Baptism did not save me, but it made me a church member!
Perhaps I should clarify. In my hometown church, membership is automatic when you get baptized. So I have been a member of a local church for over 26 years now because I was baptized in the fall of 1997.
Salvation made me a member of Christ’s body, the universal church. But baptism joined me with the local church in Mason City, IA.
On Sunday night a group of us were discussing the topic of church dropouts, and the question arose, “What is church membership?”
We did not come to any conclusions at the moment, especially since it was technically not the main topic of the hour. I mostly sat and listened without saying anything despite the fact that I have been thinking deeply and reading extensively about the topic for over a year.
Have you ever claimed the truth of this verse in your life?
“I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive” (Jeremiah 29:14).
What better way to waste your time on your day of rest than to do it with an ineffective sermon, right?
The Sunday sermon, a cornerstone of modern-day Christian churches, provides an opportunity for believers to gather, reflect, and learn from the teachings of Scripture.
Despite this valuable time of communal worship, however, these sermons may not always lead to the transformative change intended.
The year: 1692.
The setting: Salem Village in colonial Massachusetts.
Tension and unease filled the air as the sun cast long shadows over the Puritan settlement. An unfortunate, history-altering mysterious affliction befell several young girls.
Their behavior became erratic, marked by spasms, contortions, and eerie visions. Desperate to explain the inexplicable, the girls pointed accusatory fingers at fellow villagers, igniting a spark that would engulf the community in a fervor of paranoia and persecution.
What should I write about next? Are there issues that you are facing or that the church is facing today that need to be addressed? Take 15 seconds to let me know!
