ONE FAMILY

Membership
Small Group Workbook
 GLC 1 Essentials
Membership
Session 1 of 1

Session Design Description Duration Tools to use/Remarks

I EXPLORE 10 minutes

Opening Prayer An opening prayer of thanksgiving and seeking 1 minute

guidance to be led by session leader or lead
facilitator (if available)

Intro & Welcome The session leader welcomes participants to the 1 minute
Remarks session.

Icebreaker Icebreaker: 8 minutes Leaders Guide

Membership Privileges

II EXAMINE 45 minutes

Session Overview The session leader proceeds with the big group Leaders Guide
or plenary teaching session.
PowerPoint
Alternative: In the absence of a session leader, a
Session Handout
video of the session may be shown.

Outline:
I. Gods Heart
II. Our Part
III. How You Can Be An Effective
Witness

III EXPRESS Dgroups or breakout groups discuss their 35 minutes PowerPoint

response to the questions:
Session Handout
Do you agree with the mission and vision of
CCF? How can you align your mission and vision
in life with that of CCF?

IV EXPERIENCE Groups discuss the life application found at the WonByOne Book 2
end of the session.

TOTAL 90 minutes

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GLC 1 Essentials
Membership Session 1 of 1

EXPLORE (10 minutes)

Membership Privileges

Dgroup/breakout group members think of one of the organizations that they are
actively part of (e.g., bowling club, homeowners association, and small group). The
brand or exact name of the organization need not be mentioned.

Share with the group the privileges and responsibilities of being part of that
organization.

EXAMINE (45 minutes)

Introduction

Opening Words

Belonging to a local Church is very important in the life of a believer. We need to belong
to a spiritual family or community in order to survive in our discipleship journey. We
need to be part of a group of believers who will help us live our Christian lives. It is hard
to live alone. Can you imagine a newly born baby being left to live on his own? Certainly
that baby will not survive the harsh and cruel environment we live in. In the same
manner a new believer of Jesus is like a spiritual baby who needs the love, care and
protection of a spiritual family. We will not survive in our spiritual journey alone. Being a
member of a local Church is like belonging to a spiritual family. A believer must go
through his discipleship journey with the company and assistance of the local Church
where he belongs. In this session we are going to study the biblical basis and
importance of local church membership. Let me give you an overview of what this
session is all about.

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I. BIBLICAL BASIS FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Does God require each believer to be part of a local church? If so, what then is the biblical
basis for local church membership? You will learn more on these as you go through with
the workbook. But let me quickly address some of those questions by giving you these very
important biblical truths.

A. Believers are members of the UNIVERSAL Church.

The Church is a term given to the totality of all believers in Jesus. When we receive Jesus
Christ as our Lord and Savior, we automatically become members of the universal Church.
What is this universal church that we are talking about? Lets look at this verse

1 Cor. 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or
Greeks, slave or free

(When a person comes to the Lord in faith, he is placed and joined spiritually in the
Universal Church or the one body that Paul is referring to here in this verse. The
universal church is composed of genuine believers in Jesus Christ of all nationalities, all
races, in all places and in all time (past and present). Here in this verse, baptize means to
place into. To be baptized into the body or the Church means to be a member of that
spiritual organism. The Spirit joins and connects the believer to his fellow believers in
Christ. He becomes one with other believers regardless of race, nationality or status in
life.)

B. Believers should be members of a LOCAL Church.

The other way the word "Church" is used in the Bible is to refer to a local group of
believers in a specific place. This is where being a member of a local Church, just like CCF
comes in. Let us examine the following passages.

Acts 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke
bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts

1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila
and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their
house.

Philemon 1:2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church
that meets in your home
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 Colossians 4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and
the church in her house.

