What are the responsibilities of Church Membership ?

What Are the Responsibilities of Church Membership? Ajax Alliance Church. Sunday Pm service, Sunday February 1st, 2026. (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:15; 12:12-27; Eph. 2:19; 4:25; 5:30) By way of introduction, let's look at 1 Corinthians 12. In the description of the body of Christ, here and in many other passages, there is a recurring description of the composition of the body as being members, one to another. We begin reading 1 Corinthians 12, beginning in verse 12: 1 Corinthains 12:12-27. [12] For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. [14] For the body does not consist of one member but of many. [15] If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? [18] But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. [19] If all were a single member, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. [21] The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." [22] On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, [23]and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, [24] which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, [25] that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. [26] If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. [27] Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (ESV) In the many years that I had the privilege of watching my son Garret be involved in baseball, his play went from child, teenager to adult college baseball. Being there for his team winning the college championship is something I will never forget. To get to that point meant years of conditioning, practices, travel, more conditioning, games, specialized training and a myriad of other activities. In order to be a part of the team, the coach defined the responsibilities and the role of each team member. Without accepting them, a place on the team would have been insignificant or non-existent. In an individualistic and consumeristic culture, the very notion that church members bear significant responsibilities comes as a surprise to some Christians. But responsibility and church membership go hand-in-hand-you simply can't have one without the other. Although there is a myriad of reason why people reject the concept of Church membership, often it is the desire to be served while not serving others that's often behind it. In any defined group of people, those people necessarily incur responsibility simply by belonging to the group. You're not a member of the Tuesday night bowling league if you don't take responsibility to show up on Tuesday nights to bowl. Even more so, if you join a church, you have responsibilities. So, what are the responsibilities of church members? How we answer that question depends on how we first define the local church. As most know, a local church is not a building or a place. A church is a people. More specifically a local church is born-again, Spirit-filled people who gather regularly in the name of the Lord Jesus and under the authority of God's Word to profess the true gospel and affirm each other's citizenship in the kingdom of God by the ordinances. That definition is a bit of a mouthful. But it shows us two important things about the church and its membership: the church has a unique identity and the church has a unique authority. The church is made up of regenerate, Spirit-filled people. They have a new identity. No longer spiritually dead, they've been made alive in Christ. They are a new creation, forgiven of their sins, and adopted into the family of God (Jer. 33:31-34; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 1:7, 13, 22; Rom. 8:15). Each church member bears a responsibility to manifest in a greater and greater way who they already are positionally in Christ by walking in a manner worthy of the gospel (Eph. 4:1). Being leads to doing. Or in other words, New Testament imperatives flow from gospel indicatives. God has also entrusted these local assemblies with authority to render decisions on earth on behalf of the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:18). Local churches are embassies of God's kingdom. Through baptism, the Lord's Supper, and discipline, a local church wields the authority to affirm or denounce someone's citizenship in God's kingdom. This responsibility falls to the members of the church, not just its leadership. In light of the church's identity and authority, how do we define the responsibilities of church members? Tonight, I want to briefly touch on six Biblical responsibilities of Church Membership that summarize the Bible's teaching on the responsibilities of membership. The Responsibilities to 1) Assemble Together, 2) Protect the Gospel, 3) Define Your Church's Membership, 4) Love One Another, 5) Submit to Your Elders, and 6) Evangelize the Lost Church members are first responsible to: 1) Assemble Together If church members don't assemble, then there's no church. In other words, gathering together in the name of the Lord Jesus is part of what makes a church a church. The author of Hebrews commanded his readers not to forsake assembling together (Heb. 10:25). Every church member should prioritize Lord's day worship with the people of God. Please turn to Hebrews 10 Of course, members may need to assemble for other reasons. If a church designates member's meetings as the context for budget approvals, receiving new members, handling discipline cases, and clarifying doctrinal positions, then church members have a responsibility to gather at those meetings as well. Hebrews 10 is a very famous passage, but I will highlight an important aspect in this area: Hebrews 10:19-25. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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. (ESV) * Counter to an era of individualist spirituality, what we find here in Hebrews 10 are plural directives and assurances. Regular attendance in corporate worship is an expression of submission. When we willingly obey, we express how God is most valuable. As v. 22 refers, it is an expression of faith where we deal with our conscience and the "washing" is referencing obedience through baptism. V.23, we confess together what we believe and join together in confident hope. Finally, when we gather, we are instructed in v.24-25 to be intentional to stir up one another to love and good works. The closer to the time of Christ's returns the temptation to not meet together will increase, so it requires greater and greater focus to explain and encourage corporate worship. Something like livestream, should only be if someone is sick, traveling, or otherwise prevented from attending, for it will not enable the corporate fellowship in this task. Church members are also responsible to: 2) Protect the Gospel Ensuring fidelity to the gospel isn't the responsibility of pastors alone. Every church member is responsible to uphold and affirm the gospel. When the apostle Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia, he chastised the churches, not the elders, for turning to a "different gospel" (Gal. 1:2, 6). He held the congregation accountable for allowing error to creep in and distort the gospel (Gal. 1:7). Granted, not every member can master the intricacies of systematic theology, but every member should be able to articulate