Welcoming New Members
Refresher Course • Sermon • Submitted
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Membership is biblical.
Membership is biblical.
Think about this.
In the eyes of God, what is the Baptist Tabernacle?
Is it the building?
Is it the non-profit organization?
Is it the people?
If it’s the people, then which people are we talking about?
Is it the people who happen to show up to any given service?
We regularly have visitors in our services.
Are they part of the group of people that make up the Baptist Tabernacle?
How do we know who is a part of the local body and who isn’t?
Membership.
Here is another way to think about this.
I am the pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle.
As such who am I responsible for pastoring?
I am not the chief shepherd responsible for the care and oversight of all of God’s lambs.
I am only an under-shepherd tasked with the oversight of a portion of the flock.
But, how do I know which sheep I am responsible for and which ones I am not?
Membership.
What happened to the converts in Acts 2:41?
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
They received the message of the gospel and they were baptized.
Through these two criteria we see 3,000 people being added to the church of Jerusalem which had previously run 120.
What happens then, when a person joins a church?
How can the current members assimilate the new members into the body?
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
We see the teaching and fellowship that we have discussed previously.
I want to look at two other practical steps that we can take in welcoming new members into our church.
The first thing we can do is to receive them as a brother.
The first thing we can do is to receive them as a brother.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16 not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
For those that are unfamiliar with the letter to Philemon, a quick refresher.
Onesimus was a runaway slave that had become imprisoned with the Apostle Paul.
During their incarceration, Onesimus got saved.
After he was freed, Paul instructs him to return to his master, Philemon, with the letter which Paul had written.
The letter which we have now in our Bible.
In the letter we see the verses that I have just read to you, where Paul instructs Philemon on how he is to welcome Onesimus back.
He no longer returns solely as a servant, but as a brother beloved.
What qualified Onesimus for this treatment?
Had Onesimus earned such treatment?
No, of course not.
But, as Paul says at the end of v16, Philemon and Onesimus now shared a strong bond in the Lord.
The same is true of any individual that joins our church.
We only allow a person to come in as a church member if they have been saved and baptized.
So, we share the same bond with them that Philemon and Onesimus shared.
This bond overcomes any hurdles that may exist in our relationship.
What if someone joins the church that we have a past with?
Sometimes people don’t get along.
Sometimes the people you don’t get along with, visit your church.
How are you supposed to welcome this person when they become a member of your church?
The same way that Philemon was supposed to receive Onesimus.
Remember, Philemon and Onesimus had a past.
Onesimus had run away from his master.
Paul even hints at the possibility that Onesimus had stolen from his master.
Philemon had been betrayed by Onesimus, but as a Christian, he was to receive him as a brother.
What are some practical ways that we can accept new members as a brother?
Hospitality
Host them.
Include them.
Care
Patient.
Assistive.
Help them find their place in the body.
Help them find their place in the body.
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Every member of this church is a member of this local body of believers.
No part of the body is intended to be useless.
There are no vestigial organs in this body.
The verse says that every joint supplies what the body requires.
There is no stipulation on which joints should be supplying the body, all of them are expected to contribute.
When someone goes through an organ transplant, when is that organ supposed to start contributing?
Hopefully, right away!
The same is true about a new member.
We want a new member to get plugged in to ministry as soon as possible.
We all realize that ministry doesn’t require a position.
What happens when the members of the body aren’t ministering?
It’s a sign that they are not trending towards long-term membership.
The percentage of people that stay at a church for more than 5 years without being involved in ministry is very low.
When someone starts pulling out of all their ministries, that is a warning sign.
Either the church has overstretched them.
Or, they are on their way out.
We will talk next week about how we as a church should respond when someone leaves the church.
When a new member joins the church we want to help them to get plugged in as soon as possible.
How can we help new members get plugged in to ministry?
Serve with joy-make ministry appealing.
Avoid acting like your ministry is your kingdom.
Be proactive about inviting people to join your ministry.
Treat your ministry as a training ground for other ministries.
300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church “Live Wholly for His Work”
Let the Church awake to her calling to train the feeblest of her members to know that Christ counts upon every redeemed one to live wholly for His work. This alone is true Christianity, is full salvation.
ANDREW MURRAY
I am so grateful for the people that speak up and volunteer for things.
Not everyone will volunteer for a position.
Some people are waiting to be asked.
Teens with activities.
Some would only come if invited.
The same is true with ministry.
We have a lot of ministry options for people to get involved.
Some things you may not have thought about that you could get involved in.
Transportation
Picking up some of our folks that needs rides.
Delivering meals on Wednesday nights
Cooking
Wednesday night fellowships
Funerals
Other special events
Nursery
Awana
JR Church
Choir, orchestra, piano, or specials.
Visiting Widows and Shut-ins
Greeters, Security, and Ushers
It’s not all officers, teachers and youth group.
There are many areas of service here at our church.
Every believer has a gift.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
We need to help the people that come to our church find a way to use their gift.
By using their gift, they will experience the joy of contributing to the body of Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Church membership is biblical.
We should receive new members as brothers.
We should help new members find their place in the body.
If we will do these things, then we will help our church become a more welcoming, assimilating place for our new members.
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