(We read in the passages that there are local churches in Jerusalem, Corinth, Colossae and
in the province of Asia. A group of believers also met in the houses of Aquila and Priscilla,
Philemon, and Nympha. Here the word church is used in a local sense. A particular
group of believers meet and gather together in a particular location. These are just a few
examples of believers belonging to and being involved in a local church. The local church
exists visibly and identifiably in the midst of a specific group of people in a particular
geographical area. Each local church is a separate and identifiable community in
particular places, just like CCF and its satellites. Therefore, a believer can and should be a
member of a local church as he is also part of the universal Church.).

C. Local Church Membership is a biblical COMMAND.

(Being a part of a local church is very important in the life of a believer. That is why it is
commanded that every believer must belong to a local church community.)

Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day
approaching"

(God wants us to meet together as a local Church to hear His Word preached, to
fellowship in small groups, to worship God corporately through singing, giving of tithes
and offerings, and many other things that we do collectively as believers. God will not
command us something that is not for our own spiritual benefit. As Billy Graham once
said...

Church-goers are like coals in a fire. When they cling together, they keep the flame
aglow; when they separate, they die out. - Billy Graham

We are commanded to gather and meet together for mutual edification. We equip, build
and encourage one another, among other things that we do for each other in a local
church. Formal membership in CCF is our response to God's call to meet together. It is a
command not an option because it is very important in the life of the believer. Being a
member of a local church like CCF is an act of our obedience to the Lords command.)

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II. BIBLICAL BENEFITS TO LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

At CCF, we recognize the need for a formal membership. In this light, we invite you to
commit to membership for the following reasons:

A. It provides the member a spiritual family for support and encouragement.

Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow
citizens with God's people and members of God's household

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love
and good deeds. but let us encourage one another...

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of
Christ.

(The church is a spiritual family. God designs and calls us to be a member of a family,
earthly and spiritual. We cannot live our Christian lives alone. We need all the help we can
get from our spiritual family in order to grow in our walk with the Lord. Every Christian
needs a church family as much as he needs an earthly family for mutual support and
encouragement. Consider this anecdote...

The article What Good Is a Tree? in Readers Digest explained that when the roots of
trees touch, there is a substance present that reduces competition. In fact, this unknown
fungus helps link roots of different treeseven of dissimilar species. A whole forest may
be linked together. If one tree has access to water, another to nutrients, and a third to
sunlight, the trees have the means to share with one another. Like trees in a forest,
Christians in the church need and support one another.- Blair F. Rorabaugh, Uniontown,
Ohio. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 2.

(We need each other to be strong in our Christian faith. A Christian without a church
family is an orphan. We need to be a part of a local church family for mutual support and
encouragement. Here in CCF, this is where we give and receive, serve and be served, and
love and be loved.)

B. It promotes the members spiritual growth.

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Ephesians 4:12-13 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son
of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

(Becoming a member of a local church provides an opportunity for the Christian to grow
spiritually and become mature in the faith. It is Gods plan that we belong to a local
Church so that we will grow spiritually. The goal of the Christian life is Christ-likeness. A
believer should be a member of a local church so that he will grow in the faith and mature
spiritually. In CCF we have our Dgroups, various ministries (Exalt, Elevate, Singles,
Nextgen, etc.) and equipping program (GLC 1-4) that will help the member grow and
mature spiritually.)

C. It places the member under the spiritual protection of godly leaders.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over
you as men who must give an account.

Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own
blood.

(Membership in a local Church, just like CCF safeguards the believer from going astray
and wander off from the faith. It protects also the believer from the attacks of the enemy
and the evils of this world. The priority of every pastor, elder, church leader, D12 and
Dgroup leader is to care for the spiritual welfare of the members. They keep watch over
our doctrine, faith and conduct. We are so blessed that our leaders spend years of their
lives working and serving the members of CCF.)

D. It gives the member the accountability he needs to grow.

1 Peter 5:5-6 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of
you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time.

Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

(A believer needs to develop humility and submission. Membership gives the believer the
accountability he needs to grow. We become accountable when we submit to our spiritual

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 leaders and with one anothers encouragements, guidance, correction, rebuke and
restoration.)

