every member at every service

EVERY MEMBER

ATEVERY

SERVICE(EPH. 4:16)

[By Ron Halbrook]

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• Introduction:1. Eph. 4:16 Personal faith focused on Christ,

service to Christ, with joint duties & privileges

EVERY MEMBER at EVERY SERVICE

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

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• Introduction:2. Acts 9:19, 26-28 Faith, service, joint duties

& privileges exercised in local church Vs. 19 Saul “with the disciples…at Damacus” Vv. 26-28 At Jerusalem “assayed to join himself to the disciples….And he was with them” We must do the same today!


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• Introduction:3. 1st century opportunities for worship & study:

Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and prayers.” Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple…” Acts 4:23-31 Peter & John “went to their own company, and reported….when they had prayed …they spake the word of God with all boldness.”


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Acts 13:1-3 Antioch church prayed & sent out Barnabus & Saul to preach Acts 14:26-27 Barnabus & Paul returned, “gathered the church together” & “rehearsed all God had done with them…” Acts 15:6, 22 Jerusalem church with “the apostles and elders came together” for a debate with men binding the Law of Moses


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Acts 20:7 “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them…” Acts 20:17-38 Paul met with Ephesus elders


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1 Cor. 16:2 “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him…” Eph. 5:19 ”Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”


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4. Many such opportunities today: Sunday Bible study and worship Wednesday Bible classes Gospel meetings Special meetings for song or prayer Special classes on a theme, for a group, etc. Training sessions for song leaders, etc. Elders’ or men’s meeting to discuss the work Debates Reports on work in other places


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• Introduction:5. Every member has duty & privilege to attend

every service: Services legislated by God (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2) Services deemed expedient by elders or men in each local church (1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 2:12) According to design of meeting & ability of member


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6. Why every member should desire to be here: Express our love & loyalty to Christ Strengthen our unity in Christ Establish us in the faith Make us zealous of good works


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I. Express Our Love & Loyalty to Christ A. Jn. 15:8-14 Show Love by Bearing Fruit


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8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

A. Jn. 15:8-14 Show Love by Bearing Fruit

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11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

A. Jn. 15:8-14 Show Love by Bearing Fruit

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I. Express Our Love & Loyalty to Christ B. 1 Pet. 1:6-9 Love Him & Long to See Him


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6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

B. 1 Pet. 1:6-9 Love Him & Long to See Him

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I. Express Our Love & Loyalty to Christ C. 1 Thess. 1:2-3 A Working Church Shows

Faith, Hope, & Love


2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

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I. Express Our Love & Loyalty to Christ D. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 Serve the Saints

Because Love the Savior


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14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

D. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 Served the Saints Because Loved the Savior

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I. Express Our Love & Loyalty to Christ E. Come by Love, to Show Love:

Our Love Will Grow Worship focuses our hearts on him: Every act ordained by his authority Every act accepted by his mediation Every act expresses our love for him


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II. Strengthen Our Unity in Christ A. Eph. 4:1-3, 12, 15-16 True Worship

Renders Love & Service to Christ & to Each Other


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1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

A. Eph. 4:1-3, 12, 15-16 True Worship Renders Love & Service to Christ & to Each Other

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12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

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II. Strengthen Our Unity in Christ B. Heb. 10:24-25 Joint Worship

Increases Mutual Growth


24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

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II. Strengthen Our Unity in Christ C. Heb. 10:26-27 Neglect of This Duty

Hardens the Heart & Destroys Souls


26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

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II. Strengthen Our Unity in Christ D. Rom. 15:5-7 Worship Draws Us

Closer to God & to Each Other


5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

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III. Establish Us in the Faith A. Jude 3; 1 Cor. 11:23-26 Every Act of Worship

Exercises Our Faith in The Faith God speaks in “the faith” We obey “the faith” Our faith in God & His Word grows!


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3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

A. Jude 3 Every Act of Worship Exercises Our Faith in The Faith

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23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

A. 1 Cor. 11:23-26 Every Act of Worship Exercises Our Faith in The Faith

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25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

A. 1 Cor. 11:23-26 Every Act of Worship Exercises Our Faith in The Faith

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III. Establish Us in the Faith B. Col. 1:21-23, 28-29; 2:6-8 Teaching

& Warning Grounds Our Faith


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21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

B. Col. 1:21-23 Teaching & Warning Grounds Our Faith

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28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.


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6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.


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III. Establish Us in the Faith C. Every Act of Worship Honors God

& Strengthens Mutually Our Faith


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IV. Make Us Zealous of Good Works A. Tit. 2:11-14 Sound Teaching Informs

& Motivates Us to Good Works


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11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

A. Tit. 2:11-14 Sound Teaching Informs & Motivates Us to Good Works

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IV. Make Us Zealous of Good Works B. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 The More We Learn,

The More We Are Equipped to All Good Works


16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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IV. Make Us Zealous of Good Works C. 1 Cor. 15:58 Attending Every Service

Helps Us to Abound More & More


58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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IV. Make Us Zealous of Good Works D. Zeal Must Be Balanced with Truth

Many: no zeal, no knowledge Some: zeal, no knowledge Others: knowledge, no zeal Attending every service promotes both zeal & knowledge!


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V. Valid Exceptions VS Excuses for Sin A. Bible Principles Define Exceptions

2 Cor. 8:12 Ability limits responsibility


12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

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V. Valid Exceptions VS Excuses for Sin A. Bible Principles Define Exceptions

2 Cor. 8:12 Ability limits responsibility Sick, disabled (2 Tim. 4:20 Trophimus) Care for sick, disabled (Lk. 10:30-37) Provide a living (1 Tim. 5:8) Traveling, visit other congregations (2

Cor. 11:25-26; Acts 20:7)


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V. Valid Exceptions VS Excuses for Sin B. God Does Not Accept Excuses for Sin

Lk. 14:15-24 “And they all with one consent began to make excuses:” Claim to attend elsewhere—float, hide Busy, need extra sleep Recreation, athletics, contests Visitors “Sunday” sickness, “Sunday” disabled


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2 Thess. 3:6 Discipline the disorderly


6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

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2 Thess. 3:6 Discipline the disorderly When there is proven willful sin Gospel works on moral basis,

church not a detective agency Sinner may deceive us, but not God!


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• Invitation:1. Eph. 4:16 Personal faith focused on Christ,

service to Christ, with joint duties & privileges


16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

46

• Invitation:2. Every member has duty & privilege to attend

every service: Services legislated by God (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2) Services deemed expedient by elders or men in each local church (1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 2:12) According to design of meeting & ability of member


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3. Why every member should desire to be here: Express our love & loyalty to Christ Strengthen our unity in Christ Establish us in the faith Make us zealous of good works


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4. “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6: 2)

Mk. 16:16 Christ calls lost souls in the world


16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

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4. “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6: 2)

Acts 8:22 Christ calls erring brethren


22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

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