and defend the substance of the gospel. That's why is area is a focus of discussions with someone about desiring membership here and their public testimony must have a clear articulation of what they believe. The apostles dictated that every believer would mature in Christ, enabling them to discern true and false doctrine (Eph. 4:13-14; Phil. 1:9-10; 1 John 4:1-6). At a practical level, protecting the gospel means that church members should know and understand their church's statement of faith. We summarize here our distinctives on the bulletin and main page of the "about us" section of our website. Every church member is responsible to ensure that the teaching of his or her church is in accord with the church's confession. That would include every gathering: Men's & women's events, home groups and Bible studies. Church members that embrace this responsibility will view their private Bible study as more than an act of personal devotion and edification. It will also have an ecclesiological impulse: "I study the Bible to help the whole church maintain doctrinal fidelity." When every member accepts the responsibility to protect the gospel, the whole church benefits. A member that is not growing in spiritual maturity is an unfaithful member. That's why God expects that together, everyone mature in the truth and build themselves up in the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:13). Church members are responsible third, to: 3) Define Your Church's Membership Church members are responsible to receive and dismiss members. Jesus instructed the church to regard an unrepentant brother as a Gentile and tax collector for refusing to submit to the church's authority (Matt. 18:15-20). Please turn to 1 Corinthians 5 In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, the apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthian congregation for tolerating evil in their midst. In cases of discipline, the church effectively testifies that they no longer recognize the one disciplined as a citizen of Christ's kingdom and member of his body (Matt. 18:15-20). Pastors do not wield this kind of authority alone. The whole church must make these kinds of decisions out of obedience to Christ, for the purity of the church, and to preserve their gospel witness in a fallen world. Paul explains this to the Church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler-not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." (ESV) Together, church members are responsible for defining their membership. By receiving new members through baptism or transfer from another church, a local church tells the watching world, "this person is a citizen of God's kingdom" (cf. Matt 16:18-19; 18:17-20; 28:18-20). By regularly fellowshipping around the Lord's table, the members partake of the on-going sign of church membership, while affirming each other's status as members of the new covenant (1 Cor. 10:17; 11:23-26). Fourth, Church members are responsible to: 4) Love One Another John summarized what a disciple of Christ is in John 13:35: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Saying that church members are responsible to love one another is almost like saying birds have a responsibility to fly. Affection for God's people defines our new identity in Christ (1 John 4:7). In the New Testament, love is tangible, active, and expressed through service. Every church member is responsible to fulfill the "one another" passages of the New Testament. This includes financially supporting all the works that God has ordained should occur. If we take responsibility to love one another, then we'll actively seek to be discipled and disciple others. In this way, the whole church "builds itself up" in love (Eph. 4:15-16). We won't be passive about the church's unity, but eager to maintain and promote a spirit of unity in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). We won't leave wandering members behind, but pursue them for their good (cf. Matt. 18:10-14). We'll take prayer seriously (1 Thess. 5:16; Eph. 6:18), bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2), show hospitality (Rom. 12:13), put others' interests ahead of our own (Phil. 2:4), and seek to develop meaningful relationships. This kind of ministry isn't just for pastors. Instead, Jesus has established pastors in his church to equip members to fulfill their responsibility and do the work of the ministry of building up the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12). Fifth, Church members are responsible to: 5) Submit to Your Elders Please turn to Hebrews 13 Hebrews 13:17 exhorts Christians to obey their leaders and to submit to them. Elders are a gift from Christ to his church. They are men of character gifted in teaching and applying the Scriptures (1 Tim. 3:1-7). Church members are responsible to obey Jesus by submitting to their elders because the elders keep watch over their souls as those who will give an account (Heb. 13:17). The author to the Hebrews explained this in Hebrews 13 Hebrews 13:7-19. 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. (ESV) * Obviously, church members should not follow their elders blindly, but insofar as the elders are teaching the Scriptures and leading the church biblically, church members should submit to their wisdom, counsel, and instruction. Finally, Church members are responsible to: 6) Evangelize the Lost The Great Commission is for every Christian, not just pastors and international missionaries. Jesus has commissioned every church member to "make disciples" (Matt. 28:18-20). As a people reconciled to God, we have a responsibility to announce the message of reconciliation to people separated from Christ, without God, and without hope in the world (2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 2:12). The church is a royal priesthood charged to mediate an authoritative proclamation from God to humanity (1 Pet. 2:9). We announce the reign of God in Christ in our public assemblies, and we disperse to proclaim the same truth to a lost world: Christ is King! Repent and believe in him. No athlete joins a team hoping to sit on the sidelines every practice and game. Church membership is far more important than participating in team sports. But sadly, individualism, consumerism, easy-believism, and an unbiblical understanding of what God expects us to be and do, through the weakness of the flesh, worldly desires and Satanic distortions, have drawn people that otherwise should be members, to intentionally or unintentionally remain on the sideline. The call then is to encourage everyone to become a church member. In the Kingdom of God no one should be sitting on the bench. Jesus calls all of us to get up and get to work. (Format note: message adapted from What Are the Responsibilities of Church Membership? by Matt Emadi. Full article at https://www.9marks.org/article/what-are-the-responsibilities-of-church-membership/) Closing Hymn: "As you Go" 074 Benediction May He Who has revealed to every nation His everlasting righteousness, Who sits enthroned in ageless splendor, Rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. From the Prince of Peace, by the power of His Spirit we pray. Amen. (cf. Col. 3:15. Hymn Reference: New Songs of Celebration Render, Erik Routley (1917-1982); TH p. 14)