Discovering
Church
Membership
C.L.A.S.S. #101
Church of the Highlands
--- Booklet Page Break ---
Membership 101
Session 5
Our Structure
Name:_________________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Home Phone:____________________________________________
Work Phone:____________________________________________
--- Booklet Page Break ---
SESSION FOUR:
THE
HIGHLANDS STRUCTURE
"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace...Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
1 Cor. 14:33-40
HOW OUR CHURCH IS STRUCTURED
The structure of the church should not be determined by culture, business practices, or even denominational traditions.
THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH DETERMINES ITS STRUCTURE
1. THE CHURCH IS A _________________________________
"They continued steadily learning the teaching of the apostles, and joined in the fellowship..."
Acts 2:42 (PH)
A top priority in a fellowship is ________________ and ______________.
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
Eph. 4:3
"So let us concentrate on the things that make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together."
Rom. 14:19 (PH)
ANY attitude that causes disunity is sin.
Col. 3:15; 1 Cor. l:10; 2 Tim. 2:14; Pr. 17:14; II Cor. 13:l1; Phil. 1:27,
2:1-3; Col. 2:2; Phil. 4:2; I Peter 3:8; I Cor. 14:33; John 13:34-35;
II Tim 2:23; Rom. 15:5-6; Rom 12:16-18; Col. 3:13-14; Ps. 133:1
IMPLICATION: A GOOD STRUCTURE PROMOTES UNITY AND DOWNPLAYS ________________________.
(Often)...your meetings do more harm than good because I hear that
when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you..."
I Cor. 11:17-18
-27-
--- Booklet Page Break ---
"Voting" tends to ____________________________________________.
At Highlands we only vote on:
· Calling the senior pastor
· Changes in the church constitution
II. THE CHURCH IS A ______________________________________.
"You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."
1 Peter 3:8 (LB)
Gal. 6:10; Heb. 2:10-12; 1 Peter 4:17
SO WE OPERATE ON THE BASIS OF _______________________
NOT ___________________________________.
"Don't reprimand a senior member of the church, appeal to him as a father. Treat the young men as brothers, and the older women as mothers. Treat the younger women as sisters."
I Tim. 5:1-2 (PH)
"(A Pastor) must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his family, how can he take care of God's church?"
I Tim. 3:4-5 (PH)
III. THE CHURCH IS A ______________________________________.
1 Cor. 12:27, Eph. 5:23, Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18, 2:19
We are a Body - not a business! We are an organism - not an organization!
THEREFORE, WE FUNCTION ON THE BASIS OF
__________________ NOT _______________________
-28-
--- Booklet Page Break ---
"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We each have different gifts according to the grace given us."
Rom. 12:4-6
In an organization "maintenance" becomes the focus. But in an organism "ministry" is the focus.
AT HIGHLANDS WE HAVE A SIMPLE STRUCTURE SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE _______________ AND MINIMIZE ________________.
"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
OUR STRUCTURE
· The People are the "___________________________"
· The Pastors are the "___________________________"
Currently there are __________ different ministries in our church begun and operated by members.
IV. THE CHURCH IS A _____________________________________.
(Jesus' favorite description of the Church)
John 10:1-30, Matt. 26:31, Matt. 25:33
THEREFORE IT IS CARED FOR AND LED BY __________________.
"Jesus asked Simon Peter, 'Do you really love me?' 'Yes, Lord,' said Peter.
'Then take care of my sheep.'"
John 21:16-17
Three different terms are used in the New Testament to refer to the same church leaders:
- "POIMEN"
- "PRESBUTEROS"
- "EPISCOPOS"
"To the elders I say...Be shepherds of God's flock, serving as overseers..."
1 Pet. 5:l-2
-29-
--- Booklet Page Break ---
"Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived he said to them...Guard yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be pastors of the church of God..."
Acts. 20:17-18, 28
See also Titus 1:5-7, l Tim. 5:17
We'd Like To Get To Know You!
Name ________________________________ Date ________________
Address ___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Home
Phone _____________________ Bus. Phone ______________________
Sex _____M/F_____ Date of Birth _____/_____/_____
_____Single _____Married _____Widowed _____Divorced
My occupation is:_____________________________________________
Business ___________________________________________________
I have the following expertise:____________________________________
__________________________________________________________
If you were active in any churches in the past, please complete the following:
Years involved Name of Church
Member? Position of Service
19___ to 19___
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
--- Booklet Page Break ---
How would you describe your relationship to Christ?
_____Seeker/curious _____Agnostic _____I'm not sure what I believe
_____Committed Christian _____New Christian
Other _________________________________
_____ I've been a Christian for a while but I need to grow closer
Information on Family Members
Spouse's name:________________________________________________
Date of Birth:_________________________________________________
Does your spouse attend COH?___________________________________
Children:
First name Last name Birthdate Live w/you? Attends COH?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________