STEP #2 - What God Requires of You in the Local Church
The local church is a place where you have the opportunity to both give and receive. God intends for the local church to be a way to receive His blessings for you; but, in order for you to be blessed in this way, you must get involved and do your part.
Listed below are some of the things you are to give back to your local church:
1. Commitment and loyalty to the local church (Acts 2:44-46, Acts 4:32, Hebrews 10:24-25).
2. Submission to those over you in the Lord - the leadership of the local church (Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:5).
3. Financial support of the ministries of the local church through offerings (2 Corinthians 9:7).
4. Prayer for the local church's leadership, ministries, fellow-members, and outreach to the lost (Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Matthew 9:37-38, 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
5. Missionary support through offerings, prayer, and personal encouragement of the local church's missionaries (Matthew 9:37-38, Matthew 28:18-20).
6. Service to the body of Christ through the ministry gifts that God has given you (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28).
7. Spiritual preparation before coming together that you may add to the flow of the Spirit and that God may use you to bless others in the local church (2 Tim 2:15, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians ch. 13).
Next, Step #3: How to Find Your Place in the Body of Christ
Listed below are some of the things you are to give back to your local church:
1. Commitment and loyalty to the local church (Acts 2:44-46, Acts 4:32, Hebrews 10:24-25).
2. Submission to those over you in the Lord - the leadership of the local church (Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:5).
3. Financial support of the ministries of the local church through offerings (2 Corinthians 9:7).
4. Prayer for the local church's leadership, ministries, fellow-members, and outreach to the lost (Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Matthew 9:37-38, 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
5. Missionary support through offerings, prayer, and personal encouragement of the local church's missionaries (Matthew 9:37-38, Matthew 28:18-20).
6. Service to the body of Christ through the ministry gifts that God has given you (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28).
7. Spiritual preparation before coming together that you may add to the flow of the Spirit and that God may use you to bless others in the local church (2 Tim 2:15, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians ch. 13).
Next, Step #3: How to Find Your Place in the Body of Christ