Considering Membership at Providence Community Church - Why Church Membership?

0 · The pastor welcomes the reader to a series on church membership at Providence Community Church, sets expectations for the material as both accessible and challenging, and frames the series's ultimate purpose as cultivating gratitude for the Lord's commitment to his church regardless of where the reader ultimately serves

Welcome to a series of articles exploring what it means to become a member of Providence Community Church. Thanks in advance for investing your time into the series. We did our best write this material in a way that was both accessible while also being just a bit challenging. That's what we love most about the Lord, no? He opens his arms to us, gives us a big hug, and then encourages us to grow. We hope that by the end of this series, you'll join us in feeling a newfound gratitude for the Lord's commitment to his church. Maybe you will become a member of Providence or maybe you will decide to serve somewhere else. No matter how all of that plays out, it is beautiful to know that one day we will all be shoulder to shoulder with one another as we stand face to face with the Lord Jesus. Amen and let's begin.

1 · The pastor identifies the problem the sermon will address: the church's importance is often assumed rather than examined

Why Church Membership? When it comes to the Christian life, the question of the Church's importance is perhaps one that is too often overlooked. The idea of Church is often just assumed. Churches persist, church members regularly—or not so regularly—attend, and things proceed on course. But how often do we stop and think: Why is the church so important? What is the purpose of the church? The answer to such questions will provide us both direction for how churches should build and encouragement to be faithful as we play our part in the body of Christ. In this article, we will explore the big picture of God's purpose in the church at large, the critical role that the local church plays in God's purposes, and the importance of formal membership in the local Church. In so doing, we will hopefully see more clearly the glorious purposes God has for his Church and the unspeakable privilege our participation in this journey truly is.

2 · The pastor establishes the beginning of the biblical narrative: God created humanity in his image for the purpose of enjoying unhindered fellowship with him, with divine companionship identified as the greatest blessing in Eden

God's intentions for the Church span from the beginning of creation until its consummation, as he works out his eternal purpose to dwell among a people he has made his own. Genesis 1-2 lay the foundations for the rest of human history. In the beginning, God's creative activity reached its pinnacle with the creation of man who, created in God's image, was made to enjoy unhindered fellowship with his Creator (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7; 15-17; 3:8). Of all the blessings Adam enjoyed in the garden—safety, provision, human companionship—the greatest was divine companionship.

3 · The pastor traces the fall and its immediate consequence—loss of fellowship with God—but emphasizes God's immediate response: a promise to defeat evil and restore humanity to fellowship with himself

Even after man sinned and lost the privilege of intimate fellowship with God (Genesis 3:24), God pledged to vanquish the evil that had spoiled his creation, thus restoring mankind to his rightful place in creation and fellowship with God. Genesis 3:15.

4 · The pastor traces how God's promise to restore fellowship took specific form in the Abrahamic covenant, with God pledging to make Abraham a great nation and establishing an everlasting covenant to be God to Abraham and his offspring

God gave specific expression to his promise by revealing himself to Abraham and calling Abraham to himself. God's promised blessings to Abraham including making of him a great nation: Genesis 12:2. God pledged himself to Abraham and his offspring, promising to be their God and to make them his people: And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. Genesis 17:7.

5 · The pastor traces the exodus and formation of Israel as a nation, emphasizing God's purpose to dwell among them and their calling to represent God on earth as a kingdom of priests and holy nation

After Abraham's descendants were enslaved in Egypt, God delivered them and forged them into a nation—the nation of Israel, among whom he would dwell, and who would represent him in the earth. "You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples—for all the earth is mine—and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel. (Exodus 19:4-6)