What About Church Membership?
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Introduction
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The tate family seem to show up as members of every Church
There is old man Dic-Tate who wants to run everything, while Uncle Ro-Tate tries to change everything. There’s sister Agi-Tate who stirs up plenty of trouble, with help from her husband, Irri-Tate. Whenever new projects are suggested, Hesi-Tate and his wife, Vege-Tate, want to wait until next year. Then there is Aunt Imi-Tate, who wants our church to be like all the others. Devas-Tate provides the voice of doom, while Poten-Tate wants to be a big shot. But not all members of the family are bad. Brother Facili-Tate is quite helpful in church matters. And a delightful, happy member of the family is Miss Felici-Tate. Cousins Cogi-Tate and Medi-Tate always think things over and lend helpful, steady hands. And of course there is the black sheep of the family, Ampu-Tate, who has completely cut himself off from the church. How about it – do you know anyone in the “Tate Family”
Last week we discussed Baptism and indeed we did that with a view to dealing with this mornings subject of Church Membership.
Now for some this morning this will something new, something not heard of previously, for others this may be something they are aware off but don’t see the point in, for others they may have had bad church experiences in the past and have been scarred from those experiences and will run a mile when ever Church membership is mentioned.
Wherever you stand this morning and whatever your past experience, I want you to put that all to one side and lets look at Church membership from the Bible, let’s as our series is titled “let the Bible speak”.
I want to stress that we are going to talk about membership of the Local Church, not the universal Church. Whats the difference you ask? Well its simply this:
The Universal Church = All Christians of the Church age, dead and alive, with Christ as the head
The Local Church = A Group of Christians in one location who agree to work together for the cause of Christ
At this point we also need to clarify that
The building is not the Church, the people are the Church.
Ecclesia - The word church (ekklesia in greek) means a "called out assembly.”
The term is used primarily to refer to those individuals who made professions of faith in Christ and were a part of a local assembly of believers.
Now, many professing Christians see themselves as part of the universal church of Christ, but do not participate in a local body. Others openly discredit the idea of formal membership in a congregation.
Now that might sound super spiritual, but its not biblical or indeed practical.. and indeed thats what we are going to look at this morning.
Church membership - The Biblical Basis and The Practical Basis
So firstly lets examine...
1. The Biblical Basis of Church Membership
1. The Biblical Basis of Church Membership
When an individual is saved, he becomes a member of the body of Christ
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Because that individual is united to Christ and the other members of the body, that is they are now a member of the universal church, he or she 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 our opening scriptures in Acts Chapter 2, we read of a local body of believers who met in an organised 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.
The early Church it seems kept records and there may also have been a list of members that grew as people were saved
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
In fact, when a believer moved to another city, gave him a letter of commendation
And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
B) The Existence of Church Government.
The pattern throughout the New Testament shows oversight of the local body of believers.
Their duties presuppose a clearly defined group of members who are under their care
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Then we see group decisions being made
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
C) The Exercise of Church Discipline.
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
In 1 Cor 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, And Church discipline is impossible in the universal Church context, it can only be fulfilled in the Local Church
D) The Exhortation to Edify One Another
Scripture exhorts believers to edify one another by practicing the “one anothers” of the New Testament
there are 41 in total in the new testament.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
and there is the call for those in the Church to use their spiritual gifts
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Exhortations to this kind of ministry presuppose believers have committed themselves to other believers in a specific local assembly.
Is a church membership role biblical? I believe it absolutely is because the Church can’t function correctly without it, to have order you have organisation
Let all things be done decently and in order.
God is a God of order, and so it should follow that his Church should be organised too, it is absolutely biblical for a believer to identify themselves with a local body of believers.
Not only is Church Membership Biblical, but sits also Practical. So lets now examine...
2. The Practical Benefits of Church Membership
2. The Practical Benefits of Church Membership
A. Connectivity
As already mentioned, being part of a local church gives me a forum to obey the “one another” commands of Scripture.
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 cay in the church, I’m wearing my cap ON the church”
I hope you can understand that
When you join a church, you are not joining an organisation, but you are committing to partnering with fellow believers in being the church together!
B. Responsibility
As already mentioned, being part of a local church gives me a forum to discover and use my spiritual gifts in ministry.
The Local Church gives me a place to grow in service to the Lord.
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 that I want this church to be part of my life.
It’s 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.
D. Clarity
You can, of course, be a Christian without joining a church, but you will be a better Christian, a more useful Christian if you do.
1. You play football without joining a team - but you will be a better footballer if you do.
2. You can be a student who works hard, but you will probably do better if you join a class.
3. You could be a soldier with a cause, but you will serve the cause better if you will join an army.
4. You can be a father, without being part of a family, but you will be a better father if you are part of the family.
The Christian life was never designed to be some kind of buffet, where you take it or leave it according to your tastes and preferences - it is a life of surrender, of obedience and of community.
It is less Lone Ranger and more Three Musketeers - all for one and one for all.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
our first duty is to each other as fellow members of this local body of believers.
A story is told about a believer who was stone cold deaf. Despite this, they faithfully attended and participated in the local church of which they were a member. When asked why they bothered, they said, “I want everyone to know whose side I’m on.”
Joining a local Church nails your colours to the mast for all to see.
So there are Biblical reasons, and indeed practical reasons for becoming a member of a Local Church
Conclusion
However, just like baptism, Church membership is not something that can be forced, it has to be an exercise of Freewill in response to Gods leading - you have to decide for yourself.
But i want to challenge you this morning if you are not already a member of a local Church , you ought to be a member of a local church, you should join this church or some other where you can strengthen your testimony, identify with the Lord and His people, and advance His cause.
The church should be less like a cruise ship and more like a battleship, rather than emphasising a casual atmosphere and fun activities, it's time for churches to raise the bar, to focus on a serious mission, and ensure that every person aboard serves a vital function.
On a cruise ship, everyone expects to be waited on and entertained. On a battleship, everyone is trained for a specific job and works with others as a team.
The problem we have today is that so many Christians just want to drift through life, to ease their way along and to enjoy the ride with no real purpose. That is never God’s way.
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.
Christ loved the church. It is His big idea, and it is materialised in local assemblies. Every Christian ought to join.
Let’s Pray