Biblical Church Membership 30th July 2017

Content Baptist Roots Baptist Beliefs Biblical Membership

1st Baptist Church was founded by John Smyth in 1609 John was a Anglican priest. John, Thomas Helwys and 30 others started the 1st Baptist church

Thomas Helwys led a group to England in 1611. He died in prison in 1616, John Murton succeeded him, he also died in prison in 1626. Believers faced with much persecution, held secret meetings in small groups, grew to 47 churches by mid 1600s. By 1650, Baptist was recognized as a denomination in England.

Many fled persecution and went to America Earliest Baptist church in America was founded by Roger Williams in 1639. Baptist churches grew rapidly in America By1790, Baptist became the largest denomination with 979 churches.

Formation of Baptist Missionary Society in 1792 William Carey was sent to India in 1798. He became known as Father of modern missionary movement. In 1800 door to China was opened through trading Besides churches, Baptist setup Schools and Colleges.

1st Baptist church in Malaysia was planted by people from Swatow in 1905

Georgetown Baptist Church 1956 Fettes Park Baptist Church 1958 By 2006, there were 160 churches in Malaysia with 19000 members strong.

Baptist Beliefs

Baptist Beliefs Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. Sole authority and sufficiency of the Bible. Church members are to be born again. Baptism and Lord’s supper are 2 ordinances given to the church.

Baptist Beliefs The local church is autonomous Priesthood of all Believers Separation of Church and State

Church Membership In the past

Church Membership Today

What is Biblical Church Membership like?

It’s like being part of a human body Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were given one Spirit to drink. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Members are Interdependent of each other Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:14-16

Each member belongs to all the others (A covenanted relationship) So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others Romans 12:5

Placed by God in a local church But, in fact God has placed the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as he wanted them to be 1 Corinthians 12:18

We can’t say “I don’t need you” The eye cannot say to the hand I don’t need you. On the contrary, those part of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty. 1 Corinthians 12:21-23

Equal concern for each other There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it, if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

Does the bible support membership of a local church? Passages that support local church membership Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care. Watch over them. (1 Peter 5:2) Obey your leaders and submit to their authority because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account (Heb 13:17)

Why local church membership? Body life described in the bible is best practiced in a local church setting. God placed us in a local church to grow as well as to contribute to its wellbeing.

Conclusion The bible supports the idea of membership in a local church. Membership is a covenanted relationship with a local body of Christ for mutual care, accountability and spiritual growth.