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From the D.O.M.

From the D.O.M.: Pat Bullock
Monday, May 1, 2006

The Association is designed to support churches by helping them work together to accomplish missions, evangelism, and unity. The church is the God-ordained means of making disciples as He commanded us in Matthew 28:18-20.

In the South West Baptist Bulletin, Pastor Nick Arnold listed some reasons for joining a church. He quotes Rick Warren who says, "The difference in attending and joining is commitment. Simply attending is being a spectator. Joining means you want to get involved in ministry." Pastor Arnold then lists 4 reasons to join a local church. I want to add one to his list.

  1. GOD COMMANDS US TO JOIN TOGETHER. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as we see the day approaching." The church is a laboratory where we learn from each other as we learn to live like Christ. We learn to love each other, here in the present, even with all our failures. We are to provoke each other to love and do good works.
  2. A church family identifies you as a believer. John 13:35
  3. A church family moves you out of self-centeredness. I John 3:16
  4. A local body of Christ needs you. I Corinthians 12:7

It is imperative that we lead people to accept Christ. It is just as important to lead them to be baptized and join a local Bible-believing church. It is imperative that we make disciples out of them so they can go make another disciple. That is exactly what the church was designed to do by Christ. According to Matthew 16:18, when we make disciples, He will build His church. We as the staff of the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association want to support every local church in making disciples. We thank God for the kind of pastors and churches we have in our association. Christ loved the church "...and gave Himself for it."