Wed Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

Here's how the first church was formed in the New Testament.

"Those who believed… were baptized and added to the church…they joined with the other believers and committed themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship… they worshipped together at the temple each day and met in homes [small groups]… and shared their meals with great joy and generosity." (Acts 2: 41-42)

I want you see the order that we find - here in these verses.
1. They believed
2. They were baptized
3. They joined the church family.
4. They committed to regular worship.
5. They connected to a small group.

Immediately you notice something different here the people in this church and churches of today: - The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. Attenders are spectators. Members are participants. Attenders are consumers. Members are contributors.

I want you to understand that the Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ. It is a commitment to other Christians. You become a Christian by committing yourself to Christ, but you become a church member by committing yourself to the church and to other members of the church.
Hebrews 10 talks about how coming together is a way of encouraging one another. May I tell you that is one ministry every single one of us can exercise in this church every time we come here? We can be an encouragement to one another. You do not have to have a college degree, a seminary education or ever be a certain age to be an encouragement.