III. CCF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

(What does it mean to be a member of CCF? What is expected of me as a member? Before

I answer those questions, let me give you this observation by Martyn Lloyd-Jones,

Men and women no longer take exercise in sport as they used to. Instead, people
tend to sit in crowds and just watch other people play. There was a time when people
provided their own pleasure but now the radio and television provide their entertainment
and pleasure for them. And I fear that the tendency is even manifesting itself in the
Christian Church.
More and more we see evidence that people are just sitting back in crowds while
one or two people are expected to be doing everything. Now that, of course, is a
complete denial of the New Testament doctrine of the Church as the Body of Christ,
where every single member has responsibility, and has a function, and matters.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Revival. Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 18.

(Here in CCF, we do not want that observation to become true. We recognize that every
member has a responsibility, has a function and matters so much to us. At CCF we never
ask our members to do more than what the Bible expects every Christian to do. These
responsibilities are spelled out in the Membership Covenant. The expectations contained in
this covenant are as follows:)

A. You are expected to become a Christ-committed follower.

Romans 15:5
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among
yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

(All believers are followers of Jesus Christ. As such, we are to emulate him in all our ways.
Here in CCF, we expect every believer to be a Christ-follower in speech, thoughts, feelings
and deeds. This expectation is quite basic and fundamental to every believer worldwide. In
CCF, we will help each other become Christ-like in every aspect of our Christian lives.)

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 B. You are expected to protect the unity of CCF

Ephesians 4:3
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

(As we have said earlier, unity among believers, especially in the local church is very
important. In this verse, we are strongly encouraged to keep or maintain the unity through
the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. As a member of CCF, you are expected to make every
effort and work for the keeping of the unity that we have in Christ. This must be shown in
practical and concrete ways as you are involved here in CCF.)

C. You are expected to join a small group.

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer

(We want you to join a Dgroup because we want you to grow and multiply spiritually
through your Dgroups. In a Dgroup you will be accepted and you will be made to feel that
you belong. You will be welcomed and cared for regardless of who you are and what you
have been. You will share life together as fellow followers of Christ. Consider this quote by
Jean Vanier,

There are times when together we discover that we make up a single body, that we
belong to each other and that God has called us to be together as a source of life for each
other.
Jean Vanier. Leadership, Vol. 11, no. 4.

We want you to experience the love, care and fellowship of a spiritual family in a small
group setup. We want you to be blessed and receive spiritual benefits when you become a
member of CCF. This is our way of life and doing ministry here in CCF.)

D. You are expected to support CCFs Mission and Vision.

Romans 12:5-6

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 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us

(As members of CCF, we are one body. A body can only survive if all its parts are
functioning well. We have to support each other in CCF, especially in what God wants us
to do as a local church. You have seen the mission and vision of CCF and we cannot
accomplish this without your help, cooperation and participation. We need each others
support in achieving CCFs mission and vision.)

Later on, as you go through with our booklet, you will learn more on what we have just
talked about. Your discussions will greatly help you understand more fully what I have just
shared with you. More learning and insights will surface as you engage our material and
interact with each other in the groups.

Let me end our session with this quote:

The fellowship of the body is always two-way; receiving and giving. Wanting only to
receive is not fellowship. We may not be preachers, but when we come to worship we
nevertheless bring what we have. There must be help of the pulpit from the pew. Sitting
and looking on will not do. We must give others to drink, not necessarily by speaking, but
maybe by quiet prayer . Every member of the Body has a ministry, and every member is
called to function in the place appointed by the Lord. It makes no difference who does the
work if the glory is his.
Watchman Nee, What Shall This Man Do? Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 10.

Enjoy your Group Discussion and God Bless!

Short Closing Prayer

EXPRESS (35 minutes)

Dgroups or breakout groups discuss their response to the questions:

Do you agree with the mission and vision of CCF? How can you align your mission and
vision in life with that of CCF?

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EXPERIENCE (to be accomplished after the session)

The group is encouraged to close with the life application and close in prayer.

