WHAT KIND OF CHURCH MEMBER ARE YOU?

INTRODUCTION:
     A.  There are many passages that speak of loyalty.  Mt. 10:32,33.
     B.  What is the real question?
     1.  It is not, "Are you a church member?"
     2.  The focal point in this discussion is the word "loyal."
     a.  Means: to be true, to stand by, to defend, to support.
     b.  What makes one a member of the Lord's church? Acts 2:38-47.
     C.  This present age is characterized by disloyalty in almost every area of human
           behavior.
     1.  Many homes are being torn apart by immorality and disobedience.
     2.  Many nations are being torn apart by treason and dishonesty.
     3.  Many members are becoming disloyal to the church yearly!  (Services,
           Soul winners, stewardship)
     D.  Where-in lies the strength and weakness of this church?
     1.  The strength of the church is perfect.
     a.  It has a sure foundation.  I Cor. 3:11.
     b.  It has a divine head.  Eph. 1:22,23.
     2.  The weakness of the church lies in its members.
     a.  We are the material of the structure.  I Pet. 2:5.
     b.  We need more members who can sing from the heart,
     "I love thy kingdom, Lord, the house of thine abode;
     The church our blest Redeemer saved with his own precious
           Blood.
     I love thy church O God!  Her walls before thee stand,
     Dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand."
     E.  Here are 5 reasons WHY you should be a loyal member:

I.  IF YOU ARE A LOYAL CHURCH MEMBER, YOU ARE LOYAL TO CHRIST.
     A.  Now when I speak of the church I am speaking of something divine. Mt. 16:18.
     B.  What you do with the church is what you do with Christ.
     1.  Saul persecuted the church - Gal. 1:23.
     2.  Saul persecuted Christ - Acts 9:5.
     3.  Note the relationships: Eph. 1:22,23; I Cor. 12:12,27; Mt. 25:40.
     C.  The church is special to Christ--Eph. 5:21,32; Acts 20:28.
     1.  He loves her.
     2.  He is her redeemer.
     3.  He is her husband.
     4.  He is her sanctifier.
     5.  He is her satisfier.
     6.  He is her bridegroom.
II.  YOU OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL TO CHRIST.  Have we forgotten what we used to be
      like?
     A.  Love should be requited. I Jn. 4:19; Jn. 14:15,23.
     B.  What is man's condition without membership, Mt. 18:3.
     1.  Lost in sin - Jn. 3:16; Lk 19:10; Rom. 3:23.
     2.  Child of the devil - Jn. 8:44.
     3.  In darkness - Col. 1:13.
     4.  Without God and hope - Eph. 2:12.
     5.  No spiritual blessings - Eph. 1:3; Gal. 3:14.
     C.  Compare that to the condition of one who is a member.  II Cor. 5:17.
     1.  Saved - II Tim. 2:10; Eph. 1:7.
     2.  Child of God - Gal. 3:26,27.
     3.  Citizen in kingdom - Heb. 12:28; Acts 2:47.
     4.  A sure hope in Christ - Heb. 6:18,19.
     5.  All spiritual blessings - Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:3.
III.  TO BE POWERFUL FOR CHRIST.
     A.  We cannot win souls without loyalty - Jn. 15:4,5.
     1.  We are a "field" instead of a "force" for evangelism.
     2.  Gideon--"he won the battle the day before." (32,000--less 22,000 cowards--
                less 9,700 careless=300 consecrated)
     B.  You have not light if you are not loyal - Phil. 2:15,16.
     1.  Difference between a "demon-station" and a "demonstration."
     2.  We are trying to substitute "eloquence" and "elegance."
     C.  Two other divine institutions suffer when you are not loyal.
     1.  Nation - Psa. 33:12; Prov. 14:34; Psa. 9:17 (evolution)
     2.  Home - Eph. 6:4 (whose home promotes crime and ungodliness?)
IV.  TO BE HONEST WITH CHRIST.
     A.  Jesus spoke often of stewardship - a sample.  Mt. 25:14-30.
     B.  Christians are stewards - I Cor. 4:2; Mt. 6:33; I Cor. 6:20.
     1.  Some members are just count, not count upon!
     2.  Some ready for financial report, not mission report.
     C.  Build a case for an honest funeral!
     1.  "Every time I pass the church, I stop and pay a visit.
           So when they bring me in stretched out, the preacher won't ask who is it!"
     2.  Imagine the preacher telling the whole truth at some funerals.  Here lies...
           He was a...member!!!
V.  TO BE ETERNALLY WITH CHRIST.
     A.  Heaven is not just wishful thinking apart from revelation.
     1.  Jesus told us heaven is real.  Jn. 14:3; Acts 7:55,56.
     2.  Paul told us the same!  II Cor. 5:1; II Cor. 5:8.
     B.  Now who will spend eternity with Christ?
     1.  Those who were disloyal?  Rev. 3:5; 22:18,19; 21:27.
     2.  Those who were loyal, who laid their treasures up in heaven.  Mt. 5:11,12;
           Mt. 6:20; Lk. 10:20; II Thess. 1:7; Rev. 2:10; Rev. 14:13, Rev. 22:14.
CONCLUSION:
     A.  The earnest desire of every Christian should be to sing:
     "May thy rich grace impart strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire;
     As thou hast died for me, O may my love to thee, pure, warm, and changeless
           be, a living fire."
     B.  If you are not a loyal member of the body of Christ, here is why I preached this
           Sermon: Gal. 6:1,2; Heb. 10:24,25; Jas. 5:19,20.
     C.  Is it now a question of HOW to be loyal to Christ and His church?  
     1.  The same way a husband is loyal to his wife (loves her, seeks her company,
          gladly supports her).
     2.  The same way a citizen is loyal to his country  (honors, defends, and
          supports his obligations - Mt. 22:21).
     3.  The same way a soldier is loyal to his commander (obeys his commands and
           trusts in his directions).
     a.  Imagine some excuses at reveille (tired, recreation, guest came).
     b.  If this were the army, some would be dishonorably discharged!
     4.  There are no good reasons for you not being a loyal member of the church of
           Our Lord.
     a.  That takes care of those who need this hour to be restored.
     b.  That takes care of those who need to obey the gospel.