Intro to the Somerset Church of Christ Session Packet* Becoming a Member of Christ's Body *Session packet is adapted with gracious permission from the Renovo Church in Puyallup, WA. 1
Introduction Becoming a Member of the Lord's Church at Somerset Course Overview: This course is designed to provide a clear entry point for you to become a member of the Lord's body of believers. This course will move you from attendee to active functioning member who actively participates in serving and leading others to Christ. Our desire is to clearly articulate our core beliefs, values, mission, and expectations of all members. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27 (NIV) says concerning the church, The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body...now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. As Christ adds members to his body, those members begin to function and minister along with the existing members. It is our goal to help you discover your spiritual gifts and provide opportunities for you to serve others in areas where you are most gifted. Course Objectives: Articulate the core beliefs of the Somerset Church. Help you better understand the definition and role of the church Discuss and explain our core values, mission, and leadership Help you understand the pathways into deeper connection and service at Somerset Church. Share the expectations of Somerset Church. Course Outline: Session 1: What do we believe? (Theology) Session 2: What are our Core Values? Session 3: What is our Mission? Session 4: How does Somerset Church embody its values? Course Requirements (for membership only) Complete all 4 sessions. Fill out the Somerset Member Questionnaire. Write a brief salvation story. 2
Member Information The following information is to help you fully understand the membership process here at Somerset Church of Christ. Why Become a Member of the Body (church)? God created man in His image and as such, we were designed for unity and community. Imagine the state of chaos if our physical body had organs that didn't know what their God-given functions were. Worse yet, imagine if those same organs chose only to function whenever they felt like it. The physical body would quickly become confused and enter a state of shock. Functioning organs would become overworked to compensate for missing organs and the whole body would eventually shut down. Essentially, the entire body would become a lifeless corpse and die. The Lord's church is called the body of Christ in Scripture and the individuals are called members. As members of one Body, we function together in different capacities (according to the spiritual gifts God gave us), working together as one unit. Paul is clear when he says, 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 have different gifts, according to the grace given us (Romans 12:4-6). The culture of individualism and self-service has undermined the theology of church as community, where each member knows undoubtedly that he or she is a member and each member belongs to and cares for the other members. Am I Ready? In general, believers who wish to place membership should: 1. Complete the questionnaire and written testimony of one's faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. 2. Commit to live a life separated from sinful habits of the flesh and worldliness. 3. Evidence a burden for those without Jesus Christ as Savior and desire to be used by God to share the Gospel. 4. Be in agreement with the Statement of Faith, Core Values, and Mission of the Somerset Church, which are in agreement with the Bible. 5. Confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and be baptized as a believer. The mode of baptism practiced by the Lord's church is immersion. 6. Demonstrate commitment to each other and to God by giving one's time, talents, and financial support to the ministry of the Church. 7. Meet with the leadership of the Somerset Church thereof in order to profess your commitment to Christ and receive a prayer of 3
blessing. Where Do I Begin? 1. Complete a Membership Questionnaire (This is located on Page #16 of this packet) The Questionnaire contains specific questions and gathers information that acquaints us with your testimony and previous church experience. 2. Attend one Intro to Somerset Church class These classes are held twice a year and are about 2 hours. One will be the third Sunday in May and one will be on the second Sunday in December. These classes are a great place to learn more about the background and beliefs of Somerset Church and to ask any questions you may have. The Final Steps Meet With Somerset Church Leaders This meeting allows the ministers and leaders to get to know you better, confirm your testimony, and answer any further questions you may have about the Somerset Church or your role in the mission of this church. Once membership candidates satisfy the requirements outlined above, the leaders will pray over them and welcome them as an active member of Christ's body. **We realize that people come to Somerset Church with different levels of spiritual maturity and understanding. It is our goal to help each one of you mature in your discipleship to Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:11-6:3). Pursuing partnership as a member affords us an excellent opportunity to provide that guidance and we commend you for your interest in this step of obedience. 4
Structure of Leadership Within the Lord's Church Jesus Christ, Head of the Church Paul declared that Jesus is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent (Colossians 1:18). John also records that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus says concerning himself, The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice (John 10:3-4). Jesus calls people in the church to lead his flock, of which he is the Lead Shepherd, because he has great care and concern for the sheep of his church. Jesus does not want people who will drive the flock with a whip. He calls leaders who will lead by serving and who have great care for the church, as they follow the voice of the Good Shepherd: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:25-28). Shepherds There are 3 words used in Scripture to describe this group of leaders and all 3 terms are synonymous and used interchangeably. They are shepherds, elders, and overseers. The term shepherd denotes someone who cares for the flock. Peter tells the shepherds to shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And then the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:2-3). The second term, elder, means someone who is older. Shepherds are to be men who have gained the respect and trust of their spouse, children, and community through years of life trials and experiences. Finally, overseers are shepherds who watch over and protect their family. They are concerned about the spiritual well-being of the church and vow to protect them. Each local church is to seek and appoint godly men who exhibit 5
