Church Info

• Welcome
• About Us
• History
• Times and
  Location
• Events

Study Aids

• Sermons
• Life Articles
• Church Articles
• Online Bible

• Email Us
• Links
• Home

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

Intro:

1. When we examine the N.T. we see that churches were set up in various localities; hence, we call them local churches.
   1. In the N.T. we see 16 such local churches named:
      1. At Jerusalem....Acts 2:5 ; 46-47 ; 15:1-4
      2. At Antioch....Acts 11:26
      3. At Corinth....Acts 18:8 ; I & II Corinthians.
      4. At Ephesus....Acts 19:1-5 ; Ephesians ; Rev. 3:1
   2. These are but four of the sixteen named in the N.T.
   3. We can see that some are rather large congregations such as Jerusalem....Acts 4:4 , while others are rather small, especially in the remote places....I Cor 16:19.
2. These local churches were well organized functioning unites.
   1. God did not organize the universal into a functioning unit.
   2. But left the work up to the individual local churches in any given area.
3. The question that I want to ask this morning is, "WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH?"
   1. Can I just worship at home? Could I just float from one congregation to another?
   2. I might have the right to start a new congregation in my home, but could I do this if there was a sound congregation nearby?
4. So it is of vital importance that we study the subject of what is my individual responsibility to the church!

Body:

1. FIRST OF ALL, ONE MUST BE PART OF A LOCAL CHURCH.
   1. Paul set for us this example....Acts 9:26-27 ; 11:26 ; Phil. 4:9.
      1. One does not join the church universal, he is added by God once he obeys...Acts 2:47 , but one needs to join a local congregation.
      2. Sometimes the decision we have to make is limited since there might just be one congregation, however whenever there are more than one group a decision has to be made as to which one we would work with.
   2. The decision should always be made upon the fact of...where am I needed the most?
2. ONE NEEDS TO WORSHIP WITH A SOUND GROUP, NOT AN APOSTATE GROUP.
   1. Not every group that call itself the "church of Christ" is the Lord's church!
      1. Note Rev. 2:14-15 ....what if you where worshipping with a group like this?
         1. One's action in this respect is to leave!
   2. If there is no sound group to be found then there is no other choice but to start one in your home.
3. ONE MUST MEET WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH TO PARTAKE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
   1. I Cor. 11:17-20, 33-34
      1. Some have made foot washing a church ordinance. They say it was done after the Lord instituted His supper, therefore it should be practiced today....John 13:1-5.
      2. However footwashing was never a part of the church as was the Lord's supper, but it was part of the hospitality shown by the home towards the guest.... I Tim. 1:9-10.
4. ONE MUST ADMONISH AND BE ADMONISHED.
   1. Heb. 10:24-25...."Let us consider one another....."
      1. We must provoke, motivate and stir up one another unto genuine love and unto diligence in doing good...vrs 24.
      2. vrs 25..."not forsaking the assembly" - it is impossible to "stir up one another when we are absent.
         1. By us willfully forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, we not only hurt ourselves but we also keep others from doing their responsibility in admonishing us.
      3. Do it even more "as we see the Day approaching". - this refers to either at the end of ones life, or of the Great Judgment Day...Rom 13:12 ; I Peter 4:7.
         1. When one gets older you start to realize how short it is till our life here is over.
         2. This is evident in ones attitude toward the work and worship of God.
   2. We admonish each other in son...Col 3:16 ; Eph 5:19.
      1. The question we need to ask ourselves is how came we admonish each other in song if we are not there.
   3. Therefore it is important for us to be in attendance if we are to fulfill this responsibility.
5. ONE MUST PROMOTE UNITY IN THE LOCAL CONGREGATION.
   1. One enters into the one body of christ through Baptism and obedience to His Will, but the question that needs to be raised is, "WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO BE IN THE ONE BODY AND NOT WANT TO PROMOTE UNITY?"
      1. Verses such as I Cor. 1:10-11 and Eph 4:2-3 apply to the local congregations.
      2. Therefore it is a responsibility of each and every member of the local congregation to strive to keep the unity of the peace.
   2. But how does one promote and motivate unity in a group?
      1. Respect the consciences of others in matters of personal conviction...Rom 14:1-4.
      2. Avoid envy and jealousy...Gal 5:19-21.
      3. Avoid gossiping...Gal 5:15.
         1. Realizing that Gossip is character assassination.
      4. Avoid foolish questions and contentious matters... Titus 3:9.
      5. Avoid clicks and divisions ....Titus 3:10 ; Rom 16:17
      6. Work for peace...Matt 5:9 ; Heb 12:14 : Rom 12:18.
      7. Learn to be humble...Rom 12:3 ; I Peter 5:5.
         1. This entails having to realize defeat, having to say I'm sorry and having to apologize even if I am in the right.
6. ONE MUST PROMOTE THE PURITY IN THE LOCAL CONGREGATION.
   1. I Cor. 5:6 ; Gal 5:9 ....both speak of the danger of a little leaven, leavening the whole lump.
   2. Christ died that the church might be pure...Eph 5:25-27.
   3. Nothing will aid the local congregation more than that of godly living of all the saints...(not some new building, or some easy man made gimmick) ...just simple godly living.
   4. Christians ought to have purity of speech...Eph 4:29 ; purity of deeds...Eph 5:3-5 ; and purity of thought... II Cor 10:5
   5. In order that the church keeps itself pure, discipline must be practiced....I Cor. 5:4-5 ; Matt 18:15-17 ; Rev 2:14-16.
      1. Each and every member is responsible in these matters.
7. ONE MUST LAY BY IN STORE AND SEE THAT THE FUNDS ARE USED CORRECTLY.
   1. I Cor 16:1-2...shows that each individual congregation is to have there own and separate treasury.
      1. The concept that we are to have is...I am to give and when I do give, that money is dedicated to the Lord and is no longer MINE!
   2. Each one has the responsibility to see that the Lord's money is used in accord with what His will is.
      1. support evangelism....Phil 4:15 ; II Cor 11:8-9.
      2. relieve widows indeed ...I Tim 5:16
      3. Enroll older widows....I Tim 5:9-10.
      4. support of the elders...I Tim 5:17
8. ONE MUST ENCOURAGE LOVE AMONGST THE MEMBERS.
   1. Heb 10:24-25 ; I Thess 3:10 ; 4:9-10
   2. I Peter 1:22 ; 4:8 ; Col 3:4 ; 2:2 ; John 13:34-35.
   3. All these verses show how important a responsibility I have of encouraging love for one another.
   4. The church should be a place of peace and love.
      1. There is much turmoil in the world, but in God's family there should only be love.
      2. When we bring visitors they can feel the tension that exists between members, is there any wonder then that they do not want any part of the group.
   5. If each encourages peace and love there will be no room for conflict and bitterness.

Concl:

1. All us have responsibilities in the local congregation!
   1. We should be loyal to Christ and the responsibilities that he has given to me. We are to function as a Unit and as God would have us but this is only possible if we all do our part.
2. Every member is to supply his part...Eph 4:16; I Cor 12:20-27.
3. Are you doing your part or have you failed not only your God but also his family..