Membership in a local church is a prerequisite for fulfilling our obligations to one
another. In this lesson, Dr. Leeman defines church membership and connects it to
the responsibility of the individual and the church to all that God commands.
"What is a Healthy Church" Episode 7 - 'Membership'
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Video Outline:
Church Membership is Biblical
The Bible speaks clearly about church membership.
Church membership needs to be understood in light of what the Bible says about the church.
Church membership is an individual and corporate necessity
Anti-institutional sentimentality leads people astray.
Church membership is required for obedience to all the Bible commands.
Church membership is required for a church to exercise authority.
Christians cannot exist as the body of Christ apart from a self-conscious commitment to a local church.
The authority of the church to declare to the world who is identified with Christ is rooted in Scripture.
Church membership is defined as a church’s formal affirmation and oversight of an individual’s submission to a local body of believers.
The church affirms a believer’s profession of faith and oversees a believer’s discipleship to Christ while the believer commits to growing in Christ, being discipled inside of a church’s affirmation and oversight.
The relationship between the church and a believer implies that they know one another
Church membership is how a line is kept between the church and the world
Church membership in a healthy church will reflect the very same metaphors the Bible uses of the church
Church membership matters
Discussion Questions
Why is church membership a biblical requirement?
What are barriers making becoming a member at WCRC difficult?
Do you think that WCRC should consider asking members to recommit each year to 'active' membership status? Such a recommitment would ask the following questions:
Do you continue to believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone and that the Bible is God's inerrant, infallible Word?
Will you continue to regularly attend Lord's Day worship services?
Do you commit to the following for the next year:
Praying for WCRC
Be in transparent relationships with other church members in which they care for, encourage, rebuke, teach, and learn from each other (Eph. 4:15-16).
Submit to the church’s leadership and teaching (Heb. 13:17).
Promote unity in the body (Eph. 4:3).
Financially support the church’s ministry (Gal. 6:6).
Use your spiritual gifts to build up the body however they can (1 Cor. 12:7).
Finish this sentence expressing church membership: A thriving church... See how we've completed that sentence for WCRC so far, as we've determined that a thriving church will promote expositional preaching, be gospel centered, and conversion minded. This document will grow and develop as we work on this throughout the year.
