Shiloh Baptist Church Membership Manual

Rev. Dr. Steve W. Kendell, Pastor - 2006

 

It is our hope that this manual will assist you to become a better Christian as you journey through life.  It is also our hope that you will join one of the many Auxiliaries listed below.  You will grow spiritually when you give the Lord your time to study His word and serve Him where you are most comfortable.

 

 OUR CHURCH DIRECTORY

 

Church School...............9:30 a.m. – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Sundays

Morning Worship...........11 a.m. – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Sundays

Praise Service...............7 – 7:30 p.m. Each Wednesday

Mid-week Service..........7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Each Wednesday

Youth Meeting...............Every 3^rd Saturday

Pastoral Counseling......As Scheduled

Pastor & Deacons Meeting........9am – 2nd Saturday each month

Pastor & Trustees Meeting........as needed

Quarterly Church Meeting.........7 – 8 p.m. – Tuesday 

March, June, September, and December

 

For meeting dates and times for the Ministries listed below, see the weekly church bulletin.

 

1. Male Chorus
2. Sanctuary Choir
3. Harmonettes
4. Gospel Chorus
5. God’s Little Rainbows         
6. Church School Ministry
7. Senior Usher Ministry
8. Junior Usher Ministry
9. Church Hospitality Committee
10. Missionary Outreach Ministry
11. Nurse’s Care Ministry
12. Revival Evangelist Committee
13. Birthday Celebration Ministry
14. Pastor’s Needs Ministry
15. Church Resource Committee
16. Sanctuary Floral Ministry
17. Recreation Committee
18. Publicity Committee
19. Church Music Committee
20. Church Baptismal Committee
21. Church Building & Grounds Committee
22. Church Lord’s Supper Committee
23. Transportation Committee

 For further information concerning any of the organizations, please see the Pastor or the Church Clerk.

 

We look forward to seeing you each time the doors of the Church are opened:

9:30 a.m. for Church School

11 a.m. for Morning Worship,

and our Mid-week Services on Wednesdays evenings beginning at 7:00 p.m. 

 

Please plan to fellowship with other Churches when the Pastor is invited to other venues of worship.

 

New Membership classes will be made available only through the Pastor

 

 

MEMBERSHIP CONNECTION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE SHILOH FAMILY

SHILOH Baptist Church, called to be a caring community of Christians

After joining SHILOH, what happens next? Being committed to developing a personal relationship with our Lord that eventuates (come about) into a ministry of evangelization, edification, and emancipation in the church and the community.

"Making Disciples to Make a Difference" Matthew 28:19-20

To serve as disciples making a difference, we must first prepare ourselves for service. Doing so requires that each member be connected by making a:

MEMBERSHIP CONNECTION

By accepting the Invitation to become a new Disciple at SHILOH, you are not only declaring yourself a member of the Shiloh Church Family, with Christ as your Lord and Savior, but also demonstrating your desire to fellowship with and be nurtured by this body of believers. The first step in making that happen is to getting to know your church family.

 

The Deacon and Deaconess Ministries serves as your first point-of-contact for information about our church, and communication with our church. They are responsible for building one-on-one relationships with our new members that will eventuate into life-long connections with the church membership in particular, and the community overall.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42 (NIV)

The next thing you will want to do is to enroll and complete our church Orientation Program.

 

Orientation
Commit to share in a warm and friendly classroom setting to learn the foundation upon which your church family stands, the Word of God! Orientation allows you to truly see that we are large enough to serve you and small enough to love you. Orientation also affords you an opportunity to make friends with both old and new members. The orientation classes taught at the church, Wednesday Sessions consist of several Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., with the initial sessions taught by Pastor Kendell.

CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES

Christian Ordinances are institutions of divine authority relating to the worship of God. There are two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion).

Jesus instituted these two sacred rites for continuous observance in his Church. They are visible signs, which appeal to the senses and they are teaching institutions which appeal to the understanding and the heart.

Salvation is the prerequisite for participation in the ordinances.

 

Salvation - Deliverance from God’s Eternal Punishment
Every man and woman, boy and girl deserves God’s eternal punishment because of sin. Sin is the source of death. God’s holiness cannot condone or overlook sin. His justice demands judgment and punishment of sin and sinners.

 However, God has provided for all people to be rescued from punishment. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on a cross as our substitute. Through Him, we may have salvation and the gift of eternal life of God.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 Baptism - The Seal of the New Covenant
Jesus instituted baptism when He submitted to John’s baptism. It was a baptism unto repentance and faith in Him who is to come.

Baptism signifies Jesus’ death and burial for our sins, and his resurrection from the dead for our justification. The believer is buried with Christ in baptism and raised with him to walk in the newness of life. Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:4-5, 8; Luke 12:50, Galatians 3:27; Titus 3:5 I Corinthians 12:13; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:16; Matthew 3:13,16-17, 28:19-20

 The Lord's Supper - Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus as His own memorial of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26.

