CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

“Church Membership”
Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 18:24-28; 20:25-32

Definition of church membership in the MCC bylaws:

“To become a member of a church is to formally commit oneself to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes. These purposes include receiving instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one
another through the proper use of spiritual gifts (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:4-31; 1 Pt 4:10-11), participating in the ordinances (Lk 22:19; Acts 2:38-42), and proclaiming the gospel to those who are lost (Matt 28:18-20). When a person becomes a member of a church, they submit themselves to the care and the authority of the biblically qualified Elders that God has placed in that assembly (Heb 13:17).”

Point 1: Membership is biblical.
Church membership proof texts:

• 1 Cor 5:12-13: “For what have I to do with judging
  outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’”
• Heb 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an
  account.”
• Acts 2:41-42: “So those who received his word were
  baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the
  fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
  

Point 2: Membership is about citizenship. 

Point 3: Membership is about protecting the flock.