philippians 4:15; 1:5; 2 Corinthians 8:4I have no Fellowship in evil, when I do not agree with or participate in evil! Ephesians 5:11“Fellow workers” Romans 16:21; 3 John 8Could someone call you a ‘fellow worker?’

Do You Have Fellowship? Are You a Member?I have fellowship in the common activities of the local church only to the extent that I actually participate in them.Does this express your attitude? Psalm 119:63; John 17:20,21

Goals of the Congregation are My GoalsWork of the church here is My workActivities of the church are My activitiesMeeting Times of the congregation are My meeting times