Exploring Church Membership...

Exploring Membership at

First Baptist Church of Roselawn

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” ()

What is the purpose of this course?

Over the next ten weeks you will be introduced to First Baptist Church of Roselawn (FBCR here on out). Since church membership is such an important matter it is necessary to gain as much information as possible when making this decision. Our Membership Class will provide information in the following areas:

Our Doctrine

“What do we believe?” “What Biblical values inform our practices as a church?” Nothing is more important in the Christian life than what one believes, and so this course will inform you as to our core beliefs and commitments as a church.

Our Church Life

“What is it like to participate at FBCR?” “What avenues exist for worship, growth, and service?” Simply professing certain beliefs is not enough. Our beliefs must find expression in Biblical practice. This course seeks to acquaint you with what life in this church looks like and what your participation here would involve.

Our Organization

“How is FBCR structured?” “Who are the leaders of FBCR?” “How does membership function in this church?” Scripture is clear that God Himself joins people together in

the body of Christ, and that God establishes leadership for the care and

equipping of His people.

For those who desire to be part of this church, we hope that you will not only be informed, but also inspired as your consider the role that God would have you play. Participation in a local church is not merely an obligation of Christians, it is a joyful privilege. One in which we glorify God through fruitful service in the context of meaningful relationships with other believers.

We want to provide you with all the information necessary for you to make an informed decision about membership at FBCR. It is our desire and privilege to help you determine if God is leading you to become a part of this local church.

How this course will work

We like to keep our membership classes small and unhurried. In reviewing the

material we want to allow plenty of time for you to ask questions, discuss your church background and experience, and identify areas where FBCR might be different from those. We want to help you thoughtfully and prayerfully work through the church membership decision. Another goal that informs the format of our classes is that we want you to be able to get to know a range of people in our church, especially some of the leaders and home group leaders—and we look forward to getting to know you better.

In order to accomplish these goals we run our membership classes whenever we have a small group (anywhere from two to eight people) who are ready to explore membership. You will meet with your small group on Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00pm, usually at a local coffee shop or cafe. Meetings will be lead by various leaders in the church. Because we try to keep these groups small there is some flexibility in the timing of these meetings.

Church Membership Requirements

While it does require a process, becoming a member of FBCR involves just a few straightforward requirements:

1. A clear testimony of personal faith in Jesus Christ.

2. Successful completion of the Membership Class.

3. Support of the church’s Statement of Faith.

4. Regular attendance of the Sunday morning meeting.

5. Active exploration of home groups until you find one in which you can fully participate.

6. A meeting with a pastor to discuss church membership.

(Children of church members may become members themselves when, after reaching the age of 18, they follow these procedures for church membership.)

Upon completion of these requirements, you will be welcomed into membership with other new members during the Sunday morning meeting. These “welcomes” are joyous opportunities to introduce new members to the church, and the church to new members, and are always highlights for us as a church!

The Coming Weeks

We hope to make the next several weeks as informative and enjoyable as possible.

Our prayer is that this class will bring you a deeper love for the Savior and greater clarity as to His will for your life. Although we do hope that you will find in FBCR a church home where you can thrive, our primary concern is not that you become a part of this church, but that you become a part of some church.

It is our desire that you develop a Biblical, enthusiastic conviction about the importance of active involvement in the local church, and with this conviction find a church home where you can worship God, grow in your relationship with Him, and serve in ways that glorify Him. If that church home proves to be FBCR, then it will be our joy to serve with you. In any event, we count your presence here a privilege, and look forward to serving you.