What does it mean to be a Church member?

Are you a church member?

1 Cor 12:12-27

Each local church is an expression of the family of God in its local setting.

It seems that every time I purchase something, they ask me to sign up to be a member of their club. I can get a discount or loyalty point or some other benefit. So, when people talk about church membership, does it mean we get some sort of benefit? Maybe extra Sunday morning tea on our birthday.

Even across different denominations, church membership means different things. For example, for Catholics, they are welcomed into membership through baptism and join the worldwide Catholic Church and come under the Pope and leadership structure.

So, what do Baptist Churches believe?

Firstly, Baptists talk about membership in terms of becoming part of God’s family. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can believe and receive forgiveness and a new identity as a child of God (John 1:12-13). We become part of “The Church”, the bride of Christ, members of his body (Eph 5:28-30). All joined through Christ.

Secondly, Baptists talk about membership in terms of the local church, a place to belong and grow in Christ and his mission. Each local church is an expression of the family of God in its local setting. Working together with its many parts and gifts, unified through Christ (1 Cor 12:11-27). Each local church determines how it lives out the gospel through its people. And these local churches work with other local churches to achieve wider impact both locally and globally (e.g. Australian Baptist Mission). Church membership for our local church, SHBC, is therefore committing together to serve, be on mission, make disciples, be generous with time, resources, and finances, to see the gospel impacting lives in our community and beyond. The benefit we receive, the blessing of God, love, encouragement, growth and correction, and joy in joining and seeing God’s purposes fulfilled through us. There will be sacrifice, there will be tough seasons, there will be laughter and tears. It is a family together under God, sowing and growing the Good News of Christ, in people across generations, cultures, and communities.

Are you a church member? I encourage you to join us in membership. Please chat to me or one of the pastors today about further information.

God Bless,

Pastor Stephen