Church Membership

Basis of Church Membership

Participation in a church is a requirement for Christians

Membership is a practical tool to accomplish a biblical task

The church admits and removes (Mt. 16:18-20; Mt 28:18-20)

Matthew 16:18–20 NIV

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

There is an expectation of authority and submission in the local church which requires an ability to identify the members

Congregational submission (Heb 13:7)

Hebrews 13:7 NIV

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Elder responsibility (Heb 13:17)

Hebrews 13:17 NIV

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

The church has the responsibility to exclude unrepentant members (Mt. 18, 1 Cor 5, Titus 3)

Congregational government requires membership

Membership demands participation

Expectations of Church Membership

Attendance

The church is an assembly so it must assemble.

Attendance enables care for one another (Heb 10:24-25)

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We need each other (Heb 3:12-13)

Hebrews 3:12–13 NIV

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Church attendance acknowledges that Christianity is a family faith not just an individual faith

Disciple-making

The mission of the church is disciple-making. (Mt 28:18-20)

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Every member is a part of the disciple-making ministry of the church.

Disciple-making: Purposeful encouragement and instruction through loving, personal relationships with the goal of helping someone else follow Jesus.

A healthy church has a culture of discipling.

[Callout] Developing Disciple-Making Relationships

Step 1: Find a relationship

Ask someone

Be quick to welcome and reach out to new people at church

Participate in small group settings

Be open to leading, allowing someone else to lead, or peer relationships

Step 2: Meet together

Meet to discuss the sermon or a book together

Read through a book of the Bible

Attend an ABF together and discuss application

Help one another with mundane daily life (go with a young mom to grocery shop, bake cookies together, help with house/yard work)

Schedule play dates for kids and use the time to encourage each other

Pray specifically for one another – focus on spiritual needs!

Service

Serve humbly (Rom 12:3)

Serve uniquely (Rom 12:4-6a)

Serve enthusiastically (Rom 12:6-8)

Giving

Give yourself first (Rom 12:1)

Romans 12:1 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Always a portion (Pro 3:9)

Proverbs 3:9 NIV

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

Sometimes a sacrifice (2 Cor 8:1-5)

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 NIV

1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.