When you receive the Lord Jesus into your heart, you are saved. You become part of God's family. When you obey the Lad Jesus and follow Him in baptism, you become a member of the local church in which you were baptized.

A local church is a group of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out what we call the "Great Commission."

The Local Church Is Very Important

The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ founded the church and He loves the church. Matthew 16:18 tells us, "...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The value of the church is revealed in Ephesians 5:25, "...Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it."

What Each Christian Can Do For His Church

We think about what a church can do in ministering to others, but we also need to think about what each church member can do for his church.

Pray For Your Church

Ask the Lord to meet each need. Pray for the leaders. Pray that everything will be pleasing to Christ.

Be A Loyal Member

Be loyal to the leadership and the church. Encourage others to do the same. Don't be a complainer.

Be A Faithful Member

Attending the church faithfully:

1)  Is obeying what the Bible teaches
2)  Identifies one publicly with the Lord and His people
3)  Provides instruction for living the Christian life
4)  Helps a Christian to find God's will in a place of service
5)  Makes one a part of getting the message of salvation to others.

If it were not for local Bible-preaching churches, many people would not hear how to be saved.

Support Your Church

It is God's plan for each member to be a tither. This means that we are to give ten percent our income to the Lord. We will also want to give offerings above this. I Corinthians 16:2 says, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him, that there be gatherings when I come."

With a glad heart, each member of the local church should do all he can to make his church all it ought to be.

  
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