LESSON TWO - YOU AND YOUR BAPTISM AND CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
How to Identify with Christ and Join a Bible-Believing Church
The word baptize means to dip, to immerse, to place under, or to put underwater and completely cover. Baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is a testimony to others in the church that you have already been saved and that you now intend to live your life surrendered to Christ. Both baptism and faithful church attendance are important steps of obedience for the Christian.
The Importance of Baptism
1 Do you have to be baptized in order to be saved? (Romans 10:13; Ephesians 2:8-9)
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2 Through what are we redeemed? (Ephesians 1:7)
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3 Did the apostle Paul view baptism as apart of the gospel? (I Corinthians 1:13-17; 15:1-4) ____________________________________________________________________________
4 Who commanded Christians to be baptized? (Matthew 28:18-20)
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5 If baptism is a command from the Lord, what would you call a refusal to be baptized? (James 4:17)
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6 Acts records the beginning of the church. In the following verses note who was baptized and what preceded their baptism. Do you notice a pattern?
Acts 2:41 ______________________________________________________________
Acts 8:12 ______________________________________________________________
Acts 8:36-38 ______________________________________________________________
Acts 10:44-48 ______________________________________________________________
Acts 16:30-34 ______________________________________________________________
7 In the same passages listed above, does it appear that these people were baptized according to the biblical definition of baptism given at the beginning of this lesson? Explain.
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8 According to the above Scriptures, have you been scripturally baptized?
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The Importance of Church Membership
9 What should immediately follow salvation and baptism? (Acts 2:41)
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10 List the activities of the early church. (Acts 2:42)
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11 Why should you be careful about the type of church you join? (Galatians 1:6-9; 11 Timothy 4:3-4)
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12 How often do you think the Lord would have you attend church? (Hebrews 10:25)
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13 What two offices of leadership were given to the local church? (I Timothy 3:1, 8)
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14 For what purpose were the evangelists and pastor/teachers given to the local church? (Ephesians 4:11-12)
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15 What should be your attitude toward the leadership in the local church? (I Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17)
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16 What is the main ministry of the members of a local church? (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20)
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17 How should church members relate to one another? (Philippians 2:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22)
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MEMORIZE
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
What will you do as a result of what you have learned from God's Word? (James 1:22-25)
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