the character and personality of a responsible Christ follower who knows the church members by name and is willing to lead them by example, care for them, and protect them through their faithful service as they would their own children. Deacons The word deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos, which means servant or minister. Deacons are people who serve. They are Christians who are recognized by the whole church for ministering to others by serving them. These are people who also must exhibit maturity in their faith, morals, and family (1 Timothy 3:8-13). They have the specific gift of serving and meeting the needs of others, where shepherds are instead given the responsibility to watch over the spiritual well-being of the flock, and to teach, guide, and protect them. Preacher/Evangelist These are the people who have the gift of preaching and teaching others the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts 6 shows these men delegating acts of service to others so that they could focus fully on the ministry of the Word (preaching): It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:3-4). Equipping of the Saints All of these leaders minister together in unity to help mentor every single member within the church Body, helping them minister to others and to essentially grow up into Jesus, the head. He gives us leaders to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Ephesians 4:12-16). 6
SESSION #1 WHAT WE BELIEVE (Core Beliefs) STATEMENT OF FAITH About God... There is only one true God. He is the Creator of all life and the Supreme Ruler of the universe. He has always been (He is eternal) and co-exists equally in three Persons God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. We learn about God through his creation, His holy scriptures, and His Son. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). (See also Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Job 38:1-41:34; Matthew 3:13-17; John 3:16; Romans 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6). About the Holy Spirit... The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He dwells in each member of God's church as a Helper and Guide. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that a person comes to salvation. Upon baptism by immersion, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our physical bodies as His home. He provides help to every Christian to do what is right, strength to serve Jesus, and direction for living life God's way. Every Christian is to allow God's Spirit to help him on a daily basis. (See John 14:16-17; John 16:7-13; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:4-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 3:16-20; Ephesians 5:18). About Man... We are created in the spiritual likeness, or image of God. God gave us free will we have the ability to choose to love as God loves, to choose to do right in the likeness of God's righteousness (right-ness), and to choose to value what God values. God created us because he wants a family who will love Him because we want to love Him, and not because we have to love Him. The first man, Adam, chose to sin, and now every person lives in a marred creation with a marred spiritual nature. As a result, every person will eventually choose to sin and 7
subsequently become separated from God. (See Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 8:3-6; John 4:24; Ephesians 1:4-6; Romans 3:23). About Jesus Christ... Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God. Co-equal with God the Father and God the Spirit, He came to earth and became man. He was completely God while at the same time being fully man. He revealed to us who God is. His miraculous acts, sinless life, and life-changing teachings all confirm the fact that He is God's Son. His purpose for coming to Earth was to show God's love by dying on a cross, thus taking the sins of all mankind upon Himself, and paying the penalty that our sins deserve. His bodily resurrection from the grave and His promise to return someday are testimonies to the fact that He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus desires the deepest of relationships with every person. (See Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1, 14, 18; Acts 10:37-43; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 2:4-8; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-21; Hebrews 1:1-3). About the Bible... The Bible is called God's written word. The process that God used to give us His word is called inspiration, which means Godbreathed. The word of God is without error and is truth. It tells us who God is, why He loves us, and what His plans are for us. The Bible is the authority for living out our lives according to God's will for us. (See Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:105, 160; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). About Salvation... We need salvation because we have sinned. Sin separates us from God who desires relationship with us. It is impossible for any man to restore that broken relationship with God by any amount of personal goodness, religious deeds, or by belonging to a church. We cannot earn, merit, or achieve a right relationship with God by our own efforts. The death of Jesus was not an accident. It was God's plan from the beginning to save us from our sins through the death of Jesus Christ. The Bible calls this God's act of love and grace. His grace is His gift to us. The way we receive His gift is by entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus by placing our belief and faith in Him. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith in action; this is done through the process of Belief, Confession, Repentance, 8
