We offer the FIRST Steps course as an orientation for all present and/or potential members of First Baptist Church every Spring and Fall.
The FIRST Steps course consists of three sessions:
1. Our Salvation;
2. Our Statements; and
3. Our Structure and Strategy.
The Biblical Basis of Church Membership
When an individual is comes to faith in Christ, he becomes a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Because he is united to Christ and the other members of the body, he is therefore qualified to identify with a local expression of that body. To become a member of a church is to formally commit oneself to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes.
In Acts 2:41-42, we read of a local body of believers who met in an organized fashion to study, fellowship, celebrate communion, and pray. And Luke indicates that there was some record of who was part of this group by what he says in verse 41, “3,000 were added to their number.” The biblical basis for local church membership is seen in . . .
A) The example of the early church.
The New Testament assumes that Christians “connect” to a local church where they live out their commitment to Jesus. Each New Testament letter was written to a local church or a local church leader.
Just as there was a list of widows eligible for financial support (1 Timothy 5:9), there may also have been a list of members that grew as people were saved (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5). In fact, when a believer moved to another city, gave him a letter of commendation (Acts 18:27; Romans 16:1; Colossians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 3:1-2).
B) The existence of church government.
The pattern throughout the New Testament is for pastors to oversee the local body of believers. Their duties presuppose a clearly defined group of members who are under their care (Acts 20:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17;
1 Peter 5:2-3).
C) The exercise of church discipline.
In 1 Corinthians 5:2, Paul called for disfellowshipping a member. To formally exclude someone, you to have previously formally included him. Church discipline would be difficult, if one didn’t know who was in good standing and who wasn’t.
D) The exhortation to mutual edification.
Scripture exhorts believers to edify one another by practicing the “one anothers” of the New Testament (Hebrews 10:24-25) and using their spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4- 7;1 Peter 4:10-11). Exhortations to this kind of ministry presuppose believers have committed themselves to other believers in a specific local assembly.
Is a church membership roll biblical?
It’s as biblical as a video projector or a sound system or any other method used to carry out God’s work through His church. But one thing’s for sure, it is biblical for a believer to identify themselves with a local body of believers.
The Practical Provisions Of Church Membership
A. Connectivity - Being part of a local church gives me a forum to obey the “one another” commands of Scripture.
B. Responsibility - Being part of a local church gives me a forum to discover and use my spiritual gifts in ministry.
C. Accountability - When I become part of a local church, I am not just saying, "I want to be part of the life of this church," but I am saying, "I want this church to be part of my life." I am saying that I want to be part of a group of believers to whom I give permission to speak the truth in love to me.
Can I be a Christian without joining other believers in a local church? Yes, but it is something like - being a soldier without an army or a football player without a team. You will not get very far in fulfilling your calling and purpose.
As believers, we were planned for God’s pleasure (worship), formed for God’s family (fellowship), created to become like Christ (discipleship), shaped for serving God (ministry), and made for a mission (evangelism). In Acts 2:42-47, as Luke describes the life of the early church. Notice how he describes their activity: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (DISCIPLESHIP) and to the fellowship (FELLOWSHIP), to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles (WORSHIP). All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need (MINISTRY). Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (EVANGELISM).”
A purposeful Christian life can only be lived through committing to being part of a local church and working to make it purposeful.
“I think that I shall never see, a church that’s all it ought to be; but I will work and pray and plan, to make my church be the best it can.
”A teenager got hold of his role as part of the church when he entered the worship center wearing a cap and was told by an usher to take his cap off in the church. He replied, “I’m not wearing my cap in the church, I’m wearing my cap ON the church”
We hope you can understand that when you join a church, you are not joining an organization, but you are committing to partnering with fellow believers in being the church together!
D. Clarity - A story is told about a believer who was stone cold deaf. Despite this, he faithfully attended and participated in the local church of which he was a member. When asked why he bothered, he said, “I want everyone to know whose side I’m on.”
Joining a church let's people know whose side you're on. It is a way to stand up and let others know you can be counted on.
“Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.” - Vance Havner
Don’t you want your life to count? Don’t you want to life a life filled with purpose and significance? Don’t you want to be in the heart of what God is doing in this world? Then get involved in the life of a local church. Make the commitment to join AND to get involved. Beside other believers, you will make a difference in this world and God will make a difference in you.
