Discovering
Church
Membership
C.L.A.S.S. #101
Church of the Highlands
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Membership 101
Session 4
Our Strategy
Name:_________________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Home Phone:____________________________________________
Work Phone:____________________________________________
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THE HIGHLANDS STRATEGY
(Paul) "I have been all things to all sorts of people that every possible means I might win some to God. I do all this for the sake of the Good News."
1 Cor. 9:22-23 (Ph)
WHO ARE WE TRYING TO REACH?
"...Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him."
1 Cor.
9:22 (LB)
THE FOUR HIGHLANDS COVENANTS
1. THE MEMBERSHIP COVENANT...
is a commitment to
_______________________________
and __________________________________________.
"You are members of God's very own family...and you belong in God's household with every other Christian."
Eph. 2:19 (LB)
"We are all parts of Christ's Body, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other and need all the others."
Romans 12:4-5 (LB)
2. THE MATURITY COVENANT...
is a commitment to the
_____________________________
necessary for spiritual growth.
"Continue to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 3:18
"Take the time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit."
1 Tim. 4:7 (PH)
3. THE MINISTRY COVENANT...
is a commitment to discovering and using my God-given gifts
and abilities in ______________________ God and others.
"God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other..."
1 Peter 4:10 (LB)
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'There are different kinds of service to God...together you form the Body of Christ and each one of you is a necessary part of it."
1 Cor. 12:5,27 (LB)
4. THE MISSIONS COVENANT...
is a commitment to
______________________________
the Good News with others.
"...you will be my witness for me...to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8 (GN)
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do it with gentleness and respect..."
1 Peter 3:15
Why Do We Have These Covenants?
WE BECOME WHAT WE ARE __________________________
THE H.I.G.H.L.A.N.D.S. STRATEGY
Nine principles that make our church unique
H _______________________________________
I ________________________________________
G _______________________________________
H _______________________________________
L _______________________________________
A _______________________________________
N _______________________________________
D _______________________________________
S________________________________________
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FIVE CIRCLES OF COMMITMENT
Highland's objective is to keep moving people toward the center by encouraging personal spiritual commitments. Specifically, we call people to four basic commitments.
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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER
The difference between "attenders" and "members" can be summed up in one word:
________________________________________
At Highlands we recognize the need for a formal membership. We ask you to commit to membership for 4 reasons:
A Biblical Reason: Christ is committed to the church.
"...Christ loved the church, and he gave his life for it."
Eph. 5:25
A Cultural Reason: It is an antidote to our society.
We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything...a job...a marriage...our country. This attitude has even produced a generation of "Church shoppers &
hoppers." Membership swims against the current of America's "consumer
religion." It is an unselfish decision. Commitment always builds character.
A Practical Reason: It defines who can be counted on.
Every member must have a roster. Every school must have an enrollment. Every business has a payroll. Every army has an enlistment. Even our country takes a census and requires voter registration. Membership identifies our family.
A Personal Reason: It produces spiritual growth.
The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. You cannot
be accountable when you're not committed to any specific church family.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME AS A MEMBER?
At Highlands we never ask our members to do more than the Bible clearly teaches. We only expect our members to do what the Bible expects every Christian to do. These responsibilities are spelled out in the Membership Covenant.
The Highlands Membership Covenant
"Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized, and being in agreement with Highlands statements, strategy, and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Highland church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:
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1. I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH
...By acting in love toward other members
...By refusing to gossip
...By following the leaders
"So let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of our fellowship together."
Rom. 15:19
"Live in complete harmony with each other - each with the attitude of Christ toward each other."
Rom. 15:5
"Have a sincere love for your fellow believers, love one another earnestly with all your hearts."
1 Peter 1:22
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs..."
Eph. 4:29
"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be no advantage to you."
Heb. 13:17
2. I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBLY OF MY CHURCH
...By praying for its growth
...By inviting the unchurched to attend
...By warmly welcoming those who visit
"To the church...we always thank God for you and pray for you constantly."
1 Thess. l:2
"Go out into the country...and urge anyone you find to come in, so that my House will be full."
Luke 14:23
"So warmly welcome each other into the church, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you; then God will be glorified."
Rom. 15:7
3. I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF MY CHURCH
...By discovering my gifts and talents
...By being equipped to serve by my pastors
...By developing a servant's heart
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"Serve one another with particular gifts God has given each of you..."
1 Peter 4:10
"God gave...some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up..."
Eph. 4:11-12
"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ...who took on the very nature of a servant..."
Phil. 2:3-4,7
4. I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF MY CHURCH
...By attending faithfully
...By living a godly life
...By giving regularly
"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...but let us encourage one another."
Heb 10:25
"But whatever happens, make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel of Christ."
Phil. 1:27
"Each one of you, on the first day of each week, should set aside a specific sum of money in proportion to what you have earned and use it for the offering."
1 Cor. 16:2
THE H.I.G.H.L.A.N.D.S. STRATEGY
Nine principles that make our church unique
Helpful Preaching
Inspirational
Growth
Harmony/Unity
Lay Ministries
All Inclusive/Multi-Cultural
Nourishing
Defined Purpose
Scripturally Based