Ephesians 2:19 states: "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household."

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When you become a believer in Christ and receive Him as your personal Savior and Lord you become:
       - a new person in Christ
       - born again
       - part of the household/family of God
       - a member of the church universal of Jesus Christ, made up of all believers all over the world, throughout all cultures
       - you are no longer strangers and aliens - You Belong!

The next question is, "What does it mean to be a disciple of the church?"
        In his book, "The Purpose Driven Church", Rick Warren says "many Christians (let's make that North America) are what I call floating believers. Anywhere else in the world, being a believer is synonymous with being connected to a local body of believers. You rarely find a lone ranger Christian in other countries. Many American Christians hop from church to church without any identity, accountability or commitment. This is a direct expression of America's rampant individualism."

Have you been taught that the Christian life involves more than just believing?  It also includes belonging. 

We grow in Christ by being in relationship to and with other Christians. "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love."

Romans 12:10
1. Discipleship in the church is not something you have, discipleship is something you do.  It is who you are!
2. Discipleship is first belonging to Christ.
         It is a relationship entered into by faith - we believe and TRUST
         This is more than accepting a creed, truth or covenant.
         It is entering into a personal one on one relationship with Jesus.
                      Jesus always being the answer - is He also the question?
         Paul wrote, "I know in whom I have believed."
         To be a member is to belong to Jesus.....
3. Discipleship is belonging to the Body of Christ.
         We belong to one body, made up of many disciples
         Romans 12:5 states, "each disciple belongs to the others."

There should be an interdependent relationship with one another. Discipleship is not about being on the roles or

in the discipleship book. It is about belonging to Christ and to others.

The local church is God's instrument for:
         - nurturing newborn babes in Christ
         - encouraging them to grow into mature men and women of God
         - equipping believers for service and investing them in the work of the Kingdom

What value is there in being a disciple of the local church?
        To be a member is to be a contributor and not just a consumer.
        True believers discover their gifts and find their place(s) to serve.
        Growing in Christ is not easy and automatic - we need others.

Hebrews 10:24-25 states, "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."