Baptism, and Receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is God's free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness, can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. (See John 1:12; John 14:6; Titus 3:3-8; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; 1 Peter 3:21; Isaiah 59:2; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 3:21). About the Church... The Church is God's spiritual family. It is made up of all those who have chosen to place their trust and faith in Jesus and who are His followers (disciples). The Church is not a building or one particular group of believers. To belong to the Church is to belong to Jesus. The Bible uses the analogy that Jesus is the head of the Church, which is his body. God's will is for the Church to gather regularly to worship its Head, Jesus, to use its various gifts and abilities to serve its Head, to love and encourage those who are in the body, and to work diligently to maintain the unity of the body. As the members of His Church love one another and maintain unity of purpose and relationship, the world around us will recognize that we belong to Jesus. The Church or body is to seek to do the will of God, which also includes loving and saving the world through Jesus Christ. (See Matthew 16:15-18; John 17:20-23; John 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-10). 9
SESSION #2 WHAT ARE OUR CORE VALUES? Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV) Jesus replied: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. The Greatest Command LOVE GOD Communicate the Story of God Understanding and relating the story of God through scripture, life, and experience Prayerfully Dependent Being prayerfully dependent in every direction of our lives Proper Concept of who Christ was, is, and is to come The Second Greatest Command LOVE OTHERS Create Authentic Loving Environment Consistent Contact by/from believers to their culture, and peers Image of group to be relevant to culture and to the story of God's people 10
SESSION #3 WHAT IS OUR MISSION? To RESTORE sinners gently Galatians 6:1 (NIV) says, Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Jesus came to restore sinners back to God. In fact, when he was at Matthew's house eating dinner with unpopular tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees questioned Jesus' followers about this. Jesus answered, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners' (Matthew 9:12-13). We are not out to condemn sinners. Rather, we recognize that we are all sinners in need of God's mercy. When we see someone falling down a slippery slope of sin, our mission is to go after them, to snatch them from the fire and save them (Jude 23). Jesus said there is more rejoicing in Heaven over the one sheep who repented than over the 99 who did not need to repent. God expects us to gently restore sinners to Him. We are a church who seeks sinners, because we are all in need of God's grace, and because we value all people. To LEAD people to Christ The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 records the last words of Jesus: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples (followers) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. The command to make disciples, or followers, of Jesus does not mean to passively worship and hope that people will walk into the church building and find Christ on their own. Jesus said that the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost. Part of our mission is to actively lead others to Jesus. Most people enter into a relationship with God because someone else 11
cared enough to lead them there. Strategy and Expectations of Somerset's STEPS Group ATTRACT Is when we care enough about the souls of others that we invite them to join us... Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled (Luke 14:13). WELCOME Is when we welcome others because Christ has welcomed us... Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God (Romans 15:7). RELATIONSHIPS Is when we encourage and strengthen one another, as we were called to do... Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11). TRANSFORMATION Is when we teach those seeking God to allow him to transform them, to be freed from sin, and to be made a new person through water baptism... Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2). INTEGRATION Is when we truly grasp what it means to be a follower of Jesus and we integrate people into His church... Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) To HEAL the sick The Lord's brother James wrote that if anyone is sick, they should go to the elders and have them pray over the sick person. Then James says, If he has sinned, he will be forgiven (James 5:15). Sickness, in this context, is both physical and spiritual sickness. The next sentence reads, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The pray of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Physical and spiritual sickness are intertwined and affect every person at some point in their lives. At any given time, there are always sick people in close proximity to us. We are called to bring healing to them through prayer. This means there is value in praying with someone in their presence. That is why James tells the sick person to go to the elders when he or she is sick, so the elders can pray over the sick person. 12
To IMITATE GOD in all we do Ephesians 5:1-2 says, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Being imitators of God, the One whose image we were created in, means promoting unity within the Body of Christ (church), living as children of light so that we can bring others to Christ, living moral lives, and viewing the church as a husband-wife relationship where we are bound to Christ and he is bound to us. Being imitators of God does not mean putting on makeup, dressing in our best Sunday clothes, and pretending to be something that we are not for 2 hours a week. We are to imitate God in all we do, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. We are no less married to Christ throughout the week than we are on Sunday. We make up his body and wherever we are, so is Jesus! As members of that body, we care for the other members and remain committed to Christ for the rest of our days. 3 R's to Carrying Out the Mission: Relationships, Relationships,Relationships Relationships One-on-one Most people can point to one specific person in their life who had a positive influence on them as they journeyed toward God. While Jesus frequently ministered in large crowds, he often focused on individuals from within the crowds. He sent his disciples out to preach the Good News in pairs to maximize effectiveness and increase intimacy. One-on-one time is vital to building relationships with the people for whom Christ died. Relationships Small Groups Small groups are a very biblical concept. Jesus chose only 12 apostles. From those 12, he had an inner circle of men who worked closely with him (Peter, James, and John). Jesus also had a small group of women from Galilee who were with him throughout his ministry, who provided for him, and who were the first people to visit the tomb where he was laid. Many of the Christians met in homes in a small group setting, and small groups of Christians gathered every day (see Romans 16; Acts 2:46-47; Acts 12:12). There is 13
