THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP IN YOUR CHURCH

The Three Parts of the Christian Life

 

1.  Believing

BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.  

Acts 16:31 (LB)

 

2.  Belonging

You are a member of God’s very own family… and you BELONG in God’s household with every other Christian!  Ephesians 2:19 (LB)

 

3.  Becoming

For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him-and all along he knew who would-should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.  Romans 8:29 (LB)

 

Benefits to Membership

 

1.  IT IDENTIFIES ME AS A GENUINE BELIEVER

You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God. Ephesians 2:19 (CEV)

 

The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. Romans 12:5 (TM)

 

2.  IT PROVIDES ME A SPIRITUAL FAMILY TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ME

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ²Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2 (TLB)

 

 

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)

 

3.  IT GIVES ME A PLACE TO DISCOVER AND USE MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN MINSITRY

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) read 4-27

 

4.  IT PLACES ME UNDER THE SPIRITUAL PROTECTION OF GODLY LEADERS

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Hebrews 13:17 (TLB)

 

Look after yourselves and everyone the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be like shepherds to God's church. It is the flock that he bought with the blood of his own Son. ²⁹I know that after I am gone, others will come like fierce wolves to attack you. 

Acts 20:28-29 (CEV)

 

5.  IT GIVES ME THE ACCOUNTABILITY I NEED TO GROW

Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Ephesians 5:21

 

Membership is a step of spiritual growth rather than as an organizational ritual.