NEXT STEPS 2.0 | FAMILY
WELCOME TO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
We’re glad you’ve chosen to find out more about Unlimited Church! This class is the basic introduction to our church family. Since we have members from many different church backgrounds, this class is designed to clearly explain who we are and what we believe.
THE BASICS FOR THIS CLASS
“… You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”
Eph. 2:19-22(NLT)
KEY TRUTHS
1. The Church is a family.
2. God expects you to be a member of a church family.
THE GOAL OF THIS CLASS:
That I will commit myself to God and to Unlimited Church’s Mission.
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PART ONE: OUR MISSION
“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)
OUR MISSION STATEMENT: WHY WE EXIST AS A CHURCH
The mission statement of Unlimited Church is derived from the final words of Jesus to His followers. These words are known as the Great Commission.
Unlimited Church exists “To lead people to an unlimited life in Jesus”.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”….And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Mark 16:15-18,20 (NKJV)
So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. Colossians 1:28-29 (NLT)
WEEKEND SERVICES
A. Worship
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalms 122:1 (KJV)
“But a time is coming—and now is here—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24 (NET)
B. Encourage
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
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C. Ministry – Prayer, Teaching, Preaching
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” Eph. 4:11-12 (NLT)
D. Proclaim Christ
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:13-14 (NLT)
WIN PEOPLE TO CHRIST
1. Accept the personal call.
2. Build a personal relationship.
3. Share your personal story.
4. Give a personal invitation.
POINTS OF PASSION
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
1. Jerusalem - Your Hometown
2. Judea and Samaria - The areas that surround you.
3. The ends of the earth - Missions (The World)
WHAT CAN I DO?
1. Accept God’s call to reach the lost.
“He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT)
2. Ask God to send you to those that are lost.
“Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)
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3. Witness the Gospel to those who are lost.
““Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)
SMALL GROUP
Getting connect at Unlimited Church means participating in a small group. Some people enjoy a large church and others want a small, intimate church.
We believe the church should become larger while staying small at the same time.
“You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house.” Acts 20:20 (NET)
SMALL GROUPS PROVIDE:
1. SUPPORT
2. ACCOUNTABILITY
HOW SMALL GROUPS WORK
1. Multiple Groups
Groups are located in different communities with leaders that have a passion for people and God. Group leaders use their gifts to create a group that allows others to join in with them in serving God.
2. Times and Location
Group leaders plan their meetings around the times that are best for their group. A group normally meets in someone’s house but could meet anywhere, like a park or coffee shop.
3. Becoming a leader
Small Group leaders are held to the Biblical standard for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8–13. The first step in becoming a small group leader is meet with the Small Group Lead or the Pastor to start the process of becoming a small group leader.
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TEACHING EVERYONE
Next Steps offers the information and experiences necessary to develop you into a fully devoted follower of Christ. From the initial decision to accept Jesus as Lord to you final destination in ministry, Next Steps will lead you through a step-by-step process of healing, growth and leadership.
“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding….” Hebrews 6:1 (NLT)
NEXT STEPS 1.0 - GROW
Is an opportunity to learn more about Unlimited Church and the vision the pastor has for the future.Outlines the essential habits that every believer needs to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
NEXT STEPS 2.0 - FAMILY
Gives basic introduction to the ministry of Unlimited Church and will help you understand church membership. What is means to be a family.
NEXT STEPS 3.0 - UNLIMITED TEAM
Helps you discover your personality, gifts, and purpose in life and see how God combines them for the best fit in ministry.
JOINING THE MINISTRY TEAM
All of us were created by God to make a difference in the life of another person. God has a place for you where your unique abilities and passions can touch the lives of others. We believe that your life will never make sense until you find, develop, and fulfill that purpose.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
1. Complete Next Steps
Once you complete Unlimited Church 3.0 you will schedule a meeting with a ministry team leader or the pastor.
2. Application
Complete the Ministry Team application and submit it to a ministry leader.
3. Training
Learn the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry Team area you are choosing to be a part of.
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PART TWO: OUR BELIEFS
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH: WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. In essential beliefs, we have unity.
“For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
2. In non-essential beliefs, we have liberty.
“Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions.” Romans 14:1 (NET)
3. In all our beliefs, we show love.
“And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NET)
FOUR ESSENTIAL TRUTHS
1. Scripture - The Bible is the Word of God
“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (NET)
God’s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority and we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is, “What does the Bible say?” We practice daily Bible reading and Bible study. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
2. Jesus - There is only one God and His son is Jesus.
“Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NET)
Jesus Christ, second Person of the Trinity, lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross as our substitute. This accomplished salvation for all who receive grace by trusting Him alone. He rose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us.
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3. Salvation - You must be born again.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
God created humans to have fellowship with Him, but they defied God by sinfully going their own way. As a result, we need God’s saving grace to end our alienation from Him. Salvation comes only through God’s grace – not human effort - and must be received personally by repentance and faith. At the end, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and judgment. Only believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God.