The Lord’s Supper is a provision of bread and wine (grape juice) as symbols of Christ’s body and blood. The pastor serves and passes the element to the deacons and deaconesses, who distribute to all members. Matthew 26:30

It is a sacred privilege for every Christian to remember his/her Lord in the observance of the supper. Matthew 26:26-27; Luke 22:19.

Who may partake of the Lord's Supper? Baptized believers in good standing with the church. I Corinthians 11:23-29.

 

MINISTRY CONNECTION

 

Following your classes of the Orientation sessions with Pastor Kendell, the final classes will focus on assisting you in making the Ministry Connection. These classes made up of a team of the various ministries of the church; each will address the many ministries in the church, and will guide you through a God-inspired, session on each ministry. The session is designed to educate you on "The Christian's Call to Serve", help you "Understand & Discover Your God-Given S.H.A.P.E." (The tools God uses in each of us for His service) and to assist you in making a decision to GET CONNECTED (sign up to serve in ministry in the church as a whole, and in the community) to advance the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus.

The Christian’s Call to Serve
According to the Word of God, Christian service is not an option. It is a directive given to all believers in order to advance the Kingdom of God. Our service to God's people is an expression of our gratitude to God for His eternal service to us.

Understand & Discover Your God Given S.H.A.P.E.

Spiritual Gifts,

Heart/Passion,

Abilities,

Personality,

Experiences

We have heard many times that "no two persons are exactly alike"...the same holds true for believers. No two believers are made up exactly alike. The second part of this class will guide you on a journey to discover that you have a specific, personal God-given S.H.A.P.E. You will gain an understanding of the Spiritual Gifts, learn how to identify your Heart/Passion, Abilities, and Personality and realize that your personal Experiences play a significant role in your divine purpose. We will also provide you with an initial look at the ministry and service offerings of the church.

MATURITY CONNECTION

 

During your Orientation Session, you will be asked to make the Maturity Connection by committing to engage in personal spiritual growth, attend regular continuing education and growth opportunities offered by the church (i.e. Bible Study, Church Sunday School, and/or special classes taught by Pastor Kendell, etc.), and contribute faithfully through your tithes and offering and to share Christ with others.

 

Personal Spiritual Growth
Every member is encouraged to develop an intimate relationship with God. We passionately support fasting, prayer and meditation as a means towards connecting with God and understanding his will. Often times, our entire church family needs to enter into a period of prayer and fasting for the advancement of God’s Kingdom and the growth of the Shiloh Baptist Church.

 

Fasting - A biblical definition of fasting is a Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. Through fasting and prayer, we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches, and heal our land according to II Chronicles 7:14.

 

Prayer & Meditation - In Psalm 19:14, David conjoined prayer and meditation, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Though David is speaking words, which are his "prayer," the "meditation" of his heart is the catalyst that catapulted David from the truth of God into talking with God.

 

Sowing Seed
Every member is encouraged to tithe, give an offering over and above the tithe, and contribute towards the many expenses of the church.

 

Sharing Christ with others (missions)
God has commanded in Matthew 28:18-20 that we "go forth and make disciples.

 

We accept the scriptures as our only authority in matters of faith and practice and our interpretation of Bible Doctrine leads us inevitably to believe:

 

1.       • The scriptures of the Old and New Testament as being verbally inspired by God and inerrant and infallible in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority.

 

2.       • In one God eternally existing in one essence, yet co-equal persons, the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.

 

3.       • Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. For that reason, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.

 

4.       • That Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, was both fully man and fully God. I believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His substitutionary and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His present life there as High priest and Advocate for us.

 

5.       • In the blessed hope, which is the personal, visible and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

6.       • That the Lord lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for sins of mankind by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.

 

7.       • In the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, Who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the life of the believer and He empowers the preaching and teaching of the Gospel.

 

8.       • That the Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life in them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer’s life by faith.

9.       • That salvation of man is wholly a work of God’s free grace and not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith on Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justified them in His sight.

10.    • It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit or lifestyle, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written word. That a person who sincerely has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior cannot under any circumstance lose their salvation albeit carnal lifestyle or unconfessed sin.

11.    • Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.

12.    • That mankind was created in the image of God, sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.

13.    • Man’s nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

      14.    • In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell and the fellowship of the saved in heaven.

15.    • In the existence of a personal devil, who is still working in the world to destroy the souls of men and that he and all his angels and all who do not receive Christ as their personal Savior will eternally perish in the lake of fire.

16.    • In the Church, whose mission it is to preach the Scriptures to the entire world, all of its endeavors being guided by multiple leadership and supported by the wise stewardship of God's people.

      17.    • That the ordinances of the Church, given by the Lord, are Baptism and the Lord's Table (Communion).

18.    • Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men and women, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.  God admonishes His people to assemble together for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.

 

 

7. HOW TO SELECT A CHURCH

 

Why we need to know how to select a church?

