North American Mission Board

Personal Commitment Guide (Currently out of print)

Church Membership

Are you an active member of a local church? Where? Jesus built the Church (Matthew 16:18) and gave Himself for the benefit of the Church (Ephesians 5:25). The church is made up of God's people. To love Christ is to love His church.

God's purpose

• We can be a part of God's work through the church. "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).
• As a part of the church we can worship with other Christians. (Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 5:19-20)
• As a part of the church we can evangelize (share our faith) (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
• As a part of the church, we learn how to become the kind of people God wants us to be. (2 Peter 3:18).
• As part of the church we can minister to  one another (1 Corinthians 12:12-26).

Our Need

• We need the fellowship of other Christians (1 John 1:3). We need to publicly identify with the family of God. (Acts 2: 41-42).
• We need strength for daily living which comes through fellowship with other Christians (Hebrews 3:13)
• We can express our personal talents and spiritual gifts through the church. (Romans 12:4-8).

God's provision.

• God established the church as the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18).
• God provides for church membership through the invitation of the local church (Revelation 22:17).
• God encourages every Christian to participate in Church membership (Hebrews 10:25).
• Jesus set the example for us through His custom of regular synagogue (church) attendance. (Luke 4:16).

Our response

• You may become a regular member of the local church fellowship by professing your faith and by being baptized (Acts 2:41, 47).
• You may share the fellowship of the local church by joining it's membership.
• You may join a church by a statement that you have been baptized by a church of like faith and order.
• Will you commit yourself to become an active member of a local church?

My commitment: Dear Lord, thank You for the church.Help me to be a faithful church member and help me support my local church family.