4. Holy Spirit - Believers can be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere”Acts 1:8 (NLT)
We believe the only way possible to live a limitless Christian life is by God’s power within us. Every believer can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by asking through prayer. We seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to reach people for Christ.
5. Second Coming - Jesus will return.
We believe that Christ will return to rapture those that have put their faith in Him.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thess. 4:16-17
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PART THREE: OUR STRUCTURE
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace....be sure that everything is done properly and in order.”
1 Corinthians 14:33,40 (NLT)
UNLIMITED CHURCH GOVERNMENT
Believers who invest their hearts, time, families and finances in the building of the local church deserve to have confidence in church leadership. People are looking for leaders who conduct themselves with integrity and respect when making decisions that affect their lives.
1. GUIDED BY ELDERS
Elder(s) refers to the pastoral staff team led by the Senior Pastor and other spiritually mature individuals appointed by the Senior Pastor. The Elders serve the congregation and are responsible for the development of the spiritual life of the church.
2. PROTECTED BY TRUSTEES
The Trustees are three members of the congregation, appointed by the Senior Pastor to oversee the finances and direct the provision of the physical facilities needed by the church. They provide counsel to the Senior Pastor regarding the major financial commitments of the church. An Elder can also serve as a Trustee.
Currently trustees are members of the Church Multiplication Network and the Arkansas District Missions Board.
3. STRENGTHENED BY OVERSEERS
The Overseers are pastors that are a part of the Church Multiplication Network and the National AG Fellowship who love Unlimited Church and its pastor and are willing to provide spiritual protection to the church. They may be called in to help in accountability matters relating to the Senior Pastor if requested to do so by the Elders or Trustees.
4. CHURCH FINANCES
“One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.” Leviticus 27:30 (NLT)
At Unlimited Church we practice tithing for the support of Christ’s Body, the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard of giving.
Many people love to give to God but need to have confidence in the methods and purposes used by ministries to which they give. Therefore there are a great number of people willing to give if they are able to see honesty, integrity, and genuine spiritual values reflected in the lifestyles of their church leaders. Unlimited Church supports with the tithes of it’s income missionaries, local and in other countries.
The giving of tithes and offerings is worship to Jesus Christ and is an expression of the relationship between the individual giver and the Lord. Funds are not “income only”, they are worship and must not be considered as a business transaction but as an expression of gratitude toward God for His provision in our daily lives.
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PART FOUR: OUR HOPE FOR YOU
“ We do not boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.”
2 Corinthians 10:15 (NLT)
OUR HOPE FOR YOU
1. Become a member of Unlimited Church
2. Join a Small Group.
3. Complete Unlimited Church Next Steps.
4. Serve on the Ministry Team
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER
An Attender is a consumer.
A Member is an investor.
At Unlimited Church we recognize the need for a formal membership.
We ask you to commit to membership for 4 reasons.
1. A Biblical Reason: Christ is committed to the church.
“….Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.” Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)
2. A Cultural Reason: It is an antidote to our society.
We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything: like a job, a marriage, our country. This attitude has even produced a generation of “church shoppers and hoppers”. Membership swims against the current of America’s “consumer religion”. It is an unselfish decision. Commitment always builds character.
3. A Practical Reason: It defines who can be counted on.
Every team must have a roster. Every school must have an enrollment. Every business has a payroll. Every army has an enlistment. Even our country takes a census. Membership identifies our family.
4. A Personal Reason: It produces spiritual growth.
The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. You cannot be accountable when you’re not committed to any specific church family.
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UNLIMITED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP COVENANT
I Have received Christ as my Lord and Savior and being in agreement with the values and ideas presented in the Unlimited Church 2.0 class, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Unlimited Church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:
1. I will protect the unity of my church….
…By acting in love toward other members
…By refusing to gossip
…By following the leaders
“So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” Romans 14:19 (NLT)
“…show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.” 1 Peter 1:22 (NLT)
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
“Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.” Hebrews 13:17 (NLT)
2. I will share the responsibility of my church…
…By praying for its growth
…By inviting the unchurched to attend
…By warmly welcoming those who visit
“ We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.” Hebrews 13:17 (NLT)
“ Go out…..and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled.” Luke 14:23 (NET)
“ Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.” Romans 15:7 (NET)
3. I will serve the ministry of my church…
…By discovering my gifts and talents
…By being equipped to serve by my pastors
…By developing a servant’s heart
“ Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another....” 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
“ It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT )
“ Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians 2:4-5 (NET)
4. I will support the testimony of my church
…By attending church and small groups faithfully
…By living a godly life
…By giving regularly
“ They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 (NET)
“…not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other…” 1 Peter 1:22 (NET)
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...” Philippians 1:27 (NET)
“On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned...” 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NLT)
“One-tenth of the produce of the land….belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.” Leviticus 27:30 (NLT)
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