Some might scoff at gathering as a church.  One might say, “I can do this faith thing by myself.”  Some might scoff at church membership.  One might say, “I’ll attend a church, but I don’t need to join a church.”

Let me give you four reasons to join a church. I could give a couple dozen more.

#1 Jesus calls us to community

The New Testament does not depict, describe, or prescribe following Jesus as a solo adventure.  Rather, following Jesus is to be done in community.    

#2 Church membership is commitment to Jesus and people

Church membership puts a person’s commitment to Jesus and people on full display.  We live in a day in which it is easy to quit, back out, and run away.  Church membership is a public commitment.

#3 Church membership provides accountability to our commitment

Through church membership you live side by side with fellow Christ followers who provide support, encouragement, and at times, correction.

I love Colossians 3:16, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

I love Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

#4 Church membership helps church leadership to be faithful and effective shepherds

God has placed leaders in the church to shepherd the congregation.  Church membership opens up the door to a two-sided, shepherd-sheep relationship.  Our church staff and our deacon body are eager to serve you.  We fail.  We’d fail even more without church membership.  

*This in an excerpt from a recent sermon on church membership.