Thom rainer in his book, i am a church member, provides his audience with a clear, applicable commentary on how we, as church members, can better. This book, written by thom rainer, offers a brief description of what it means to be a member of a local congregation. Great book for the entire church to read i am a church member is an effective tool for churches and individuals to better understand how to make a difference in their church and community. Oct 14, 20 i received a copy of thom rainers book, i am a church member. Click on the lesson titles in the table below to download a printable copy of the sermon handout and the quiz questions once they are made available. Thoughtfully expanded to book form, i am a church member begins to remedy the. I will be a functioning church member i t was a big deal for this young boy living in the small southern town. Thoughtfully expanded to book form, i am a church member. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference thom s.
I am a church member consists of an introduction and six chapters. Its different from the perks and privileges you have when you are in a social club. I am a church member is a stellar example of such monographs, the perfect introduction for anyone serious about pleidg jesus through responsible church membership. Now we are the body of christ and individual members of it 1 cor. But may god help us, with grace and humility, to share our biblical. I have benefited greatly from his books and research.
I knew i was in trouble when chapter one started at 30% of the book content on my kindle. I doubt the issue of church membership makes it on most people s. Dec 19, 2015 in this book rainer deals with six key aspects of being a member of the church and includes a call to action page and discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Church membership is not membership to a club or a store. It was a great study for our groups and i would encourage you to utilize this resource in your small groups or sunday school classes. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference. Fun, perceptive, challenging, and steeped in scripture, i sincerely wish that every evangelical churchman would read and then practice this book. For 75 years, why i am a member of the church of christ has attempted to explain what we believe and why we believe it. A little book that packs a wallop i am a church member. Its not membership as in a civic organization or a country club. By identifying ourselves with a particular church, we let the pastors and other members of that local church know that we intend to be committed in attendance, giving, prayer, and service. Rainer drew an exceptional response when he posted a 500word declaration about church membership to his daily blog.
Morehead and i led this series at pentecostals of south haven in the winter of 2015. Now you are the body of christ, and individual members of it 1 cor. In a format that is suitable for church members to read individually. The author seeks to refute country club church mentality that many christians take when attending a church. This is a short book but one that was extremely helpful. Every believer must see his or her church membership as an honor, privilege, and joy. I am a church member reynoldsburg church of christ. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference, in the mail out of the blue. It provides the opportunity to evaluate the kind of church member they are. I am a church member free small group outlines beyond. He was written more than twenty books and blogs regularly about church. I will be a unifying church member discussion for church members, small groups, ministry teams and bible studies at hpc. Check with your local christian bookstore for more details. The greatest periods of growth, particularly the firstcentury growth, took place in adversarial cultures.
I am a church member elective class notes week 1 class memory verses. Its the kind of membership given to us in 1 corinthians 12. Rainer this is a short but an extremely helpful book. Rainer shows that, as a biblical church member, i am called to a greater commitment.
Each lesson is based off of the interactive excel teaching model. I am a church member seeks to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members. The owners also promised to build a small golf course, a. This book carries a long list of endorsements from church leaders across the theological and methodological spectrum of evangelicalism.
Rainers introduction is entitled, a tale of two church. You can download both the beyond the sermon bts handout for sunday worship and the quiz questions for wednesday bible study. If a skeleton holds things together, what is the structure that holds the christian life together and gives it its shape. Senior pastor, the village church i am a church member is a great resource for both church leaders and church members. I am a church member appears to be intended for church membership classes in local churches. I am a church member based on and adapted from thom rainers book by the same name i will be a unifying member ephesians 4. I am a church member focuses on the priority that all followers of jesus christ should emphasize and that is to serve him by serving others based on the biblical instruction set forth in scripture. Apr, 20 the book i am a church member by thom s ranier was disappointing to read, and seems to be more of a sermon than a book. I am a church member weekly reading and reflecting plan chapter 1. The pastor grabbed the mans hand, pulled him aside, and said to him. The small groups at our church recently worked through thom rainers book i am a church member. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference 9781433679735.
