Biblical Church Membership

Lesson 3 – Purpose -achieving the goals of church membership-

Biblical Church Membership Outlining the goals of membership

The Glory of the Lord

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Ephesians 3:10-11 …so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord….

The Edification of the Body

Ephesians 4:15-16 …but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

I Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good….

The Clarification of the Truth

If the historic Christian church has always rejected a particular understanding of a Bible verse or passage or a particular theological nuance or view, then it is a safe assumption that that understanding, nuance or view is wrong.

1 Timothy 3:15 I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

Titus 1:9 …holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

The Specification of the Church

Without a working (biblical) understanding of church membership, there is no specification of who can and who cannot be a part of the decision-making and direction of the church as a whole.

Titus 1:10-11 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

1 Timothy 5:22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others….

“Inactive members shall be those who habitually absent themselves from the services of the church when well and able to attend, and/or otherwise fail to fulfill their Christian obligations to God and this church.” (from Article V, Section 4, Subheading C of the Fontaine Baptist Church Constitution and By-laws)

The Evangelizatio n of the World

Matthew 28:18-20 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Acts 13:1-4 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The Assurance of the Saints

Hebrews 10:25 …not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Biblical Church Membership Achieving the goals of membership

Glorifying God -By taking membership seriously -By fulfilling the terms of the church covenant -By deliberately seeing the church as the body and bride of Christ -By deliberately seeing other members as those for whom Christ died, for his glory

Edifying the Body - By discovering one’s particular giftings and practicing them in the church - By encouraging others in the practice of their gifts - By seeking out ways to demonstrate love to one another

Clarifying the Truth -By not despising the importance of doctrine and doctrinal statements -By working to understand the Bible as well as possible -By having ongoing discussion with other believers -By respecting the thoughts of those who give themselves to such study

Specifying the Boundaries of the Church -By not being quick to admit people to membership -By following the provisions of the constitution and by-laws -By caring more about the integrity of the church than the imagined feelings of individuals

Evangelizing the World -By loving the Gospel, loving the lost and telling people about Jesus -By praying for the evangelistic ministries of the church -By giving financially, both to the church and personally, to missions -By advocating for the lost locally and globally

Assuring the Saints -By seeking the counsel of others regarding our own spiritual growth -By participating in the sacraments of the church -By sitting under the preaching of the church We must assure our own hearts.

Assuring the Saints -By speaking the truth in love -By encouraging and exhorting -By rebuking sin in one another -By helping one another become more like Christ We must assure the hearts of others.

Biblical Church Membership