Weekly Update | December 7, 2023
Reasons to Be a Church Member
Dmitriy Zherebnenkov
From time to time there are people who say that their faith is not tied to any particular religious organization. It’s even presented as a spiritual and wise decision. What leads to this, they say, are the imperfections of the people they’ve encountered in the church. They even bring up passages that they think justify their position. However, there are plenty of New Testament passages that command us to live in harmony together and serve each other. Read the following list and be encouraged that to be a church member is a good thing!
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. (Mark 9:50)
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. (James 5:9)
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (1 Peter 1:22)
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9)
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: (1 Peter 4:10)
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. (2 John 5)
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10)
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Romans 14:13)
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (Romans 15:5)
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (Romans 15:14)
(Romans 15:17)
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another (1 Corinthians 11:33)
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Greet one another with a holy kiss. (2 Corinthians 13:12)
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:15)
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:26)
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, (Ephesians 4:2)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (Ephesians 5:19)
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (Colossians 3:9)
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13)
Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (Hebrews 10:24)
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in
Ukraine: https://gfchurch.com/ukraine/
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
- Thursday (6:30 PM) – Kid’s Bible School (open to all but required for parents), followed by Bible Study (Proverbs) for the whole church at 7:30 PM.
- Sunday services:
- Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM