Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Membership: Created To Belong

Tonight in the Spirit Filled Life Service we will begin an unusual set of lessons. Usually we do not take time in our regular service for Membership Class, but I feel the need to re-teach many of the elements of the class to everyone in the church.

There are simply four sections to the class, though not every section is of equal length. They are, What We Believe, Where We Have Been, How We Work, and Where We are Going. The first lesson takes a bit longer.

The purpose for this membership class is first to receive new members who have not been through membership class. The second purpose is to renovate the membership class so that future members will be stronger followers of Jesus Christ and stronger members of the church by feeling a greater connection to the beliefs, function and vision of the church.

The process and the rules for membership are not changing. We are still functioning under the same constitution and bylaws we have had, but we are going to function in much greater quality in the future.

Here is an interesting membership note! Our oldest member of First Assembly is going to be 103 this Summer in August. The second oldest member turned 100 this week. We are celebrating her birthday with her family at a party they are having this Sunday.

Jesus said the owner of a house brings old treasure as well as new. Jesus was talking about the old covenant principles and the new covenant principles. Taking a bit of exegetical leeway I believe that in a local church we need old treasures and new treasures. Every believer is a treasure to the Lord and to the First Assembly FAMILY!

Paul

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