{"id":72,"date":"2009-03-29T08:22:02","date_gmt":"2009-03-29T13:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/?p=72"},"modified":"2009-09-02T10:54:27","modified_gmt":"2009-09-02T15:54:27","slug":"evangelical-baptist-church-constitution-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/?p=72","title":{"rendered":"Evangelical Baptist Church Constitution Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Am I Doing In Church? <\/span><\/p>\n

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Member Responsibilities<\/span><\/p>\n

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Evangelical<\/span><\/strong> Baptist Church<\/span><\/strong> Constitution Part 1<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Acts 2<\/span><\/strong> 41-47<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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(Taken from EBC Constitution Article V, section C, subsection 2)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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RESPONSIBILITY AND CONDUCT OF MEMBERS<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The responsibilities of members are set forth in general terms in the Church<\/span><\/p>\n

Covenant. In addition and by way of clarification, a member in good<\/span><\/p>\n

standing shall strive to maintain, with the Lord\u2019s help, the highest ideals of Christian living as suggested in the following paragraphs:<\/span><\/p>\n

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a)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>MEMBERS TO THE LORD. It shall be the duty of each member of this Church<\/span><\/p>\n

to strive to put the Lord Jesus Christ first in his life; to \u201cpresent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God\u201d (Romans 12:1) and to heed the Scripture which says \u201cAnd whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.\u201d (Colossians 3:23,24)<\/span><\/p>\n

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b)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>MEMBERS TO THEMSELVES. It shall be the duty of each member of this<\/span><\/p>\n

Church to strive to acquire a knowledge of the Scriptures for himself<\/span><\/p>\n

and his family: to \u201cgrow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and<\/span><\/p>\n

Savior, Jesus Christ…\u201d (II Peter 3:18); to strive for a moment by<\/span><\/p>\n

moment walk in dependence upon the Holy Spirit so as not to \u201cfulfill the<\/span><\/p>\n

lust of the flesh\u201d (Galatians 5:16); and to live a consistent Christian life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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c)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>MEMBERS TO THEIR CHURCH. It shall be the duty of each member of this<\/span><\/p>\n

Church to strive to attend the services of their church faithfully and to invite and encourage others to attend; to be friendly and sociable at the services and meetings of the Church; to contribute regularly and cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:6,7) to the local expenses and missionary program of the church \u201cas God hath prospered him\u201d (I Corinthians 16:2);<\/span><\/p>\n

to help willingly in whatsoever way possible in the program of the church; to pray daily for the spiritual welfare of the church (Ephesians 6:18), and if at any time he finds himself opposed to the fundamental doctrines of the Church as expressed in the Statement of Faith, or if for any other reason is unable to harmonize with the decisions of the\u00a0 <\/span>Church or with other members, he will quietly and in a Christian manner withdraw himself from the membership by taking his membership to another church.<\/span><\/p>\n

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d)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>MEMBERS TO OTHER MEMBERS. It shall be the duty of each member of this<\/span><\/p>\n

Church to strive to cultivate and cherish Christian love for the other members regardless of their action toward us; to visit and sympathize with members in affliction; to pray with and for each other; to consider it a privilege to administer financial help to other members who may be in need at any time; to guard each others reputation (\u201cThou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people…\u201d Leviticus 19:16); and to strive by all proper means to promote one another\u2019s spiritual welfare.<\/span><\/p>\n

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e)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>MEMBERS TO THEIR PASTOR. It shall be the duty of each member of this<\/span><\/p>\n

Church to strive at all times to honor and \u201cesteem them very highly in love for their work\u2019s sake\u201d (I Thessalonians 5:12,13); to pray for him in the scriptural exercise of his official authority; to \u201cobey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account…\u201d (Hebrews 13:17); to regularly attend upon his ministrations; to guard his reputation (I Timothy 5:19); and to contribute to his support in proportion to their ability (Philippians 4:16,17; I Corinthians 9:7,9,10,13,14; I Timothy 5:18).\u00a0 <\/span>They should assist him in carrying out the program of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church.<\/span><\/p>\n

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f)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>MEMBERS TOWARD THOSE NOT IN THE CHURCH. It shall be the duty of each member of this Church to strive to win their friends, neighbors, etc., to the Lord Jesus Christ by their personal witness; living a consistent Christian life before the unsaved; and by inviting them to attend the services of this Church with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Members to the Lord<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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A.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Be a living sacrifice<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Romans 12:1<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is<\/span> your reasonable service<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Holy \u2013 keep a short account of sin<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Acceptable to God \u2013 come to Him on His terms<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>This is only reasonable<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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B.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Be excellent in everything you do<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Colossians 3:23-24<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it<\/span> heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Mediocrity is not an option<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Eternal reward is at stake<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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II.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Members to Themselves<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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A.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Grow in spiritual maturity<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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2 Peter 3:18<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

18 But grow in grace, and in<\/span> the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be<\/span> glory both now and for ever. Amen. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Take personal responsibility for your spiritual growth.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Grow in Grace \u2013 experiencing God\u2019s power<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Grow in Knowledge \u2013 experiencing God\u2019s love.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Ephesians 3:14-21<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is<\/span> the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be<\/span> glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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B.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Walk in the Spirit<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Galatians 5:16<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

16 This<\/span> I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Walk = a series of steps in the same direction<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Yield to the Spirit, starve and ignore the flesh.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 13:14<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil<\/span> the lusts thereof<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Romans 6:12-13<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as<\/span> instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as<\/span> instruments of righteousness unto God<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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III.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Members to their Church<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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A.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Attend services faithfully<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Hebrews 10:25<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is<\/span>; but exhorting one another<\/span>: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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B.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Invite and encourage others to attend<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Hebrews 10:24<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works<\/span><\/em>: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Acts 2:46-47<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,\u00a0 <\/span>47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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C.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Be friendly at the services<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Proverbs 18:24<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

24 A man that hath<\/span> friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that<\/span> sticketh closer than a brother. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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D.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Give financially<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Malachi 3:8-11<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are<\/span> cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even<\/span> this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall<\/span> not be room<\/span> enough to receive it<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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2 Corinthians 9:6-7<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

6 But this I say<\/span>, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give<\/span>; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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E.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Serve in the church<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Matthew 20:26-27<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;<\/span> 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant<\/span><\/span><\/em>:<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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F.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Pray for the church<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Ephesians 6:18<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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G.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>If you cannot in good conscience remain one mind with the assembly, leave and find an assembly where you can.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Philippians 2:1-2<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

If there be<\/span> therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being<\/span> of one accord, of one mind<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Doctrine<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Business decisions<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What Am I Doing In Church? \u00a0 \u00a0 Member Responsibilities \u00a0 \u00a0 Evangelical Baptist Church Constitution Part 1 Acts 2 41-47 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 (Taken from EBC Constitution Article V, section C, subsection 2) \u00a0 RESPONSIBILITY AND CONDUCT OF MEMBERS \u00a0 The responsibilities of members are set forth in general terms in the Church Covenant. … Continue reading Evangelical Baptist Church Constitution Part 1<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-evening-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139,"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72\/revisions\/139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}