BECOMING A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
Why is becoming a part of the Body of Christ so important to your discipleship and remaining free from your addictions? The answer is very simple yet profound. The Body of Christ is God’s ordained support group, God’s place of instruction for life, and the accountability group you need to help keep you on the straight and narrow way. The church of Jesus Christ is to be your primary source of encouragement and support for the struggles you encounter in life. However, as you are strengthened in your life you then need to become an encouragement for others who are struggling. Therefore, you need the church and the church needs you.
I. What is the Church?
A. The church is the assembly of all those who are being saved (Acts 2:47).
B. The church is the Body of Christ, of whom Christ is the head (Col. 1:18).
C. The church is to be the light to the world (Matt. 5:14) (John 8:12).
D. The church is to be the pillar of the Truth in this world (1 Tim. 3:15).
E. The church is to be a place where you can find the strength of God in your inner man (Eph. 3:14-20).
F. The church is to be a source of help for those in true physical need (1 Tim. 5:16) (Acts 2:44-45).
II. Why Should You be Involved in a Local Church Assembly?
A. God commands you never to forsake assembling with the Church (Heb 10:25).
B. The church is where you can be taught the Word of God (Acts 11:26) (1 Cor. 14:19).
C. The church is where you will be cared for, watched over, and protected from wolves that would try to destroy you (Acts 20:28) (1 Peter 5:1-5) (Heb. 13:17).
D. In a local church is where you can receive encouragement from other believers (Heb. 3:13).
E. In the church is where you can be equipped and built up for the work of the ministry, whereby you can then edify the rest of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12).
F. The local church is where you come together for corporate worship (Eph. 5:19) (Col. 3:16).
G. The church is where you can join with other believers to offer up united prayer (Acts 12:5).
H. Here you can become involved in sending and supporting missionaries (Acts 13:1-3) (Acts 15:22).
SERVICE TO GOD
Once you have become a part of the Body of Christ your primary responsibility to God, the church, and to others is to become a servant. Becoming a servant to others is the proof that Christ reigns on the throne of your heart and self has been deposed.
I. Why Should You be in Service to God?
A. Jesus was a servant, and to follow Him you must become a servant too. Jesus said, "Follow Me" (Matt. 16:24) (Phil. 2:5-8).
B. Jesus wants you to be like Him (Matt. 10:24-25).
C. Becoming a servant is the only way you will hear from Jesus, "Well done." These words will only be spoken to those who have faithfully served Him (Matt. 25:23).
D. Becoming a servant is where you will find true greatness in His kingdom (Mark 10:43).
E. If you don’t serve the Lord you will serve some other god (Matt. 6:24).
II. What Motivates You to Serve God?
A. When you realize what Jesus has done for you (1 John 3:16) (Luke 7:41-43).
B. When you understand that to serve God is what it means to love Him back. The word servant means to be a bond-slave or love-slave. This is the word used by the apostles when they referred to themselves (Rom.1:1) (2 Peter 1:1) (James 1:1) (Ex. 21:1-6).
C. When you realize that serving others is what it means to obey His commandments (John 12:26) (John 14:15; 21; 23).
D. When you understand that obeying His commands to serve others is where your greatest joy will come from in life (John 15:10-11).
E. When you decide that you no longer want to live for yourself, but for God (2 Cor. 5:14-15).