We live in a time where commitment is rare...
Unfortunately, that’s crept into the Church, too. For many believers, church membership feels optional. It’s become common for Christians to bounce around from one church to another, never really putting down roots, never submitting to leadership, and never truly becoming part of a spiritual family. But that’s not how the Bible paints life in the body of Christ. When we’re saved, we’re brought into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). That spiritual reality should lead to a practical one: committing to a local body of believers. Church membership isn’t just about having your name on a list—it’s about saying, “This is my church. These are my people. I’m here to grow, serve, give, and be known .”
Is church membership in the Bible?
Even though you won’t find a direct command like “Thou shalt join a church,” the whole New Testament assumes believers are part of a local church. Here’s how:
- In Acts, people who were saved were immediately baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14).
- The early church met together, prayed together, sat under teaching, and shared life (Acts 2:42).
- Letters in the New Testament were written to churches, and even the ones addressed to individuals were written to pastors leading churches.
- There were church lists—like for widows (1 Tim. 5:9)—and believers often brought letters of introduction when joining a new church family (Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1).
What is church membership?
Membership means publicly identifying with a local church family. It means you’re committed to growing in God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), using your spiritual gifts to serve others (Rom. 12:4–8; 1 Cor. 12:4–31), participating in baptism and communion (Acts 2:38–42), and helping reach the lost with the gospel (Matt. 28:18–20). It also means you’re willingly placing yourself under the spiritual care and leadership of elders (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:2–3).
Why does church membership matter?
It’s how we grow and build each other up! The New Testament calls us to a life of mutual encouragement and accountability—bearing each other’s burdens, building each other up, using our gifts, praying for one another (Rom. 12:6–8; 1 Pet. 4:10–11; Heb. 10:24–25). That kind of life doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in community. Church membership simply makes that commitment formal.
Membership also informs and honors Biblical church leadership. God calls pastors and elders to shepherd specific people—not just whoever shows up. They're accountable to God for the souls under their care (Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17). But they can’t lead well if they don’t know who’s actually part of the flock. Likewise, Hebrews 13:17 calls believers to submit to their leaders—but if you’ve never committed to a church, who are your leaders? To learn more about our Pastors and Elders, visit our "About Us" page!
Membership also informs and honors Biblical church leadership. God calls pastors and elders to shepherd specific people—not just whoever shows up. They're accountable to God for the souls under their care (Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17). But they can’t lead well if they don’t know who’s actually part of the flock. Likewise, Hebrews 13:17 calls believers to submit to their leaders—but if you’ve never committed to a church, who are your leaders? To learn more about our Pastors and Elders, visit our "About Us" page!