Even though there is not a direct and explicit verse in the New Testament that commands Christians to formally join a local church, every Christian should formally join a local church because Scripture implicitly requires it. Jesus himself used this principle for teaching many times. For example, Jesus referenced the 10 Commandments. He pointed to do not commit adultery and do not murder. Jesus ma...  Read More

Even though there is not a direct and explicit verse in the New Testament that commands Christians to formally join a local church, every Christian should formally join a local church because Scripture implicitly requires it.  Read More

If you are looking for a verse in the Bible that says, “Thou shalt be a member of the local church,” you’re not going to find it. Rather than bare commands, there are metaphors which describe how a church relates to it members, and these metaphors about church membership give depth and meaning to what membership is to look like.  Read More

To help along the rest of this study, we need to define some terms. It is necessary that we all have in mind the same thing when the term “church membership” is used. In a simple sense, church membership is a formal and reciplorcal commitment to a local church. Today some view the local church as something of a grocery store – where you go once a week looking to fill up your spiritual pantry. You ...  Read More

So, local church membership can be compared to joining the family of God. In fact, the Bible describes it just as that -- joining the family of God. Just think about it. You get God as your Father (Luke 12:32; 2 Cor 6:18; Eph 4:4-6), you get new brothers and sisters in Christ (John 19:26), Jesus is referred to as our brother (Heb 2:11, Mark 3:34) and even our elder brother (Rom 8:29). The New Testament if filled with admonitions to join the family of God (John 1:12; Eph 2:19-22).  Read More

Have you ever asked yourself “what is the purpose of church membership?” Seriously. The only way to get the answer to that question is to go to the Bible and see what it has to say about local church membership.  Read More