freedom for how small groups choose to meet, but the important thing is that they get together, pray together, eat together, and grow together, in order to bless others. Relationships Whole Group Events & Weekly Gathering Service The word translated for church means assembly, gathering, or community, and refers to a group of people with shared belief. Church is the community of believers, not a building. Church happens when that community comes together. God's church is also called Jesus' body, consisting of many members who each have an important role. The church community breaks down when Christians fail to gather together. Relationships within the whole body throughout the week and at the weekly gathering service are vital for the building up of one another and for sharing the Good News of Jesus with others. SESSION #4 HOW DOES SOMERSET CHURCH EMBODY ITS MISSION?* *Used with permission from Renovo Church The description of a discipled person in our ministry. 1)Believer: To learn more about the nature and story of God To become knowledgeable in the history and heritage of the Kingdom of God To become better trained and equipped to serve in the Kingdom of God Growing stronger in faith by practicing spiritual habits 2)Confessor Living a lifestyle of communication to the world that Jesus Christ is the Risen Lord and Son of God Communicating to God the daily battle of life and relying on His intervention in matters of struggles 14
Partnering with others to share in sin, abuse, addictions, temptations, conflict management, etc. 3) Baptizer To live out a lifestyle that is to pick up our cross daily and die with Him Being united with Christ in Baptism (Romans 6) Going into all the world and making disciples, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 4) Repenter Daily making the decision not to sin Finding tools and disciplines that will allow individuals to stay away from self-destructive behavior Leaving the old habits that were part of the world 5) Inspirer Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide in love To motivate and commission the lost, other disciples, ministers and missionaries to live and walk closer to the Almighty God Spurring others on to do good works so that God may be glorified 6) Pray-er Committing to a constant prayer life Bringing all requests and concerns before the Creator Becoming better equipped in ways and means of meditation with God 7) Discipler Building up others Encouraging others Finding the lost and sharing the Good News with them Encourage them to Believe in Christ, Confess Him as the Lord, Repent of sin, Become united with Him on the Cross by having their sins washed away and being filled with the Holy Spirit, because of a clear conscience before God To take fellow disciples and training them in spending time with God, expecting them to be accountable to God & the body, pushing to memorize the scripture of God, to be involved with the Church, to give back sacrificially to God both time and income to study scriptures diligently so that they might know and understand God fully, and to fast regularly so that God might help us to depend on Him rather than the vices of this world To take other ministers and help them to discover their gifts and talents to use for the Kingdom 8) Server Eagerly serving others with a W3 mindset: Whatever-Whenever- Wherever Yielding to leadership with joyful hearts 15
To become the least in our community, so that God might use the disciple as His manifestation on earth To model to others that we love them 9) Giver Committing to meeting with the whole congregation on our Sunday morning gatherings Giving tithes and offerings to the work of the local congregation, its ministries, and missions Looking for opportunities to help others in need, responding to the needs in an appropriate and sacrificial manner MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE NAME: Date of Birth: STREET ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: (H) (CELL) E-mail MARITAL STATUS: (circle one) Single Married Divorced SPOUSE: CHILDREN 16
I am coming today to: (circle & fill in the blank as requested) 1. Profess that I have repented of my sins, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and would like to be united with Christ in (Immersed) baptism. 2. Join this church body by confession that I have repented of my sins, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and have previously been baptized for the forgiveness of sins by immersion in another church. --What church? --When? TESTIMONY Provide a short description of how and when you received Christ as Lord and Savior. How has Christ transformed your life since you became a believer and follower of Christ? 17
What evidences or fruits have there been in your life since your conversion that would document genuine conversion? If known, what are your spiritual gifts? What area(s) would you like to serve at the Somerset Church? Technology (Sunday Worship; sound system/projector/video camera), Why? Greeters, Why? Openers (unlock doors, lights, thermostat control,), Why? Closers (lights, thermostat control, lock doors), Why? De-clutter Crew (Sunday Worship), Why? Children's Worship Volunteer, Why? Sunday School Teacher, Why? Local Missions & Evangelism, Why? 18
Visit/bring communion to shut-ins, Why? Wednesday STEPS Group, Why? Domestic Missions, Why? International Missions, Why? OTHER: ***We do have designated people who will help you get plugged into any of the ministries listed above. They will spend time with you and make sure that you are serving in an area that is fulfilling and fitting to you. 19