Biblical Church Membership

Lesson 1 – Basis -laying a biblical foundation for church membership-

Biblical Church Membership Why Church Membership?

Biblical Church Membership The bible never requires church membership or uses that term.

Biblical Church Membership Ephesians 4:16 …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.

The term, “membership” makes church sound like a country club.

Not members of a club but members of an embassy, an outpost or a delegation.

Biblical Church Membership There’s too much emphasis on membership and not on salvation.

This is no more true of church membership than of baptism or the Lord’s Supper.

People are so busy these days, church membership is not realistic.

Such busyness does not argue against church membership, it argues for it.

There are too many good programs offered by different churches to commit to just one. Believers ought not allow this to lessen their loyalty to one local church.

No one will willingly and formally submit themselves to the authority of church leaders.

The New Testament constantly assumes the recognized authority of the church elders and this authority can only be rightfully exercised in the context of healthy church membership.

The supposed benefits of church membership are rarely realized so there’s no point in it.

This is like arguing that since sick people who refuse to take their antibiotics never get better, antibiotics must not work!

Everything wrong with church is a result of people exercising their membership in hurtful ways.

Biblical Church Membership The very fact that church membership can be practiced improperly proves that there is a healthy, proper way to practice it.

Membership, by definition, is exclusive and leaves non-members feeling left out.

Biblical Church Membership The Biblical basis for church membership

The Jewish synagogue formed the basis for the New Testament church.

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers….

1 Peter 5:1-2 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you…shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight….

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

Ephesians 4:16 …from [Christ] 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.

Acts 5:12-13 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.

1 Timothy 5:9 A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old….

Biblical Church Membership