|
|
|
P.O. Box 25759 1411 Rim Road Fayetteville, North Carolina 28314 Office Phone: 910-868-5686 |
|
|
 |
Welcome to the Family Class
Section One
Greetings!
As your Pastor, I'd like to let you know how happy I am that you are considering membership in Cornerstone United Methodist Church. Making the commitment to be "part of the family" will be a mutually beneficial experience! As you have been attending worship services and getting acquainted you have, no doubt, witnessed the fact that God is blessing us. We believe this is a result of our sincere attempt to be a God-honoring church and that we are meeting the needs of His people.
There's one thing we don't want! Please do not think that membership is just "another ritual" in the church. We have no intention of you joining Cornerstone and then fading into inactive anonymity. Our desire is for each member to be active in ministry.
Why do we want you to be an "active" member? Because we believe people bloom when they're serving God! Serving God in the church is a positive and rewarding experience. I have seen people grow and bloom into the persons God intended them to be through service in the congregation. It enhances personal and spiritual growth when we serve each other "as unto the Lord".
I desire to serve you too! My prayer is that as you join hands with the body of Christ at Cornerstone and as you allow the Word of God to speak to your heart, we will together be transformed into the image of Christ Himself. It's great to be your pastor!
Your brother in Christ,
The Rev. Ben Sharpe
Pastor, Cornerstone UMC
WHAT MAKES CORNERSTONE SPECIAL?
1. ________________________ WORSHIP
2. ________________________ FELLOWSHIP
3. ________________________ LEADERSHIP
4. ________________________ ATTITUDE
5. ________________________ TEACHING
So, if I can enjoy all this without church membership... why join?
(I'm glad you asked!)
THERE ARE THREE IMPORTANT REASONS:
1. Express your __________________________
Ultimately helps your commitment to God. Matthew 22:37, Matthew
6:24
2. Experience Christian ______________________
No "Lone Ranger" Christians. 1 Peter 2:5; Philippians 2:2
3. Exercise your ______________________________
You are an important part of the Body of Christ Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:11,12
OUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said:... "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
As a dynamic church proclaiming the Word of God, we purpose to make disciples of Christ by:
 | Exalting God in worship (Psalm 95:6,7; Revelation 4:8-11) |
| Encountering Christ through personal faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) |
| Encouraging believers to belong through membership (Ephesians 2:19) |
| Encouraging Christians toward spiritual maturity through discipleship (Matthew 28: 20; Romans 12:1,2; 14:19) |
| Equipping Christians for ministry (Matthew 9:35-38; Ephesians 4:11,12) |
| Evangelizing the world for Christ (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20) |
THE VALUE OF A PURPOSE
1. A clear purpose builds _______________________________.
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of
you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that
you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10
2. A clear purpose defines _____________________________ .
[God] will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he
trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
3. A clear purpose sharpens _______________________________.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one
thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.... Philippian
3:13a
4. A clear purpose attracts ________________________.
"Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take
courage and do it." Ezra 10:4
5. A clear purpose assists ___________________________.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 2
Corinthians 13:5a
| THE PRIORITIES OF OUR PURPOSE Weekly worship at Cornerstone's celebration service |
| Small group opportunities |
| Personal ministry involvement |
| Lifestyle evangelism. |
| Expressing our involvement in the Body of Christ through Church membership. |
| Internalizing God's Word. |
Cornerstone Church and Racial Reconciliation
At Cornerstone we believe that Christ has called us to take up the cross of racial reconciliation. It is clear in the Word of God that part of the result of our reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ is our reconciliation with Christians of other races.
Our vision statement (included at the back of this handbook) illustrates why this is a focus of our church's ministry:
Cornerstone Church is a congregation dedicated to racial reconciliation through the power of the risen Lord Jesus. We will intentionally pursue racial reconciliation based on biblical principles. If we end up being just a "white" church or a "black" church we will have failed to be faithful to the ministry God has given us. We believe that we are called to be a multi-racial congregation because:
A. The Church in heaven is multi-racial: Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.B. Racial unity authenticates our witness: Jesus prayed in John 17:21, "That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
C. Christ died and rose again to reconcile us to God and to one another: Ephesians 2:13-22 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.... His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
THE "BRIDGE TO LIFE" ILLUSTRATION
Introduction
The prerequisite toward belonging to the Body of Christ lies primarily not in a membership, but in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The "Bridge to Life" illustration helps us to understand humanity's dilemma and God's wonderful plan to redeem us.
QUESTIONS:
1. Which side are you on?
2. If you are not on God's side, is there any good reason why you cannot
receive Jesus Christ right now?
HOW TO RECEIVE CHRIST:
1. Admit your need ("I am a sinner"), and turn from your sins (repent). (Acts 3:19)
2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. (John 3:36)
3. Confess your sins. (1 John 1:9)
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (receive Him as Savior and Lord). (John 1:12)
Next 'Welcome to the Family' Section
Back to Cornerstone Stuff Page
Questions, suggestions and problems concerning the Cornerstone United Methodist Church Website should be directed toward the Cornerstone Webmaster at: webmaster@cornerstoneumconline.com
This Website Has
Been Visited
Since Beginning Operation
