Membership Roll

Weekly Update – October 12th, 2023

At our last members’ meeting, we presented 60 names to potentially be removed from membership at our next meeting in December.  For the past several years, from time to time, there were lists like this that were presented to the church.  Typically, the names on the list are inactive members for whom we have no contact information.  That means that if someone looks at one of these names and knows how to get in touch with them, they let the church office know and we follow up.  But if we come to our next members’ meeting and we have no contact information for someone, and no one knows how to get in touch with them, then we will vote to remove them.  Back in 2015 we had close to 2200 people on our membership roll.  Now we are down to about 800.  Our goal is to ultimately have a membership roll that reflects the normal attenders of First Baptist Church.  The question that I want to answer for you is, “Why does this matter?”  As I answer this question, let me do so with three reasons why having an accurate membership roll is important. 

First, an accurate membership roll matters to your elders.  The first part of Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.”  Your elders have been given the charge to care for your soul.  That means that the elders are to guard the church from false teaching (Acts 20:17, 28-31), oversee the teaching and preaching ministry (1 Tim. 3:2, 2 Tim. 4:2, Titus 1:9), and exhort and admonish those under their care (1 Tim. 4:13, 2 Tim. 3:13-17, Titus 1:9).  This is role that is very personal too. When you consider Hebrews 13:17 with the call that an elder has throughout the New Testament, you quickly see that for an elder to fulfill his Biblical role, he must know the members of the church.  The problem with a membership roll that doesn’t reflect who attends, the elder doesn’t know those he is keeping watch over.  Therefore, in this instance, the elders don’t watch over members “with joy” (Heb. 13:17b), but instead with ignorance. 

Second, an accurate membership roll matters to the church. As members of First Baptist Church, not only do we agree to the Baptist Faith and Message, which is our statement of faith, but we also agree to our church covenant.  The first part of our covenant says that we commit ourselves, as Spirit led believers, to fulfill what we believe the Scriptures say in regard to how we will live our lives before our savior Jesus Christ.  The covenant continues with calls to “sustain the worship of the church”, to “live faithfully in our engagements”, “watch over one another in brotherly love” and if we cannot not attend to “unite with some other church.”  In fact, you can read through our covenant HERE.  Upholding this covenant is a vital part of our ministry to one another in the church.  But this covenant is impossible to uphold apart from knowing one another and serving with each other. 

Third, an accurate membership roll matters to the kingdom of God.  In Matthew 16:19, we see the phrase, “keys of the kingdom.”  Within this context, Jesus is affirming Peter’s confession of faith as he promises to build his church upon all who confess him as the Christ.  We get a bit of clarification as to what Jesus means by “keys of the kingdom” and who they are given to in Matthew 18:18. Here Jesus has just given to us a sequence for how to deal with a professing brother or sister in sin.  If the one in sin refuses to listen to the offended (Matt. 18:15) and then further refuses to listen to two or three others (Matt. 18:16), then the church as a whole is to confront him or her.  If the one in sin then refuses to listen to the church, the church is to then consider that person an unbeliever, by virtue of their power to bind and loose (with keys) (Matt. 18:18).  In other words, the key holders, that being the church, serve as an outpost of the kingdom of God, in affirming someone’s confession of faith, or determining someone to be displaying a false confession of faith.  That means that the church, as a representative of the kingdom of God, has the responsibility to keep its members accountable.  It can only do so when its members are known. 

Removing names from our membership role is not something that we want to do haphazardly.  Each name represents a person who at one time professed Christ before the church and committed to serve him alongside others.  Some on this list have joined other churches, while others have stopped coming.  Either way, our desire is not to simply exclude those who were once apart of fellowship with us, but instead, to accurately represent Christ and his kingdom.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
- Proverbs 31:30

Announcements:

Clothes Closet: The clothes closet will be open to the public 8am-11am on Saturday, October 14th. Please do not drop off clothes between October 8th and October 14th. If you are interested in helping with this event, please see Fran Bowman or Pat Stewart.

Ladies’ Bible Study: The Ladies’ Bible Study for the fall will be held in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm on Tuesdays, for the next 2 weeks. Sheryl Nelson will lead through Kelly Minter’s study on the book of Ruth.

Serving Grandview Schools

Grandview High School: On Thursday, October 26th, we will be feeding the Grandview High School Football Team. If you would like to contribute chili or a dessert, sign up in the hall. If you would like to help with this opportunity or if you have any questions, talk to Amy Blankenship. The football team will be here from 4:30-5:30pm.

Conn-West Elementary: On Wednesday, October 25th, we will be providing baked potatoes and toppings for teachers at 5:00pm. If you would like to help prepare this meal and transport it over, see Pastor Michael for more details.

Women’s Brunch + Crafting: All ladies of the church are invited to the Larson home on Saturday, October 28th, for a time of fellowship and crafting more information can be found HERE.

Fall Festival:  On Sunday, October 29th from 5:00-7:00pm, we will host a fall festival at the church. We will have trunk or treat, chili or soups, hot dogs, hot chocolate and a fire pit. Help us fill up our candy barrel before the event, and sign up in the hall to help on that night.

Missouri Missions Offering: Every year, along with nearly 1,800 other churches, our church partners to pray and give concerning the Lord’s work in our state. The statewide goal is $750,000 this year. Our church goal is $4500. I hope that you will consider praying and giving to this effort throughout this month. As with your normal offering, you can give in person, by mail or online. Just mark MMO when you do give. Check out more information about this effort HERE.

Befriend a Student: If you are interested in befriending a student from Longview Community College this semester, connect with Matthew Klika. You can find more information about befriend a student HERE.

Food Pantry: We are in need of pop-top and ready to eat items for our food pantry. These items are needed specifically for the homeless in our community that stop by the church building throughout the week looking for a meal.

Equipping Hour

We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” will meet in the Sanctuary, a biblical exposition of the minor prophets will meet in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament will meet in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.

Nursery Volunteers Needed

Nursery volunteers are needed each week during the 10:30am service time. Check the update or email the office for more information on how you can serve.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE. 

Wednesday Evening Activities

Awana, Youth Group, and Biblical Counseling are on Wednesday evenings. We will share a meal in the Faith Center Gym at 6:00pm before heading to classes at 6:30pm.