Rom 16 16 Local Churches Antioch Acts 13

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 E Membership Is Necessary v Without it - No local congregation v For elders to have oversight (Acts 20: 28) v To carry out discipline (I Cor. 5)

Membership E Membership Is Necessary E Examples: v Paul (Acts 9: 26 -28) v Apollos (Acts 18: 27) v 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 • • • Not to forsake (Hebrews 10: 25) Context: Persecution Presence encourages (Heb. 10: 24 f) “Of yourselves” – Local assembly If one regularly miss – then all could If one gone a lot – then all could

Responsibilities Within A Local Church I. Attend II. Contribute

II. Contribute • • • It is an order (I 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 • Hebrews 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 – Matthew 7: 12 – Philippians 2: 4 • Try to understand – Give benefit of doubt (I 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 “Let us therefore follow after (pursue) the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. ”

IV. Work Toward Peace / Unity • Learn to work together (I Cor. 12) • Communicate – Essential to any relationship – Solve problems by communication • Forbear (Col. 3: 13) [“to hold up”] • Not be stubborn / self willed – Matthew 7: 12; Titus 1: 7; III John – 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 (Ephesians 4: 32) • To be right – not because I think others are right! • Part of love (I Cointhians 13: 4) • Proverbs 18: 24 • Greet one another (Romans 16: 16; II Corinthians 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 – consequences • Reap what we sow (Galatians 6: 7 -9) • Pray for wisdom (James 1: 5) • Wisdom promotes peace (James 3: 13 -17)

Wisdom / Judgment v Try to look past our nose – see down the line • Inconsistency • Consequences • Where this will take us v 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