• Join the Family
  • Joining this family makes an official declaration that FLC is your church.

The Big Questions: Why would I become a member? What good does it do?

Church Membership is NOT:

• a new set of “perks”
• joining the voting-base
• getting a preferential voice
• a heightened status
• a salvation guarantee
• a covenantal commitment

• to sacrifice for the vision
• to serve in the mission
• to submit to the leadership

GOD DESIGNED SUBMISSION FOR RESPONSIBILITY, NOT CONTROL Hebrews 13:14-17 NLT

Submission Flowchart:

GOD

SPIRITUAL LEADERS

HUSBAND/FATHER/MAN

WIFE/MOTHER/WOMAN

CHILD

HUMILITY IS A HEART ISSUE 1 Peter 5:1-6 NLT

EMBRACING AUTHORITY IS WISE AND HONORING TO GOD Ephesians 5:15-21 NLT

The Big Questions: Why is the church always asking for volunteers?

THE FATE OF THE WORLD RESTS ON THE USE OF YOUR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS 1 Peter 4:7-11 NLT

DISTRACTION IS THE PATHWAY OF DESTRUCTION Luke 17:26-30 NLT

SERVANTHOOD REVEALS THE VITALITY OF THE SPIRIT WITHIN US Galatians 5:13-17 NLT

Everyone has a next step to take:

• GET BAPTIZED
  • Declaring your faith publicly is an outward expression of dying to yourself

The Big Questions:

• Baptism & Salvation
• Public Baptism
• Who gets baptized
• When to get baptized
• Can you do it again?

WE DECLARE REPENTANCE THROUGH BAPTISM Mark 1:1-5 NLT

DEATH AND RESURRECTION ARE IN THE WATER Romans 6:1-4 NLT

GOD GAVE US A SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR A COMPLEX DISEASE 2 Kings 5:10-14 NLT

Everyone has a next step to take:

• Say Yes to The Holy Spirit
  • A life directed by the Holy Spirit benefits you and the Mission to save the lost.

The Elephant in the Room:

I believe in the Holy Spirit, but I’m not sure how I feel about his role in Christian’s lives today and the function of Spiritual Gifts.

JESUS EMBOIES LIFE IN THE SPIRIT Isaiah 11:1-5 NLT

GOD’S SPIRIT GIVES US FULLNESS OF LIFE AND POWER Ephesians 3:16-20 NLT

The Elephant in the Room:

Are the Gifts of the Spirit for us today or did they cease once the Church was fully established? 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ESV

The Fruit of the Spirit:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control.

The Gifts of the Spirit:

Wisdom, Knowledge, Special Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Tongues, Interpretation, Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leadership & Mercy

THE SPIRIT GIVES US REBIRTH AND RENEWAL THROUGH JESUS Titus 3:4-7 NLT

Everyone has a next step to take:

• Gather with the family
• Get in a GROUP
• Grow your faith
• Give to the Mission
• Go to those in NEED
• Say YES to Jesus
  • Surrendering your Life to Jesus is a commitment to deny yourself daily.

The “I Am” Statements:

• Bread of Life – John 6
• Light of the World – John 8
• Gate & Good Shepherd – John 10
• Resurrection & Life – John 11
• Way, Truth & Life – John 14
• True Vine – John 15

ACKNOWLEDGING GOD IS AN ACTION NOT A THOUGHT John 8:23-30 NLT

“Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.” -C.S. Lewis

JESUS’ MINISTRY SAVES FOLLOWERS NOT FANS Matthew 16:24-26 NLT

ETERNAL JOY AND SORROW ARE ONLY 18 INCHES APART Matthew 7:21-23 NLT

Everyone has a next step to take:

• Gather with the family
• get in a GROUP
• Grow your faith
• Give to the Mission
• Go to those in Need

WE ARE CALLED TO THE ELEVATION OF OTHERS OVER SELF Matthew 20:24-28 NLT

THE CHURCH IS A MOVEMENT NOT A LOCATION Luke 9:1-6 NLT

Missional Creeds:

• Unashamed Gospel - Rom 1:16
• Never Hearing – Rom 10:13-15
• All Things to All – 1 Cor 9:19-23
• Compelled by Love – 2 Cor 5:14
• Christ’s Ambassadors – 2 Cor 5:18-20
• Missional Readiness – Eph 6:15

THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US TO BE A CHURCH ON MISSION Matt 28:18-20; NLT

THE SPIRIT OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD IS UPON YOU Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT

GO TO THOSE IN NEED Expressing the Love of Jesus locally and around the world stretches your Faith.

Everyone has a next step to take:

• Gather with the FAMILY
• Get in a GROUP
• Grow your FAITH
• Give to the MISSION

The New Testament and the early Church creeds do not contain a specific command to tithe. Does it apply to God’s people today?

GENEROSITY IS A HEART ISSUE Matthew 25:41-46 NLT

LIFE IS NOT ABOUT GAINING WEALTH. IT’S ABOUT GIVING GENEROUSLY. Ecclesiastes 2:18-20 NLT

NT Generosity Principles:

• Everything in Common – Acts 2:45
• End of Poverty – Acts 4:32-35
• Tested by Fire – 1 Cor 3:12-15
• Realistic Generosity – 2 Cor 8:12-15
• Cheerful Generosity – 2 Cor 9:7-15
• Purposeful Wealth – 1 Tim 6:17-19
• Pleasing Generosity – Heb 13:16

You cannot take your wealth and possessions into eternity with you; only your generosity.

SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY PROVES WE HAVE THE HEART OF JESUS Hebrews 13:14-16 NLT

GIVE TO THE MISSION. Challenging yourself to be generous aligns your heart with God’s Mission

Everyone has a next step to take:

• GATHER with the family
• Get in a GROUP
• Grow your FAITH

Learning happens when experience changes what you know, how you think, or how you act—and that change sticks.

INFORMATION WITHOUT ACTION IS NOT EDUCATION James 1:21-25 NLT

WHEN CHURCH ENTERTAINS US, THE GOSPEL IS POWERLESS Ezekiel 33:30-31 NLT

“I have read through the Bible and found many errors, all of which were in me.” - UNKNOWN

TRUE CHRISTIANITY MEANS WE ACT & SOUND LIKE JESUS James 1:26-27, 3:6-9 NLT