Rom. 16:16
Local Churches
• Antioch (Acts 13:1)
• Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2)
• Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1)
• Philippi (Phil. 1:1)
• Ephesus (Rev. 2:1)
• Smyrna (Rev. 2:8)
• Pergamos (Rev. 2:12)
• Thyatira (Rev. 2:18)
• Sardis (Rev. 3:1)
• Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7)
• Laodicea (Rev. 3:14)
• Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1:1)
• Crete (Titus 1:5)
• Iconium (Acts 14:23)
• Derbe (Acts 14:23)
• Lystra (Acts 14:23)
Membership
 Membership Is Necessary
 Without it - No local congregation
 For elders to have oversight (Acts 20:28)
 To carry out discipline (1 Cor. 5)
Membership
 Membership Is Necessary
 Examples:
 Paul (Acts 9:26-28)
 Apollos (Acts 18:27)
 Phebe (Rom. 16:1-2)
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
Fulfilling My Obligations
Whether Others Do or Not
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
I. Attend
I. Attend
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Not to forsake (Heb. 10:25)
Context: Persecution
Presence encourages (Heb. 10:24f)
“Of yourselves” – Local assembly
If one regularly miss – then all could
If one gone lot – then all could
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
I. Attend
II. Contribute
II. Contribute
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It is an order (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
It is an act of worship (Acts 2:42)
How a local church functions
Withhold contribution – disagree
“Partial Fellowship” – why?
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
I. Attend
II. Contribute
III. Consider One Another
III. Consider One Another
• Heb. 10:24 –
• Means: think about, regard, thoughtful,
look at closely, turn over in mind,
observe fully.
• Reason: What do to promote love &
good works!
III. Consider One Another
• Wear other’s shoes for while
– Matt. 7:12
– Phil. 2:4
• Try to understand
– Give benefit of doubt (1 Cor. 13:7)
– Differences in people
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
I. Attend
II. Contribute
III. Consider One Another
IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity
Romans 14:19
“Therefore let us pursue
the things which make for
peace and the things by
which one may edify
another.”
IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity
• Learn to work together (1 Cor. 12)
• Communicate
– Essential to any relationship
– Solve problems by communication
• Forbear (Col. 3:13) [“to hold up”]
• Not be stubborn / self willed
– Matt. 7;12; Tit. 1:7; 3 Jno.
– Not refuse to yield, listen or work things out
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
I. Attend
II. Contribute
III. Consider One Another
IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity
V. Be Kind / Friendly
V. Be Kind & Friendly
• Command (Eph. 4:32)
• To be right – not because I think others
are right!
• Part of love (1 Cor. 13:4)
• Prov. 18:24
• Greet one another (Rom 16:16; 2 Cor.
13:12; Acts 20:37)
• In what say to & about others (Col. 4:6)
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
I. Attend
II. Contribute
III. Consider One Another
IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity
V. Be Kind / Friendly
VI. Use Wisdom & Judgment
VI. Use Wisdom / Judgment
• Brethren often use little judgment
– Do things that solve one problem and
creates two more.
– Fail to see where things lead – conseq.
• Reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-9)
• Pray for wisdom (Jas. 1:5)
• Wisdom promotes peace (Jas. 3:13-17)
Wisdom / Judgment
 Try to look past our nose – see down the line
• Inconsistency
• Consequences
• Where this will take us
 Ask: Is this good or better judgment?
• More than question of is this sin
• Question of what is best!
Responsibilities Within
A Local Church
I. Attend
II. Contribute
III. Consider One Another
IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity
V. Be Kind / Friendly
VI. Use Wisdom & Judgment