When people hear “membership,” they think about being part of a gym or a wholesale club. Membership is often thought of to come with privileges, perks, and benefits. Members are served. Is this what it means to be a member of a Christian church? Paul explains the metaphor of the church as being a body with many members with Christ as the head (1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12). At the heart of this is love (1 Corinthians 13). Forgiven by the love of God through the love Jesus has for us to win us forgiveness, we can love God and others. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” He has placed us all in the Church with different gifts. In this series we look to build a strong healthy church by asking the question “What does it mean to be a church member?”

Week 2 – What builds unity among different people? The world is seeking the answer to this. Our world is divided on so many issues and topics. Can one be unforgiving and have unity? Can one ignore others and their needs and preferences and have unity? Can one think that their way and their ideas are the only right ways and have unity? Over all of this, there is one thing that will drive and create unity. Love. And not just loving one another, but the love that comes from Jesus, who forgives us, and showed us His great love, to bring us into a relationship of unity with God.

When people hear the word “membership,” they think about being part of a gym or a wholesale club. Membership is often thought of to come with privileges, perks, and benefits. Members are served. Is this what it means to be a member of a Christian church? Paul explains the metaphor of the Church as being a body with many members with Christ as the head (1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12). At the heart of this is love (1 Corinthians 13). Forgiven by the love of God through the love Jesus has for us to win us forgiveness, we can love God and others. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” He has placed us all in the Church with different gifts. In this series we look to build a strong healthy Church by asking the question “What does it mean to be a church member?”

Week 1 – Many churches only have 1/3 of their membership active and functioning. Meaning if your membership is 300, only 100 are regularly in worship and serve in joy. This week we look at what it means to be a functioning member of the body of Christ led by His love.

Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait, and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We all desire acclaim, recognition, and praise. Jesus’ sharp words this week teach us that seeking exaltation in futile and fleeing ways will only result in receiving the opposite. Those who attempt to exalt themselves will eventually be humbled by God. In contrast, Jesus promises that those who leave their exaltation to God will receive honor and glory far greater than any that can be awarded in this life. Our exaltation does not need to be our responsibility, because Jesus has already made it His.

When it comes to the uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to more theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today someone asks, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes all such questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. “How might I be saved?” Jesus explains there is only one way—entering through a very narrow door. Jesus’ words cut deep! For he teaches that it is very easy to develop a false sense of security about our standing before God based on some superficial familiarity we have with him. Jesus warns that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. These wounding words of Jesus provide healing, pushing us toward that narrow door: faith in him.

We often divide humanity into groupings that are not really significant: this ethnic group versus that one, men versus women, wealthy versus poor. Yet, every ethnic group is under God’s law. That law equally convicts men and women of sin. Because of sin, both the wealthy and poor will die. Only through faith in Christ is sin forgiven and the sting of death removed. God’s Word creates that saving faith, but not in everyone who hears it. Fallen mankind retains the awful power to reject the Word and God’s gift of faith. Therefore, God’s Word produces the only people distinction that matters—believers and unbelievers. We desire to live in peace with other people. But Jesus teaches, this side of heaven, that desire is a pipe dream. Those who embrace the gospel in faith will inevitably face hostility. Following Jesus will come at a price. Yet he promises that our perseverance will be rewarded.

Last week Jesus warned us against overvaluing earthly wealth. This week Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. Last week, Jesus exposed the folly of greed. This week, Jesus exposes the folly of worry, even when faced with the prospect of having a seeming shortage of resources. This week might be the bigger challenge! When it seems we lack providence or protection for our daily lives, it can be hard to avoid worry. So, Jesus asks us to give our undivided attention to him, that he might take our worries away. Jesus points to creatures that do not labor or toil yet eat every day. Even more, Jesus points to our Father who promises to give us the heavenly treasures of his kingdom. Jesus assures us that our Father will throw in any needed earthly possessions as well. We can rest from our worries, confident that our loving Father knows all we need.

Money. Possessions. Perhaps more than anything else, those things have the power to turn our attention away from what is truly important. It is no surprise, therefore, that Jesus frequently teaches about wealth. Christ wants us to understand that it is our heavenly Father who provides us with those useful resources. But we need to know why our Father gives them: what they are useful for, and what they are not useful for. Those resources cannot give purpose or meaning to our lives on earth. They cannot give us security for life after this earth. However, the blessings God provides can bring some joy to our lives. More importantly, our wealth is extremely useful in our efforts to serve God and others. This week let us give our undivided attention to what Christ says about the useful resources our gracious Father provides to us.

We tend to think of mission work as only being something “over there,” something done in a far-away place. Today we look at the work being done in foreign mission fields and support it with our prayers and offerings. However, something is off if we allow our appreciation for “over there” mission work to take our eyes off the mission that is right before us. In our various callings—parent or grandparent or sibling, friend or neighbor or coworker—God will provide one opportunity after another to serve as the witnesses Jesus has made us to be. So, let us continue to pray for and support “over there” mission work. Let us rejoice in gospel of peace and forgiveness in Christ that gives us mission here and around the world. We work in the mission field and pray for God to bless others working in the harvest.

Most would agree with Jesus’ teaching that “Few things are needed” (Luke 10:42). We understand that people often confuse their wants with needs. We might want many things; but in reality, we only need a few things. So, we would agree with Jesus. “Few things are needed.” However, Jesus said more. “Few things are needed—or indeed only one.” Now we might object. There seems to be more than one true need. We need water, food, clothing, shelter, friendship, etc. Yet, what Jesus said is true. Because only one thing—the gospel—can create and sustain the faith that makes one God’s dear child and an heir of the everlasting kingdom. If you didn’t have water, you would die in a few days; without oxygen, in a few minutes. But without Jesus speaking to us through his Word, there is no hope for eternal life in heaven. We literally need the gospel more than water or oxygen. So, let us listen to Jesus speak, giving him our undivided attention.