Commitment of Church Membership

Commitment of Church Membership

3 Basic Reasons Church Membership is :

1. The Command for Commitment

-The Bible clearly commands believer to be deeply involved in the lives of other believers.

Hebrews 10:24-25, And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

*To neglect to be intentional in constantly stimulating other believers to love and good deeds, is to be in disobedience to the Lord.

-Consider this: almost all of the “one anothers” of the New Testament are given directly to churches and are intended to help that group of believers be what God wants them to be.

2. The Obligation of Obedience

-It is firstly imperative to understand the biblical necessity to to something larger than one’s self:

Hebrews 13:17, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

-Church membership unquestionably makes it easier for the leaders of the church to shepherd the flock for the following reasons:

1. Membership can clarify the difference between believers and unbelievers.

-Membership will never tell us who is a true believer, but the examination process helps us to know whether our approach to that soul should be one of evangelism or encouragement to service. (Matthew 7 & 13)

-Membership is vital in biblical church discipline. (Mt. 18 & 1 Cor. 5)

*The goal of church discipline is restoration to the church and is impossible if one was never a part of that church.

2. Membership causes the visible church to better the invisible church.

-The goal of the visible (local) church is to look to the world as much like Christ’s spiritual body as possible.

-Jesus Christ’s spiritual body includes perfect unity (John 17:22-23), wholehearted submission to Him (Ephesians 5:22), and absolute stability (Matthew 16:18).

-It’s vitally important that only those with a credible profession of faith be allowed to join the church. (John 3:3)

3. Membership is essential to an administration of the church.

-God has entrusted valuable resources to the church such as His grace, His Word, and souls of His redeemed people—so then the church needs to faithfully steward these resources with careful thought and structured organization.

I Corinthians 14:40, Let all things be done decently and in order.

4. Membership promotes from those on the “fringes” of the church.

-Membership encourages and elevates a believer’s sense of commitment and involvement.

5. Membership provides an opportunity to people about the nature and distinctives of the church.

Colossians 1:28, …teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

-This is, in part, why HVBC has a “Statement of Faith.”

3. The of Partnership

-Church membership is not only a commitment on the member’s part to the church, but it is a commitment on the church’s part to the member.

-Partnership Privileges:

1. Ministry Opportunities – Members of the body are gifted by the Spirit for the purpose of accomplishing the work for the ministry. (1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:11-16)

-Membership gives members the to obey God in any way He calls them to serve.

2. Helpful Services – i.e. biblical counseling, help for widows (Acts 6:1-7), etc.

3. Loving Accountability – God has given leaders and other members the privilege and responsibility of biblical accountability and, believe it or not, that accountability is a huge to each receiving member.

-We should welcome and seek accountability because it is a powerful tool that God uses to mold us into the image of His Son.

-Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 9:8-9; 12:1; 15:32; 27:5-6; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20; Hebrews 12:5-6

*Without membership, not all of the means that God has designed to pull us away from sin are available to us if we should happen to persist in some sin choice.

-Membership is not really an option for a true believer and to refuse to align with a group of believers (local church) puts a believer in danger of disobedience to God.

*Taken from Life in the Father’s House by Wayne Mack & David Swavely