“I AM A CHURCH MEMBER”
By Thom S. Rainer

I. I will be a functioning church member.
*Contrasts a “country club” membership with that of biblical church membership.
In biblical church membership: we all are necessary parts of a whole; diverse but unified.
1 Corinthian 12-14. I Corinthian 13, the love chapter, in its original context was to demonstrate
How church members relate to one another.
*In contrast to country club membership, church members give abundantly and serve without
Hesitation.
*The concept of an inactive church member is an oxymoron. Biblically, no such church member really exists.
*Pledge 1
2. I will be a unifying church member.
God desires for Christians to get along. In fact He is emphatic about it: “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:35
He expects, no—demands--that we are unifying church members.
In Ephesians 4:1-3 Paul urged members to “walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity o the Spirit with the peace that binds us”.
*Gossip and negative talk: destructive to the church
*Forgiveness and unity: Unity in the church will not happen if members have unforgiving hearts.
*Pledge 2
3. I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires.
The word ‘servant’ occurs 57 times in the NT, and the word ‘serve’ 58 times (Thom S. Rainer).
*We will never find joy in church membership when we are constantly seeking things our way.
But paradoxically, we will find the greatest joy when we choose to be last. True joy can mean giving up our rights and preferences and serving others. And that is what church membership means as well.
* The Mind of Christ: Philippians 2 . If we approach church membership from the perspective
Of entitlement, we have it upside down.
*Pledge 3
4. I will pray for my church leaders
Pray for the Pastor, other church leaders, staff. It requires discipline to pray regularly for the
Church.
*Pledge 4
5. I will lead my family to be healthy church members.
*Praying together as a family for the church.
*Worshipping together as a family
*Falling deeply in love with the Bride of Christ
*The church is a family
*Pledge 5
6. I will treasure church membership as a gift
Membership means we have the opportunity to serve and give rather than the legalistic option
to do so. A shift in our attitude.
*Pledge 6