Church Member part II

 The link for our streamed service this week is here

Linda being a servant

Continuing - I Am a Church Member By Thomas Rainer

 

I have set myself the task of discussing the Pledges that Thomas Rainer has given us in his book I Am a Church Member.  Previously, we looked at what it means to be a functioning and unifying member of a church community.  This week we will look at what it means to be a servant, the responsibility to pray for our church leaders as well as our responsibility to our family and church membership.

 

Rainer’s premise is that even though we like the churches we belong to, we are there to serve others, to give and to sacrifice.  The church is not there to cater to our wishes, we are to be the servant rather than the one who wants to be served.   The word servant occurs fifty-seven times in the New Testament and the word serve, fifty-eight.   Jesus said we are to be last of all and servant of all.  What does this mean in real terms?  It means we will not always get things our way.  We are to be obedient and put others first. 

 

The next task we are given is to pray for our church leaders.  Our ministers need prayer for their sermons, we should pray to God to give wisdom, insight and words to preach.  Their families need our prayers, as they face the expectations and pressures of being the minister’s family.  Rainer suggest that as a church member you should pray for the minister for at least five minutes a day.  Not too much to ask when you consider that his work is never ending, and his days are filled with constant demands for his time.   

 

The last two pledges Rainer wants to look at are helping our family members be contributing church members and for us to cherish our church membership as a gift.  Not all members of a family have accepted the gift of salvation.  However, we are to pray for them and by demonstrating our respect and love for the church we are living Christ’s example.  In my own family, I find that I am always being asked what I am doing “up at the church and what was the sermon about today”, opportunities to witness about Jesus.  Writing this blog leads to questions and opportunities!

 

Now that our communities are beginning to open up after COVID, we are looking at what we like about the before times and our now times.  I want my church to be a place of love and celebration.  Of finding the best way to serve each other and our community.  A place to grow in the love of Christ.  For me, this book has given me new tools and energy to be an active church member.

Ed. Note: My thanks to Linda Cliff for the blog this week. As well as including prayer in her daily life, she reads the Bible faithfully. Recently she completed Loving Jesus More Bible reading plan from @YouVersion!

Check it out here