Church Membership Matters

46 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, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Title - Church Membership Matters

Series - Discipleship Class 101: Becoming a Biblical Christian

Objective of this lesson

to provide a concise, biblical understanding of the importance of church membership with its responsibilities and privileges.

What is Church Membership

What is a “Church”

A church is a "called out assembly” (Grk. ekklesia)

The church is the body of people who were called out of the world by the gospel of Christ and birthed into the kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit.

the church is the people of God

the church is the Spirit-born, Spirit-filled people of God

A church (local church) is a group of Christians who commit to affirm one another’s faith, oversee one another’s membership, meet together for worship and help each other in ministry.

What is Church Membership

Church membership is a formal commitment of a Christian to participate in the life of a local church.

A church “member” is a Christian who is a committed particpant in the life and activities of a local church.

2 Types of “Membership”

Membership into the Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 NKJV

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

this “body” is composed of Spirit-baptized members only

Membership into the local church

this membership is for Christian ministry

Acts 2:46–47 NKJV

the first local church

people are being saved through gospel preaching

the “saved” ones are added to the church

Note - our emphasis in this lesson is membership to the local church.

What are the responsibilities of a Church Member

Submission to leadership and authority

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

1 Corinthians 16:15–16 NKJV

15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— 16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 NKJV

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Participation in local activities

Acts 2:42 HCSB

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

Care and nurture of fellow members

Members of the local church should care for one another, both in the natural and spiritual needs.

1 Corinthians 12:25–26 NKJV

25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Acts 2:44–45 NKJV

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Support to the work of the ministry

Members of the local church support the work financially.

Give “double honor” to those who labor in the word

1 Timothy 5:17–18 NKJV

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Share in the needs of the ministry

Philippians 4:14–18 NKJV

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Submit to Discipline

What are the privileges of a Church Member

Members of a local church are entitled to the following:

Pastoral care

Acts 20:28–29 NKJV

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Pastoral care includes

prayer support

weddings, funeral, and related occasion

financial assistance

rehabilitation

feeding the poor

visitations

Spiritual nurture

Ephesians 4:11–14 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

Spiritual nurture includes

equipping the member for ministry

edification of the member with other members

teaching that leads to unity of faith and knolwedge of Jesus Christ, and maturity

Conclusion

Every Christian deserves a local ministry to help him/her grow and become a fruitful and mature child of God.

Every local church deserves a total commitment from its members.

Together, the result is a ministry that becomes the salt and light in the world, and glorifies God.

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