Are you already a church member?
If you are not, don't miss this opportunity. We will be offering a Membership Information Session on Tuesday, October 11th, at 7 PM at SCCC.
Why should I become a member of a local church?
Maybe you could be wondering... why I should become a member of a local church? I’m already saved and a part of the body of Christ (universal), so does it even matter if I am a member of a local church?
Well, it does matter because we do become a part of the family of God when we receive Christ, and the actual expression of that is found in the New Testament local church. There is not one Christian mentioned in the New Testament who was not connected to a local church.
Rick Warren has written, “Many Americans Christians are what I call “floating believers” (...) hopping from one church to another without any identity, accountability, or commitment.
It is important for us to remember that without commitment, there is no accountability. We need to learn that the Christian life involves more than just believing; it also includes belonging. We grow in Christ by being in relationship to other Christians. Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”
C.S. Lewis once wrote an essay on church membership, reminding us that the word membership is of Christian origin, but it has been taken over by the world and emptied of all its original meaning. Today, most people associate the term membership with paying dues, meaningless rituals, silly rules and handshakes, and having your name on some dusty roll.
Paul, however, had a very different image of membership. To the Apostle Paul, being a member of the church was not about joining an institution, but rather it meant becoming a vital organ of a living body (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:15; 1 Cor. 12:12-27). Any organ that is detached from the body will not only miss what it was created to be, but it will also wither and die quickly. The same is true for Christians that are uncommitted to any specific congregation.
It is important to realize that there are several benefits that can come to you through church membership. The benefits include:
1) It provides a spiritual family to support and encourage you in your walk with Christ (Gal. 6:1-2; Heb. 10:24-25).
2) It gives you a place to discover and use your gifts in ministry (I Cor. 12:4-27).
3) It places you under the spiritual protection of godly leaders (Heb. 13:17; Acts 20:28-29).
4) It gives you the accountability you need to grow (Eph. 5:21).
5) It gives you a place where there are people who will share the burdens of life through prayer, love, sharing, support, and encouragement (Gal. 6:2).
So, my friend, if you are not a member yet... save the date... Tuesday, October 11th, at 7 PM for our Membership Information Session.