It addresseswithout apologywhat is expected of those who join a body of believers. In i am a church member thom delivers a biblical perspective and practical approach to church membership. If there is no understanding of local church membership, then who are we to submit to and obey. Church membership is more than getting your name on a roll. I am a church member is a resource that is long past due. Its a terrible book, using guilt and fear to get christians to make commitments to the church. Goal at the end of the class, participants will understand that. In under 100 pages, rainer makes a sound case for letting go of the selfserving, consumeroriented, entitled mentality that some bring to membership. I recommend that any church that takes belonging seriously consider giving a copy to every member. We intend to use it at sherwood in our sherwood story class and new member orientation. Read it and then buy copies for potential and new members. I am a church member is an effective tool for churches and individuals to better understand how to make a difference in their church and community. Thoughtfully expanded to book form, i am a church member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without apology what is expected of those who join a body of believers.
I am a church member based on and adapted from thom rainers book by the same name i will treasure church membership as a gift selected scriptures open i go into a bit of depression several times a year. The church has never been perfect and never will be. Ive been a church member ever since i made a profession of faith and was baptized at first baptist church of winchester, kentucky as a freshman in high school in the early 1970s. Mark dever, in his book nine marks of a healthy church, writes, church membership is our opportunity to grasp hold of each other in responsibility and love. Today, ive invited thom rainer, president of lifeway and author of the new book i am a church member. Thoughtfully expanded to book form, i am a church member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members. Paying the bills raising a family keeping a oat in today s economy church membership church membership. Bestselling author thom rainer i am a church member, autopsy of a deceased church has a game plan for churches to become more hospitable. And it included a swimming pool, a dining area, and meeting rooms. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference at. This series is based off of thom rainers book, i am a church member. The author has tapped into the challenge that every church is facing today. Aug 17, 2015 this series is based off of thom rainers book, i am a church member. Churches need people who are committed together for the glory of god and for the sake of each other.
Rainer addresses in detail what congregations should really be focusing on praying for church leaders, being a functioning member, treasuring church membership, and more. Apr 08, 20 thoughtfully expanded to book form, i am a church member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without apology what is expected of those who join. Why i am a member of the church of christ the christian. Evangelicals are good and maybe getting better at talking about the christian mind, the christian heart, even the christian hands and feet. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference ebook. Jan 20, 2016 i am a church member is a great resource for both church leaders and church members.
The church is called to be unified in purpoose and passion. Apr 25, 20 today, ive invited thom rainer, president of lifeway and author of the new book i am a church member. Thoughtfully expanded to book form, i am a church member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without. I am a church member started a conversation about the attitudes and responsibilities of church members rather than the functional and theological issues that previous new member primers all but ignored. Perhaps the first point that should be made is that this book s main audience is the new, disconnected, or frustrated christian. Church membership is not malfunctioning membership we are called to be a foot, not a boot. But his most recent book, i am a church member, is severely misguided and misinformed. As believers, we have our names written in the lambs book of life revelation 20. Because i am a member of the body of christ, i must be a functioning member, i will give. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference nashville. I am a church member free small group outlines beyond the. I am a church member a conversation with thom rainer. I didnt know what a country club was, but i knew one was coming to town. We are called to be a hand, not a glove the first pledge i am a functioning church member.
When a persons attitude is consistently biblical and healthy, matters of giving, serving, and so forth will fall into place more naturally and rainers. Thom rainer in his book, i am a church member, provides his audience with a clear, applicable commentary on how we, as church members, can better understand, appreciate, and enjoy our time in the church. Easy to read, accessible to every church member and can be used as part of a church membership program. The introduction and first chapter discuss the value and functions of church membership. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference to join me for a conversation about church membership. I am a church member quotes showing 115 of 15 if outside forces and culture were the reasons behind declining and noninfluential churches, we would likely have no churches today. Rainer does a true service to the church in providing this resource. The main idea of i am a church member is to encourage believers to become committed members of a local church and serve that church. When a persons attitude is consistently biblical and healthy, matters of giving, serving, and so forth will fall into place.
While this book will help the new member, it can also serve the long time member as well. Based on an idea originally taken from this blog, i am a church member discusses the attitudes and responsibilities of church members. Pages nonbusiness places religious place of worship church african methodist episcopal church mount hermon ame church, fort lauderdale videos i am a church member book series. I received a copy of thom rainers book, i am a church member. Thom rainer wrote a book called i am a church member. Growing up in the church prior to that experience and being an active church member in several churches since then, being a church member is a way of life for me. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference by thom s. Reflection if you are not currently serving in some capacity within the church, in what areas or in what ways do you feel that you could serve others in the body of christ at sccc. Rainers book on church membership comes at a great time. Let s make a quick list of pressing issues we face on a regular basis. Each lesson expands and explains the chapters from the book i am a church member by thom s. I am a church member elective class notes week 1 class.