Why Church Membership?

Why join in formal membership in a local church? Here are five great reasons.
 
1. Membership displays the gospel. The gospel of Jesus both reconciles us to God and to his people. In Christ, Christians now belong to one another as fellow members of Christ’s spiritual body. Joining in membership displays this spiritual membership in Christ to one-another in the church and to the watching world (Ephesians 2:14-16; John 13:34-35). 
 
2. Membership expresses your belonging in a local church. When the early church saw individuals come to know Christ in saving faith, they added them into their number (Acts 2:41). As part of their known number, these individuals were then granted all of the expressions of love that the church gave one-to-another (Acts 2:42-45).
 
3. Membership enables obedience to God’s commands. Christians are called to love one another (1 John 4:7-12), seek peace and unity together (Eph 4:3-6), care for one another physically (John 12:8; James 1:27), instruct and encourage one another in the truth (Rom 15:14; Heb 10:24-25), pray for one another (Eph 6:18; James 5:16), lovingly discipline one-another (Matt 18:15-20), and contend together for the gospel (Phil 1:27; Jude 3). All of these commands and more imply a known togetherness and mutual commitment. 
 
4. Membership is assumed for faithful leading and following. For a pastor/elder to fulfill his God-given responsibility to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Pet 5:2) there must be a distinguishable flock to be shepherded. Likewise, Christians are called to respect and esteem those who are over them and who admonish them (1 Thess 5:12-13), to consider their life and imitate their faith (Heb 13:7). Church membership formally establishes this leader-follower relationship. 
 
5. Membership serves your assurance. Church membership does not bring about a person’s salvation, but it does affirm a person’s salvation. As fellow members see your life bearing the fruit of the Spirit and continue to welcome you into their fellowship they quietly assure your heart that Christ is at work in you. Likewise, if you begin to go astray and your life begins to contradict your testimony in Christ, your fellow members are called by God to lovingly seek to restore you to the truth (Gal 6:1; James 5:19-20). 
 
For more on the local church and membership, we recommend the following resources:
  • Why Should I Join a Church? by Mark Dever (Click HERE)
  • Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential by Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman (Click HERE)
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How Can You Join IBC?

1. Attend the Membership Matters core seminar (offered regularly) and grow in your understanding of the place of church membership in the life of the church.
 
2. Complete the Membership Application. Click here to print out an application. Turn it into the church office when completed.
 
3. Meet for a membership interview with one of the elders who will walk you through the final steps of joining IBC.