"CHURCH MEMBERSHIP"
INTRODUCTION
- Soon after conversion, or when moving to a new area, people often
seek church membership...
- They desire to become members of a local congregation
- Which is a good thing, for both them and the church
- Often there are questions regarding church membership...
- What is church membership?
- Is church membership really necessary?
- What benefits are there to church membership?
- What obligations are there to church membership?
- How does one become a member of the church?
[This study will seek to answer such questions. Because the Bible
speaks of the church in two primary senses (universal and local), let's
first consider membership...]
- IN THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL
- DEFINITION...
- The church universal is that church Jesus promised to build
- Mt 16:18
- It is referred to as the body of Christ - Ep 1:22-23
- There is only one body, or church - Ep 4:4
- This one body is made up of individual members - Ro 12:4-5;
1Co 12:27
-- The church universal consists of all Christians, with Christ as
the head
- PRIVILEGES...
- Those in this church are saved, as Christ is the Savior of the
body - Ep 5:23
- They enjoy all spiritual blessings, which are found only in
Christ - Ep 1:3
- Such blessings include forgiveness of sins - Ep 1:7
- Such blessings include the privilege of prayer - He 4:14-16
-- Those in the church universal enjoy blessings now and in the
future
- OBLIGATIONS...
- To remain connected to the Head, the Branch (Christ) - cf. Jn
15:1-8
- To do their part in the body - Ep 4:15-16
- To fulfill whatever function they can - Ro 12:4-8
- To love the brotherhood (all Christians) - 1Pe 2:17; cf. 1:22;
3:8
-- Membership has it privileges, but it also has its obligations
- BECOMING A MEMBER...
- Those who were baptized were "added" - Ac 2:41
- Those being saved were added by the Lord to His church - cf. Ac
2:47
- By one Spirit they were baptized into one body (the church)
- 1Co 12:13; cf. Tit 3:5
-- One becomes a member of the church universal when they are
saved
[If one wishes to be a member of the church universal, they need to obey
the gospel of Christ in faith, repentance, and baptism (cf. Mk 16:15-16;
Ac 2:38-41). Then they are ready to become members...]
- IN THE CHURCH LOCAL
- DEFINITION...
- The church local is a group of Christians who meet and work
together - e.g., 1Th 1:1
- There are many such churches, not just one - Ro 16:16; Ga 1:2;
Ac 9:31
- Some form of membership in such churches is indicated - e.g.,
Ro 16:1,5; Col 4:9
-- The church local is made up of Christians in one location who
agree to work together
- PRIVILEGES...
- A spiritual family - Mk 10:28-30; 1Ti 5:1-2
- Strength from older Christians - Ro 15:1; Ga 6:1
- Mutual comfort in addition to that received from God - cf. 2 Co
1:3-5
- The prayers of brethren - Jm 5:14-16
-- Those in local churches enjoy blessings not experienced by
"floaters"
- OBLIGATIONS...
- To bear one another's burdens - Ga 6:2
- To exhort one another - He 3:12-14
- To assemble together - He 10:24-25; e.g., Ac 20:7
- To serve one another with whatever abilities we have - 1Pe 4:10-11
- To care for one another, and to seek peace - 1Th 5:11-15
- To withdraw from brethren walking disorderly - 2Th 3:6-15
-- Membership has it privileges, but it also has its obligations
- BECOMING A MEMBER...
- Membership in a local congregation is not automatic (e.g., the
eunuch) - Ac 8:39
- It is must be sought out by an individual (e.g., Saul) - Ac
9:26a
- The congregation must be willing to extend fellowship (e.g.,
Jerusalem) - cf. Ac 9:26b
- A recommendation can help expedite the process (e.g., Barnabas)
- cf. Ac 9:27-28
- The actual vetting process may vary from congregation to
congregation
-- A person becomes a member of a church local when they are
accepted as such
CONCLUSION
- Church membership is a worthy aspiration...
- Membership in the church universal is necessary for salvation
- Membership in the church local is needed for spiritual growth and
service
- Church membership in both aspects is attained...
- First when we are added to church universal by the Lord when we
are saved
- Then when we join ourselves to a local church through mutual
consent to work together
Have you become a member of the church universal through obeying the
gospel of Christ? Have you become a member of a local church so you can
fulfill your duties to Christ and His brethren...?