Conversation: Adam, Brian, Reese,

RECAP PREVIOUS WEEKS CONTENT:

Vision

How God’s wired you and how we fit together

DNA, Beliefs, Government

Opening - Why Membership? - Reese

This is not comprehensive, but this is a great snapshot of what NT church looks like.

• Acts 2 - 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (ALIGN) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together (ATTEND) and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need (GIVE). 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

  • When God saves you, he adds you to the church. It’s on you to partner with that reality.
  • NT Christians we’re devoted to scripture and doctrine (alignment)
  • They ate house to house AND went to church (temple) - a commitment to “religious duty” from a posture of worship not bland obligation. (attend)
  • We see NT precedent for sacrificial generosity BEYOND the tithe. (give)
  • All of this is in the spirit of contribution (serve) to the Church.

• Membership is about making the move from being a passive consumer to being a committed contributor.

• The NT describes the “priesthood of the believer”… Christians aren’t passive recipients of church (seeker/consumer model) - we are active facilitators of worship and builders of the church through serving and giving. Church is not a right, it’s a responsibility. Membership is a commitment to that reality.

• Membership let’s us know who WE are committed to also (reflected in our membership covenant)

Align - Scott

Alignment - vision, values, beliefs - Vision Sunday… What does it look like to be in alignment in this season of being All In, All Flame?

• Alignment is about an “attitude of agreement”
• Aligning with the vision, values and beliefs
  • we recognize that learning is a journey
  • we are open handed on secondary issues… but decided on some.
  • “Submission” is often agreement on the back foot. “Alignment” is agreement on the front foot - leaning in.
• Alignment is about UNITY - God commands a blessing on unity and we want to steward God’s blessing on our church by preserving unity.