THE CHURCH'S MEMBERSHIP

We find ourselves at a crossroads between two competing visions of church life: the cruise ship and the battleship. This message challenges us to examine whether we approach church membership as passive passengers expecting to be served, or as active crew members engaged in spiritual warfare. Drawing from Hebrews 10:19-25, we discover that meaningful church membership is not about exclusive clubs or spiritual status, but about drawing near to God with confidence through the blood of Jesus, holding fast to our hope without wavering, and considering how to stimulate one another toward love and good deeds. The imagery is powerful: we are like puzzle pieces, each with protruding strengths and hollow weaknesses, designed to fit together in ways that make us complete. What one person lacks, another provides. The Old Testament tabernacle imagery reminds us that Jesus tore the veil from top to bottom, giving us direct access to God—not so we could remain isolated, but so we could come together with sincere hearts and full assurance of faith. The call is clear: we are either drawing near or drifting away, there is no neutral ground. As we see the day drawing near, whatever we are going to do for Jesus, we must do it now.