Why Join a Church?

I've heard many people ask the question "why do I have to become a member?" or "where does the Bible talk about church membership?", so this class was a great one to answer some of those questions!

Why Join a Church is the title of one of the six Membership Matters classes at CHBC.  Unfortunately, I no longer have my notes from this particular class, so I will simply share the handout they gave to everyone. 

A great deal of the purpose of the church is found in Ephesians

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Ephesians 3:10-11.

A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:36

A Biblical Case for Church Membership

How does the Bible call Christians to relate within the local church?

Love One Another
    - I Peter 2:17 "love the brotherhood of believers"
    - Galatians 6:10 "THerefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those
       who belong to the family of believers."
    - Romans 15:1 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please
       ourselves."
    - Romans 12:13, 15 "Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality . . . Rejoice with
       those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another."

Encourage One Another
     - I Thessalonians 5:11 "encourage one another and build each other up"
     - Hebrews 10:24 "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds"
     - Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
       encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Guard One Another
      - Hebrews 12:15-16 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God. . . that no bitter root grows up to
        cause trouble and define many.  See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless. . . "
      - I Corinthians 5:1-5 "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that
         does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.  And you are proud!  Shouldn't you
         rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?  Even
         though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.  And I have already passed judgment on
         the one who did this, just as if I were present.  When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus
         and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan,
         so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord."

Obey Your Leaders
      - Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men
        who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be
        of no advantage to you." 
       -Implications for church members
       - Implications for church leaders

Putting it all together

Putting these commands into practice requires three characteristics of our relationships in a local church:
  
 1.  Relationships that are committed.
 2.  Relationships with a defined group of people.
 3.  Relationships that give permission to speak hard words into your life.