为何你需要成为某个教会的成员？
Why we need to join a particular church (membership)?Following article was written back in 2005 as OCECC first implemented church membership formally. And I thought it would be good idea to share it with those who just come to OCECC and consider to check our coming soon new members class from Oct to Nov. Please give me a call if you have future questions. May Lord bless you, Pastor Biao
I have heard the some responses to inquire the reasons to have formal membership. I am so glad you do care! As a pastor I feel that I did not communicate the necessity of church membership from biblical, historical and practical perspectives to brothers and sisters. In this email, I want to explain these to you in brief fashion. Instead to hold you to read much from my writings during working hours for Lord, I simply paraphrase the contents of inquiring seminars for the next five weeks and hope you are going to jump in. Who knows?
1. Commitment of Historical Evangelical Christian Faith
2. Commitment to the Lord through commitment to each other in one body
3. Enjoy our benefit and responsibility to a particular family of God in Christ
4. Aware some unique characteristics of Evangelical Reformed faith
5. Participate and exercise your gifts from Lord in the church
6. Understanding the necessity of church organization and discipline
7. Knowing this particular church such as her personality, passion and strategy from insiders
For these reasons, I expect all brothers and sisters who attends or considers to attend OCECC regularly, please don’t miss this opportunity to move together, to see and taste the vision Lord has been giving to the leadership and body of Christ at the OCECC, whether you are the “automotive” members of OCECC (by baptized here) or “transferred or potential members” (who moved here from other churches in the US and world who are serving and attending at OCECC). There are total FIVE sessions of this seminar, in the end, you will have opportunity to confirmed your membership which you have already had at OCECC, or formally transferred to OCECC or formally accepted by OCECC as members, or becoming associated members due to your special confirmed calling from Lord, or you simply want to continue to stay with OCECC to see when or whether you should join this particular body of Christ of visible church in short or distance future.
SEE YOU ON NEXT FIVE SUNDAY AFTERNOON
——-Contents of seminars of membership at OCECC in 2007
目录
1． 认识我们的服事理念–教会的异像、使命、价值、目标和策略
2． 认识福音和跟随基督–基督教的福音信仰
3． 认识我们的信仰特点–归正教会的特色
4． 认识我们的教会治理–维护教会的合一和纯洁
5． 认识我们恩赐的管家身份–参与教会中聚会和事工
Explore and Join OCECC Content
1. Explore our ministry-vision, mission, value and goals and strategy.
2. Explore Gospel and be the follower of Christ – Evangelical Christian Faith.
3. Explore Distinctive of our faith – major reformed characteristics.
4. Explore Operation of our Church – Purity and Unity of church.
5. Explore Gifts of Stewardship – Participate Worship and Ministry.