The concept of a Christian not being an active member of a local church is foreign to the New Testament. God designed the Christian life to be lived in the context of a local church. The biblical metaphors make this clear: Imagine a hand living apart from the body (1 Corinthians 12:21–26), a sheep living apart from the flock (1 Peter 5:2) or a family member estranged from the family (Ephesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:15). And so, we exhort every Christian to be a member of a local church for the good of the individual Christian and the good of the church.

Church membership defines the relationship between the individual Christian and the local church. Church members commit to gather regularly to worship together (Hebrews 10:24–25), care for one another (1 Peter 1:22–23), build up the church body (1 Corinthians 12–14), hold one another accountable in their walk with Christ (1 Corinthians 5) and submit to godly church leaders (Hebrews 13:17). Church members benefit from other church members’ commitment to these same things as well as the elders’ commitment to pray for, teach, lead and oversee church members’ souls as those who will have to give an account (Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1–3).

1. Participate in two membership classes. 

2. Apply for membership & interview with elders. 

3. Elders recommend prospective member. 

4. Congregation affirms prospective member into membership.