## Why Join Church?

## Acts 1:15

New Testament Christians joined a local church. The churches had membership lists, either in writing, or in their memory. Since the scripture was given for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim.3:16), God evidently wanted us to follow their example. Although there is no specific verse which says, "Thou shalt join a church," there are many places which either require or teach by example that we should do so.

I. THE FIRST CHURCH HAD A MEMBERSHIP.

(ACTS 1:15) "AND IN THOSE DAYS PETER STOOD UP IN THE MIDST OF THE DISCIPLES, AND SAID, (THE NUMBER OF NAMES TOGETHER WERE ABOUT AN HUNDRED AND TWENTY,)"

A. This Jerusalem church had a list of about 120 names which made up its membership.

B. All those members assembled together on the day of Pentecost.

(ACTS 2:1) "AND WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE."

C. Specific people were added to this membership on that day.

(ACTS 2:41) "THEN THEY THAT GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD WERE BAPTIZED: AND THE SAME DAY THERE WERE ADDED UNTO THEM ABOUT THREE THOUSAND SOULS."

1. The important word is added, showing that the number grew.

2. Whether they were written down on paper is not the issue; the fact is that certain specific people were saved, baptized, and added to certain specific people!

3. Some might say that they were added to that invisible universal body…in context that cannot be the case.

4. There was a specific group of people who had assembled together, and now there were additions to that group.

D. The Lord added people to the local church.

(ACTS 2:47) "PRAISING GOD, AND HAVING FAVOUR WITH ALL THE PEOPLE. AND THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS SHOULD BE SAVED."

1. As the Word was preached, people were saved.

2. People are saved by the work of the Lord.

3. As the Spirit of God convicts hearts and draws men unto Jesus.

4. That is still the way the Lord works today!

a. The Word is preached.

b. The Spirit of God works.

c. People come to Christ.

d. They obey His commands.

e. They unite with the local church.

II. There was a difference between the folks in the local church and those who weren’t.

(ACTS 5:11) "AND GREAT FEAR CAME UPON ALL THE CHURCH, AND UPON AS MANY AS HEARD THESE THINGS."

A. There are two groups of people here.

1. Those in the church.

2. Those who were not in the church.

B. Some people did not dare to join the church.

(ACTS 5:13) "AND OF THE REST DURST NO MAN JOIN HIMSELF TO THEM: BUT THE PEOPLE MAGNIFIED THEM."

1. This follows what happened to a couple named Ananias and Sapphira.

a. This couple thought that they could lie to God and get away with it

b. They found out quickly that God was serious about there being a difference between those who were members of the church and those who weren’t.

c. God expects us to glorify His name with our lives.

d. Jesus told us to set our light on a candlestick (the local church) that others might see it and give glory to God! Cf Mt. 5:15-16; Rev. 1:20

2. It was common knowledge who belonged to this new church, and after such a harsh judgment on two members who did not conform, some people did not dare to join them!

3. Some belonged; others dared not join, for one reason or another.

4. When one joins, there is a membership!

C. The church had officers chose from among themselves minister to the church.

1. Pastors and deacons.

2. The pastor’s responsibility for the church is shown from Paul’s statement in Acts 20:28.

(ACTS 20:28) "TAKE HEED THEREFORE UNTO YOURSELVES, AND TO ALL THE FLOCK, OVER THE WHICH THE HOLY GHOST HATH MADE YOU OVERSEERS, TO FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD, WHICH HE HATH PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD."

3. The deacon’s responsibility is seen from Acts 6:3.

(ACTS 6:3) "WHEREFORE, BRETHREN, LOOK YE OUT AMONG YOU SEVEN MEN OF HONEST REPORT, FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND WISDOM, WHOM WE MAY APPOINT OVER THIS BUSINESS."

a. "…This business…" was serving tables…ministering to the needs of the church.

b. Deacons aren’t rulers, but servants.

D. Trouble came from inside and from outside the church.

1. Paul warned the elders or pastors in Ephesus.

2. Attacks of the enemy will come.

(ACTS 20:29-30) "FOR I KNOW THIS, THAT AFTER MY DEPARTING SHALL GRIEVOUS WOLVES ENTER IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK. {30} ALSO OF YOUR OWN SELVES SHALL MEN ARISE, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, TO DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEM."

3. Some of the attacks would come from without and some from within; again pointing to the fact that there was a difference!

E. There was to be discipline in the local church.

1. Paul instructed the church at Corinth to exclude some of the members whose lives reflected a sinful lifestyle.

(1 COR 5:13B) "…THEREFORE PUT AWAY FROM AMONG YOURSELVES THAT WICKED PERSON."

2. He instructed the church at Thessalonica in similar fashion.

(2 TH 3:14-15) "AND IF ANY MAN OBEY NOT OUR WORD BY THIS EPISTLE, NOTE THAT MAN, AND HAVE NO COMPANY WITH HIM, THAT HE MAY BE ASHAMED. {15} YET COUNT HIM NOT AS AN ENEMY, BUT ADMONISH HIM AS A BROTHER."

3. In order for there to be discipline, there must be membership.

III. Those that obeyed the gospel were in the church.

(1 PET 4:17) "FOR THE TIME IS COME THAT JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD: AND IF IT FIRST BEGIN AT US, WHAT SHALL THE END BE OF THEM THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF GOD?"

A. There is an absence here of those who are obedient to the gospel, but are not in a church.

B. The church is the house of God.

(1 TIM 3:15) "BUT IF I TARRY LONG, THAT THOU MAYEST KNOW HOW THOU OUGHTEST TO BEHAVE THYSELF IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH."

1. Whether or not their names were written on some list is unknown and unimportant; what is obvious is that they knew who was in the local church.

2. These distinctions could be made in almost every reference to the local church in the New Testament.

3. Clearly, then, if we follow New Testament example, we shall join a local Bible- believing and Bible practicing church.

4. To further emphasize this point, there is no instance of New Testament believers refusing to belong to the local church.

5. Joining the church was the normal thing to do, after conversion.

C. The proper order of things.

1. One thing must be settled: before joining a church, each person must be sure of salvation.

2. Salvation, then baptism, then being added to the church.

3. A person is not to join the church in order to receive salvation…

4. A person is not to be baptized in order to receive salvation…

5. When a person accepts Christ as their Savior by faith….then they should be obedient to the Lord’s command of baptism and local church membership.

Church membership is extremely important to the Lord, and it should be equally important to every believer who desires to honor Him with their life. It is a commitment! It isn’t to be taken lightly, but it must not be ignored.