Prerequisites & Initial Expectations

If we are not careful , when we discuss membership, our minds can quickly compare social clubs and organizations to the church. As stated here many times, the church is not an organization, but instead an organism. As we discuss the prerequisites and initial expectations, we must do our due diligence to interpret what the Word of God has to say and follow the Biblical model for joining a church.

Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

1. Prerequisites for joining a local church

a. Salvation– by grace through faith

Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

b. Scriptural baptism– by emersion

Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

John 3:23 “John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized”

Matthew 3:16 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;”

Acts 8:38 “And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.”

c. In good standing– with previous like faith and practice local church

Matthew 18 (Church Discipline(

1 Corinthians 5:12–13 “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.””

2. Modes of joining a local church

a. Public declaration of Faith followed by baptism

b. Letter from previous like faith and practice local church

Romans 16:1 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,”

c. Statement of faith when previous membership records can not be attained

3. Initial expectations of joining a local church

a. Attendance

Acts 20:7 “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”

Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

b. Fellowship

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

c. Giving

1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

Matthew 23:23 ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Matthew 5:23–24 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

2 Corinthians 8-9 Give Generously

d. Growth

1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—”