- Member is not like “Country Club Membership” with rights
- Biblically, member is being a “part of the body of Christ” with a function, a role to play
1 Corinthians 12:12-3112 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
- Being functioning means leading out of love
- This means being a servant leader
- Removing your ego from the equation
- The church doesn’t exist to meet my needs, I exist to meet the needs of those around me in the church
- This means being a servant leader
- Being functioning means finding your fit in ministry
- What are you gifted at? Where do you currently serve? Paul says one part shouldn’t say another part isn’t needed, but today, most often, we remove ourselves from serving the church (take the 30 second questionnaire to get involved – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHHaKULcWcPOJaoh6kfywWCx-5hq-5KC7BOs3POHtCQ0pQ8A/viewform)
- At Harmony, our servant leaders are what sets us apart – we believe YOU have what it takes to do significant things for God and want to help ignite that passion and equip you for that mission
- Being functioning means investing in the mission
- Harmony is a church that cares deeply about the mission
- We want to have you join us
- We take the sacrifice people make to give seriously as a stewardship issue
- money counted 3 times
- Systems of accountability
- Staff does not set salaries, we operate off a budget
- Our church embraces being shockingly generous, and it ignites a passion in us knowing what we give makes a tangible difference in the lives of people around us