1. The local NT church is God’s program during this dispensation.  We all should have our place in the church of God.
2. In Romans 12, the apostle Paul is writing to the saints at Rome about the importance of church membership, and their place of service in the church.
3. This is the first time that Paul has introduced this theme of the church as the body of Christ.  He teaches it again in I Corinthians, Ephesians, and Colossians. 
4. As in these other epistles, Paul uses the illustration of the body to describe the different members of the body of Christ (12:4, 5; cf. I Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:16).
5. Just as the human body has many members, all with different functions, so does the body of Christ.
6. The church is an organism, not an organization.  The figure of the body with its various members reminds us that each member has his and her place of useful service.
7. Ephesians 1:22 and 23 says Christ is the head of the body.  Just as the head directs the body, the body of Christ is directed by Christ, because He is the head of the body.
8. Each church member has a gift to be used for the building up of the body (cf. Eph. 4:11, 12) and the perfecting of the other members of the body.
9. One of the reasons that many churches are not growing the way they should is many of the members are not involved in Christian service.
10. Romans 12:11 says, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”  That means, “Not slothful in the Lord’s business…”
11. Are you fervent in spirit?
12. Are you serving the Lord?
13. Unfortunately, many people attend church services but they do not want to serve in the church – “fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”
14. Too many Christians just come and go without getting involved in the work of the local church. Oftentimes, a small percentage of members are carrying the load.
15. Our Lord said one of the characteristics of the last days would be Lukewarmness. Revelation 3:15, 16 says, “Thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
16. Our Lord said in Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
17. Each and every Christian should be “fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11).
18. Our Lord said, “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).
19. I recall one new member asking me if she could help out and so I gave her a SS class.  She said she was not seeking a SS class but was just interested in cleaning the building.  These are the best SS teachers.

I. THE BASIS FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP (12:1, 2)

1. We are to dedicate our bodies, and renew our minds (12:1, 2).
2. We are not to be “conformed to this world…” (12:2). In this context, “the world” means the system man has built in order to make himself happy without God.
3. It is a system antagonistic to the things of God and it is in allegiance with Satan, whom the Bible calls “the god of this world” (cf. II Cor. 4:4).
4. The program of the world is diametrically opposed to the program of the church.
5. Which program are you a part of?  God’s program today is the local church.
6. Before Christ came, God’s program was with the nation Israel.  God is not finished with Israel.  Both the OT and the NT teach the future restoration of Israel.
7. But right now, God’s program is the local church, and if you are not an active member of a local church you are not part of God’s program.
8. Our Lord said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
9. Are you working with our Lord to build His church?
10. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
11. There is only one way to renew one’s mind (12:2), and that is by studying the Bible.  The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to transform us – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (cf. Titus 3:5).
12. There is no other way to be transformed. Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.”
13. When we renew our minds through studying God’s Word, we learn more about the will of God.  And when the will of the believer is in accord with the will of God, he has found “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2).
14. And it is the will of God for every man, woman, boy, and girl to be saved.  First Timothy 2:4 says, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
15. Second Peter 3:9 says the Lord is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
16. Furthermore, it is the will of God for every born again child of God to be baptized and a member of a local church.

II. THE BASICS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

1. Humility (12:3).  Romans 12:1 and 2 deal with consecration.  The principle of consecration is applied in verses 3 and following.
2. Humility is the direct result of consecration.  We may well speak of a consecrated Christian, and a humble Christian, but it is absurd and incongruous to speak of a proud Christian. 
3. One might as well speak of a “holy devil”!
4. Humility has been defined as “unconscious self-forgetfulness” (WH Griffith Thomas).
5. The great apostle Paul shows his true humility by prefacing his remarks with, “For I say, through the grace given unto me…” (12:3).
6. There is an inherent tendency in all men to exalt self.  All throughout the Bible we see that God hates pride.
7. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6; I Peter 5:5).
8. We should recognize that all we have is by the grace of God.

• “through the grace given unto me” (12:3).
• “according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (12:3b).
• “according to the grace that is given to us” (12:6).

9. “The recognition that all we are and possess comes from God is the constant safeguard against pride” (WH Griffith Thomas).
10. Fellowship (12:3-5, 10).  Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship.”
11. Diversity (12:4, 5; cf. Acts 13:1-4).  First Corinthians 12:11 says the Holy Spirit divides (or “distributes”) “to every man severally (individually) as He will.”
12. First Corinthians 12:7 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

“In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name” — Kit­tie Suf­field

13. “Labor not for wealth or fame…”  One preacher said, “The problem is some church members think, ‘How can I shine?’ rather than ‘How can I serve?’”
14. Unity (12:5). The Psalmist said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
15. This unity is expressed through our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, our church membership, our stewardship, and our fellowship.