Life application
Are you willing to be part of this mission and vision? Give specific steps on how you can
personally contribute in accomplishing CCFs mission & vision statement?

Appendix

1. STATEMENT OF FAITH (WHAT WE BELIEVE)

God
We believe that there is only one sovereign God, eternally existent in three Persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the independent Creator of the heavens and the
universe; He is all-knowing, all-powerful, just, loving, completely truthful, and holy.
Cf. Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14;
Isaiah 6:3; Titus 1:2; John 3:16; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12.

The Bible
We believe that the Bible (66 books: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament
books) is the Word of God supernaturally inspired, inerrant, and infallible. It is our
supreme authority in all matters of faith, doctrine, and conduct. We also affirm its
sufficiency, clarity, and necessity for genuine Christian living.
Cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 19:7-11; Proverbs 30:5.

Salvation
We believe that salvation with its forgiveness of sins, impartation of a new nature
and eternal life is a free gift from God. This gift is received when a person trusts in
Jesus Christ to be his only Savior and Lord. It is given by Gods grace and cannot be
earned by man through good works, baptism, church membership or any other
means. Cf. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians
3:26; Romans 5:1

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 Baptism
We believe that water baptism by immersion is an act of obedience to Christs
command. It is a public confession of our personal faith in Jesus Christ. As Christ died
for our sins, we were raised from death; we walk in newness of life with Him.
Cf. Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9; Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-4.

Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ in the flesh was both God and man, was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, and was born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life. He was crucified and
died to pay the penalty for our sins. By His blood, the Lord Jesus Christ made a
perfect sacrifice for sin once and for all time.
He was raised from the dead on the third day. Later, He ascended to the Fathers
right hand where He reigns as the Head of the Church and intercedes for believers.
We believe He is coming again, bodily and visibly, to the earth to set up His
Kingdom.
Cf. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5,14; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4;
Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews
7:25.

Every Christians Mission

We believe that it is Gods will and command for every Christian to be actively
engaged in telling others how to establish a personal relationship with God through
faith in Jesus Christ and in discipling those who respond to the good news of
salvation. Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7-8, 4:2; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Matthew 28:19-20.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and possesses all divine attributes. He indwells
all believers and baptizes them at the moment they trust in Jesus Christ to be their
only Savior and Lord. He controls all true believers and empowers them to live the
Christian life in response to their obedience, confession of sins, and submission to
Him. Cf. Romans 8:9-11; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16;
1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18.

Good Works
We believe that good works are not the means to salvation but the expected
byproduct in the life of a true believer in Christ. The evidence of true salvation and
true faith is repentance, good works, and changed lives. It is every believers
responsibility to pursue a life of good works through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10; Galatians 6:9-10; Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 6:18.

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 2. MISSION and VISION

1. Our Mission

To honor God and to make Christ-committed followers who will make Christ-
committed followers

2. Our Vision

To see a movement of millions of Christ-committed followers meeting in small

groups; transforming lives, families, communities, cities, nations; for the glory of
God.

3. CORE VALUES

Sacrificial love for God and others

Evangelism and equipping
Reliance on the Holy Spirit and prayer
Volunteer lay leadership
Authority of the Scriptures and leaders
Nurture family relationships and husband-wife ministry teams
Truthfulness and integrity
Small group discipleship

4. CCF STRUCTURE and DISCIPLESHIP STRATEGY

1. Structure: Small Group Discipleship (from DGroup to D12)

Small Group Discipleship is our basic structure and main ministry in CCF. It is
simply a Christ-committed follower LEADING a small group of people
(DGroup or Discipleship Group) in order to help them GROW in Christ-
likeness and LEAD their own Dgroups.

2. Discipleship Strategy

Global Leadership Center (GLC) IMPLEMENTS the discipleship strategy.

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 GLC is a STRUCTURED PROGRAM that will develop Christ-committed
followers who will disciple Christ-committed followers.

GLC Level 1-4 Curriculum equips every CCF member to become a multiplier

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