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eing a part of a church can be, and should be, an exciting adventure. Through worship, growth, and shared experiences, we grow closer to God and to one another. Churches are not perfect (after all, they are made up of human beings!) – but churches can provide wonderful opportunities for ministry and maturity. God intends for Christians to be vitally connected with a church family. That’s part of His plan for us.

1. Church membership

A church member is a follower of Jesus who makes a commitment to a particular church family. The primary requirement for a church member is a personal relationship with Christ. Based on that relationship, a person enters into a covenant with a church. The person becomes a part of the family – and the family embraces this new person as a new family member.

2. Opportunities to Enjoy Life Together

We can cooperate with one another and share our life together
Followers of Jesus, together in community, are like a team. We need each other and we can support and encourage each other.

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

We can pray together
Prayer is our ongoing conversation with God. Together we can pray with one another and we can pray for one another. We also pray for people who are not yet part of the church.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We can study the Bible together
God has given us the Bible – which gives us instruction and guidance for how to live. The Bible also helps us understand how much God loves us. The best way to understand the Bible is to study it with other followers of Jesus.

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We can give together
Everything that we have belongs to God. He invites us to be “stewards” (managers) of His resources. When we give offerings, we show that we understand that everything we have belongs to God. We give out of gratitude and thanksgiving. The Bible indicates that a tithe (10% of our income) is an appropriate starting point for our giving.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. (Malachi 3:10)

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

We can use our spiritual gifts together
God has given each one of us unique abilities to use in helping the church and other people. When we use those abilities, we build up the church and assist in God’s work.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1Corinthians 12:4-7)

Together, we can tell others about Jesus
God intends for us to tell others about our life with Jesus. The Bible calls this “witness” and it’s simply telling others what Jesus has done for us. As we do that, other people will come to know Jesus and will become part of His church.

(Jesus said) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)