III. THE BUSINESS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP (12:11)

1. Seven spiritual gifts are listed.
2. Prophecy (12:6) is mentioned first because it is the most important.  It is the inspired declaration of the will of God.

• The NT prophet is similar in many ways to the OT prophet (cf. I Cor. 14:3).
• This refers to the proclamation of the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.
• This does not necessarily refer to prediction, but to proclamation.  Watch out for these preachers (like Harold Camping) who make predictions.
• The OT prophet was a “fore-teller” as well as a “forth-teller.”  The NT prophet is also a “fore-teller” (cf. Acts 11:27-30; 21:10-13).
• The gift of prophecy was common during the apostolic age (cf. Acts 13:1). The book of Acts is a transitional book.
• The gifts of prophecy and apostleship should be understood as temporary gifts (Eph. 2:20; 4:11).
• With the completion of the NT, there is no more need for additional revelation (cf. Rev. 22:18, 19).
• There is much confusion today about this gift of prophecy. According to the Bible, the true prophet of God delivers a message free from error and in accordance with Scripture.  Therefore, these so-called modern-day prophets are disqualified (cf. Deut. 13:1-5; 18:20-22; II Peter 2:1ff).
• Since there are no inspired, prophetic utterances today, a prophet today is simply a preacher who declares the mind of God as it has been revealed in the Bible.
• “All modern prophecy that is true is but the republication of Christ’s message – the proclamation and expounding of truth already revealed in Scripture” — Augustus Strong, Systematic Theology.

3. Ministry (12:7).  It should be emphasized that Paul is not limiting this gift to those in so-called “full-time Christian service” or those “in the ministry.”

• All church members are to do “the work of the ministry” (Eph. 4:12).  Therefore, we are all “in the ministry.”
• Going out soulwinning is “the work of the ministry.” Teaching a SS class is “the work of the ministry.”
• Watching toddlers in the nursery is “the work of the ministry.”
 
• Serving as an usher is “the work of the ministry.”
• Playing the piano, and leading the singing, and singing in the choir, etc. is “the work of the ministry.”
• We need to always remember that there is a lot more to the work of the ministry than preaching.

4. Teaching (12:7). Teaching is the ability to explain God’s Word and apply it to the hearts of his hearers. Certainly the pastor has to have this gift (cf. Eph. 4:11).

• Paul told the elders at Ephesus that they were to “feed the church of God” (Acts 20:28).
• Paul says the bishop must be “apt to teach” (I Tim. 3:2).
• In Titus 1:9, Paul says the pastor must hold “fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
• Other Christians with the gift of teaching would include Christian school teachers, SS teachers, itinerant Bible teachers, etc.

5. Exhortation (12:8).  This means to stir people to action.

• Barnabas had this gift (cf. Acts 4:36; 11:22-24; 14:20- 22).
• Paul wrote to Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (I Tim. 4:13).

6. Giving (12:8). All Christians are commanded to give, but some have the ability to do more.  God has blessed them with this gift, and they in turn are able to challenge others to give as well.  Giving should be done “with simplicity” (12:8).
7. Ruling (12:8). This gift should be exercised “with diligence” (12:8).

• In the local church God has given this gift to the pastors, deacons, and other leaders (cf. I Tim. 5:17; I Thess. 5:12, 13).
• Some churches have boards and committees running the church, but there is no Scriptural basis for it.

8. Showing mercy (12:8). This relates to the spiritual ability to show empathy and sympathy for those in need.

• Empathy is the ability to identify with another person’s feelings (like the Good Samaritan).
• “Sympathy is two hearts tugging on the same load.”
• This gift must be exercised “with cheerfulness” (12:8).  It is possible to be merciful but not be cheerful about it. “Use hospitality one to another without grudging” (I Peter 4:9).

9. Love (12:9, 10) – “without dissimulation (hypocrisy).” “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (I John 3:14). 
10. If you love God, you will “abhor that which is evil,” and “cleave to that which is good” (12:9b).
11. Psalm 97:10 says, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.”
12. Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.”
13. Amos 5:15 says, “Hate the evil, and love the good.”
14. Prayer (12:12; cf. Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:31; etc.)

CONCLUSION:

1. God’s program today is the local church.
2. Every believer should be “serving the Lord” (12:11) in the local church.
3. The basics are fellowship (12:3-5, 10), humility (12:3), diversity, (12:4, 5), and unity (12:5).
4. Then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be “fervent in spirit” (12:11) and serve the Lord through the local church.