1.      To protect yourself against cult sanctions

2.      To know how to recognize false teachings

3.      To learn how to find a church that will feed you spiritually

 

When selecting a church, look for these qualities:

Does the church believe that: 

 

1.  Jesus was born of a virgin, the Virgin Mary

“To a virgin espoused to a man…” Luke 1:27

 

2.  Jesus is the Son of God

“Thou art my beloved son…” Luke 3:22

 

3.  The Holy Bible

“And if any man shall take away from the words of the blood of the prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life…” Revelations 22:15

 

4.  Family

Let us cleave together

“What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder…” Mark 10:9

 

5.  Worship

Let us praise God together on our knees

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” Hebrews 10:25

 

6.  Three in one

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

“These three are one…” John 1:7

 

7.  Jesus as Prophet

Not just prophetic, but the word of God

“This is Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth…” Matthew 21:11(42)

 

8. CHURCH COVENANT

 

Having been led, as we believe, by the spirit of god, to receive the lord Jesus Christ as our savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit, we do now in the presence of god, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into the covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

 

We engage therefore by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge and holiness.  To give it a place in our affections, prayers, and services above every organization of the human origin.  To sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrine. To contribute cheerfully and regularly as god has prospered us.  Towards its expenses for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us.  For the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel throughout the world.  In case of difference of opinion in the church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit.  And if we cannot unanimously agree, we cheerfully recognize the right and the majority to govern.

 

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion, to study diligently the word of god.  To religiously educate our children, to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintance.  To walk circumspectly in the world, to be kind and just to those in our employ.  And faithful in the service we promise others endeavoring in purity of heart and goodwill toward all men to exemplify and commend our holy faith. 

 

We further engage to watch over pray for to exhort, and stir up each other in every good word and work. To guard each others reputation not needlessly exposing the infirmities of others, to participate in each others joys, and with tender sympathy bear one another burdens and sorrows, to cultivate Christian courtesy, to be slow to give or take offense but always ready for reconciliation.  Being mindful of the rules of the savior in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew.  To secure it out delay and through life amid evil report and good report.  To seek to live to the glory of god, who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. When we remove from this place, we engage as soon as possible to unite with some other church.  Where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of god’s word.

 

CHURCH COVENANT STUDY

 

Salvation and Baptism

John 1:11-12

Matthew 28:19-20

 

Duties of the Church

1.      To walk together in Christian love – John 13:34-35

2.      To strive for the advancement of the church and promote its prosperity and spirituality

3.      To sustain the church’s worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrine – Hebrews 10:25, Matthew 25:19, I Corinthians 11:23-26

4.      To give it pre-eminence in my life – Matthew 6:33

5.      To carry my membership when I move and to be active in church work where I live – Acts 11:19-21, Acts 18:24-28

 

DUTIES IN PERSONAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

 

1.      To maintain family and secret devotion – I Thessalonians 5:17, Acts 17:11

2.      To religiously educate our children – II Timothy 3:15, Deuteronomy 6:4-7

3.      To seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintance – Acts 1:8, Matthew 4, Psalms 126:4-6, Proverbs 11:30

4.      To walk circumspectly in the world, and be kind and just to those in our employ, endeavoring in the purity of heart – Ephesians 5:15, Philippians 2:14-15, I Peter 2:11-12

5.      To be slow to give or take offense – Ephesians 4:31, I Peter 2:11-12

 

9. BIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.  What is the Bible?

 

2.  What is the relation between the Word and God?

 

3.  Who wrote the Bible?

 

4.  How the scripture came into existence.

 

5.  What do we mean by inspiration of God?

 

6.  Why should a person study the Bible?

 

7.  How can you rightly divide the word?

 

8.  Can you know God and not know the Word?

 

9.  How can a Christian be established?

 

10.  What happens if one does not have root in the word?

 

11.  Can the Word give direction for our life?

 

12.  Can the Word keep you from sin?

 

13.  Why was the Bible written?

 

14.   Why do some people say, “I cannot understand the Bible”?

 

15.  What is a testament?

 

16.  What do we mean by Old Testament?

 

17.  What do we mean by New Testament?

 

18.  What are the two (2) great doctrines of the Bible?

 

19.  What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel of grace?

 

20.  What is the theme of the Bible?

 

21.  How many books are in the Bible?

 

22.  How many people wrote the Bible?

 

STUDYING THE BIBLE: GOD’S WORD

 

No one’s education is complete if he/she does not know the Bible.

 

No Christian worker can be as effective as possible without a ready knowledge of the work of God.

 

No Christian can live a victorious Christian life without knowledge of the Word.

 

No minister is qualified for the ministry without a study of the Word.

 

It is one thing to be able to quote the Scripture, but another thing to be able to explain it.

 

1.  What is the Bible?

            The Bible is the written word of God (John 17:17) it is God speaking to man.

 

2.  What is the relation between the word and God?

           “In the beginning was the word, and the word was God, and the was with God.”  (John 1:1)

 

3.  Who wrote the Bible?

            Holy men of old, (prophets, and certain priests) in the Old Testament along with Apostles and Evangelists in the New Testament

 

4.  How was scripture given?

            The Holy Ghost moved upon holy men to write and put into their minds the very thoughts of God.  They were men inspired by God.  (II Timothy 3:16)

 

5.