Cove Baptist Church

  Church Lane, COVE, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 9RJ

Why Membership?

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

1 Peter 5 vs. 1-4 (NIV)  

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 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.

Hebrews 13 vs. 7 & 17 (NIV)

How can church leaders know who are the flock without being able to identify the membership, i.e., those they are responsible for building up and caring for?

As individuals we need to know which part of the body we belong to – to know where we can turn for pastoral and spiritual help and support, and which other members we have a responsibility to care for and build up.

There needs to be a sense of mutual commitment if a church is to move on and grow – it needs to know who is connected to it to enable those people to give input through discussion and agreement.

The Place of Individual Members

The New Testament church knew nothing of the ‘one-man’ ministry concept where the minister or leader was expected to perform and fulfil all roles.

On the contrary, the New Testament church was a multi-gifted and multi-functioning membership with each member using the variety of gifts and abilities given to him for the common good, so each member became a ‘minister’ of God’s grace to others.

Thus, 1 Corinthians 12 vs. 7-11 indicates to us that EVERY member has a function within the body of Christ and Romans 12 vs. 4-5 indicates that not every member has the same function.

The purpose is that we function as parts of the body of Christ in a co-ordinated way. Christ is the head – the Holy Spirit, the nervous system by which the Head motivates us as the various parts of the Body.

So the Body as a whole – it is not possible to divide it up – and each part is dependent on others to function.

What Does Belonging to a Local Church Involve?

Joined to One Another in Christ

• A commitment to each other (1 Corinthians 12 vs. 24-27). Individual members became inextricably bound to each other. They developed a strong loyalty as members of God’s family – suffering and rejoicing together.

• A commitment to love & to forgive (1 Corinthians 13 vs. 4-7; Col. 3 vs. 12-14; 1 John 4 vs. 7-12). To show deep consistent love in attitude, speech and expression and demeanour.

• A commitment to openness & meeting each other’s needs (Galatians 6 vs. 2; James 5 vs. 13-16). God’s plan for us is to be part of a loving caring fellowship where we can open our hearts to others and share both our joys and our deepest needs, to enter deep relationships of the same quality and kind that Jesus built up with his disciples. This can involve heart to heart sharing, confessing weaknesses and receiving help and encouragement.

• A commitment to disciple each other (Hebrews 10 vs. 24-25; Galatians 6 vs. 1-5). In the body there is responsibility on members not only to bear responsibility before God for their own actions, but also to encourage and if necessary admonish others. This is potential hard and requires mutual love and trust to be established first.

Regular Attendance at Worship

• A commitment to come together (Hebrews 10 vs. 25). In the body we come together as often as possible to worship, pray, and study God’s word.

Committed to the Church’s Aims & Objectives

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Last modified: October 24, 2009