Since mid-February, we have been walking through a series as a church entitled, Why The Church? Over the past few weeks and months, we have examined some core traits that we want to be known for and function by as a church body here at Rich Fork. These have included: Biblical Preaching, Evangelism & Discipleship, Prayer, Obedient Generosity, The Practices of Baptism & Lord’s Supper, Worship, Fellowship, and Leadership. This week we look at the traits of Membership and Accountability. We began this series with this statement: “The church is the vehicle that Jesus empowered and commanded to share the hope of the Gospel with the world.” If we believe this to be true, leadership, church membership, and accountability each play significant roles in protecting the church and its impact. The reality is in 2024, we often shop churches more than we commit to them. We seek what they can give us rather than how we give to each other through the local church. In addition to this we can also look at the church from only a global perspective, rather than seeing the importance at the local level, which is tied to membership and accountability, to local elders, and to a body of believers in that location. As we look this week at 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (and other Biblical texts) we will learn of the importance of membership and accountability. It is through leadership, membership, and accountability, as members of a local church, that we can be surrounded by people who want the best for our relationship with God, our families, and our marriages and will walk with us through the highs and lows of life in accountability to one another.