Serving Jesus
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Godhead, equal and yet distinct from God the Father and Jesus the Son. Although some have articulated that the Holy Spirit is only some sort of spiritual force sourced from God the Father, the Bible clearly defines the Holy Spirit as a divine person, with a mind, emotions and a will. And just like Jesus, the Holy Spirit has been present and active throughout all of human history.
In John 16, Jesus tells His disciples that it’s a good thing that He is going away, because when He ascends from Earth and returns the Father, then the Holy Spirit will come and dwell in each individual Christian. And then, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are given the knowledge, power and presence of God.
In the Bible, The Holy Spirit is referred to as our Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, and Intercessor. Through the Holy Spirit, we are convicted of our sins, and given the power to overcome them as we are modeled into the image of Jesus Christ. And as New Creations, we are empowered by the Gifts of the Spirit that are used for the edification of the church and evangelism.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
Spiritual gifts are talents that come not from our own natural abilities, but are given to Christians as a gift from God through the Holy Spirit for the edification of the church and evangelism. This gifts cannot be earned, but should be sought through prayer and discerned through the church as they are disturbed by The Holy Spirit.
A list of Spiritual gifts can be found 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4, however we have summarized the list here; Apostle, Tongues, Interpretation, Miracles, Healing, Faith, Discernment, Wisdom, Knowledge, Evangelism, Prophecy, Teaching, Exhortation, Shepherding, Mercy-showing, Serving, Giving, Administration.
Every Christian is given at least one Spiritual Gift and is commanded to utilize his/her gift for God’s glory. As an eye has a specific role within the body, and a foot a different role, so are Christians called to express their gifts to serve God and build up of the Body of Christ.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
The Bible describes the church as the Body of Christ, with Jesus as the head. Specifically, in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, we are told, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” And so every Christian is called to use their gifts, talents and abilities under the authority of Jesus, who is the head of the church, for the good of the body.
Church membership is the avenue of organizing the church into categories for the sake church unity and accountability. Everyone is welcome at Uxbridge Baptist Church, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is a member of Uxbridge Baptist Church (although everyone is welcome to become a member). Specifically UBC membership involves three elements. 1) Agreeing with the central beliefs of UBC, 2) Committing to participate in the purpose and vision of UBC, and 3) Submitting to the authority of the elders of UBC.
Although the modern avenue for Church membership is not discussed in the Bible, we are confident that it is derived from Biblical principles and therefore qualifies as a Biblical mandate. Without membership, unity and accountability become impossible and without unity and accountability, it is impossible for churches to function as one body.
Become a UBC Member
Become A UBC Member
Steps to becoming a UBC Member
Step 1: Contact a Deacon and let him/her know that you would like to become a member at Uxbridge Baptist Church. Our Deacons will then provide you with a membership package with information for you to look over.
Step 2: After you have looked over the membership information provided by the Deacons, you will be invited to have a conversation with two of our deacons to go through what it means to be a Member at Uxbridge Baptist Church.
Step 3: At one of our three church business meetings, you will present your testimony and then the members of the church will vote on your membership status.