CHAPTER TWO: JOURNEY DOWN THE ROMAN HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO CORINTH
On any journey, it is best to have a well marked road map to help guide us to our destination. The map must be current. In most states of the United States of America, there are cities in existence today that would not have appeared on a map of the 1800's. Each year, major highway construction adds miles of new interstates to speed our travel. In some high mountain areas, certain highways are marked "closed from October through April." If we want our journey to be successful, to speed us along our way to the correct destination and avoid pitfalls on the route, we are wise to study our map before we start the engine of the car and to make certain that map is up to date and shows the area to which we are to travel.
The Bible contains a clearly marked map of the journey called "Life." It is a guide that shows us the only way to Heaven. John 14:6
It is current and up to date. Some try to say that the modern era has made the Bible map obsolete, but the very issues of today point to the timelessness of the Scriptures. There is no territory of life that is not highlighted on our map.
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Every potential pitfall is marked, every detour sign posted, and every closure warned. The sins that would cause us to lose our way on the journey and get stuck in a by-path meadow are clearly spelled out.
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If we want our life journey to be successful, to speed us along our way to the correct destination and avoid pitfalls on the route, we are wise to study our map before we start our daily walk of faith, knowing for certain that our Bible map is up to date and shows us each the areas in which we are to travel.
One of the most important journeys we make along life’s adventure is that of church membership. Within a local church body we can enjoy fellowship, be edified in our spirits, have teaching imparted to our lives, exercise our gifts and uniquely grow in our Christian lives. What we learn and demonstrate within the body will spill over into our "extra-church" lives in our homes, work or school places, social contacts, and individual lives. The development of the character of Christ in each of our lives will be enhanced and stimulated by that which we gain within our local churches. The purpose of this study is to discover the ninety-five responsibilities for church members mentioned in the New Testament epistles. From Romans through Jude, these responsibilities are mentioned, even commanded. They are each equally areas that God expects us to develop and exercise in our lives as we grow and travel along our life journeys. Though seen in the concept of the church, the exercise of these qualities is not confined to the four walls of our church building or to the services of the week that meet there. These responsibilities are meant to nurture the development of the character of Christ within each of our lives. When that character is sincerely and genuinely growing within, its out workings will be found in every area of our lives. The developing love we share within the church, will find effects in our homes, work or school places, social contacts, and individual lives. Christ is real and the reality of His working in our lives will be visible for all to see. We will become a better Christian, a better church member, a better person as we seek to develop these areas in our own lives.
Come start this important journey down the path way of the New Testament epistles. Let us stop at each marked place on our map and view the sights there. The experience will enrich our lives. Each stopping place is the first mention of a responsibility. Often the same responsibility is mentioned elsewhere on the epistles and those additional "sister-cities" will be noted in conjunction with that category.
1. Exercise spiritual gifts: Romans 12:3-8; I Cor. 1:7
2. Be kindly affectioned and prefer one another: Romans 12:10
3. Be willing to distribute to the necessity of the saints: Romans 12:13; 15:25-26
4. Be spiritually able to admonish one another: Romans 15:14
5. Assist and encourage other believers: Romans 16:1-16
6. Be aware of those who cause strife: Romans 16:17-18
7. Speak the same mind (no divisions): I Cor. 1:10-12; 3:3,4; 4:5-7
8. Labor with the leadership of the church: I Cor. 3:9-10