10 Reasons for Membership

1. You need to grow

To grow you must put down roots. You can't plant a tree and dig it up every 6 months, replant it and then expect it to grow. It takes time for roots to grow down into the soil so that the tree can begin to produce fruit. The local church is like deep, rich soil where we become planted and begin to grow. As we grow we will begin to produce fruit in our life. Growing and producing fruit is the evidence of the Christian life. We grow in a local church where we are fed and nourished. (John 15:16)

2. Jesus ordained the Church

Jesus is the Head of the Church and the Chief Shepherd. He calls and equips men and women to be His undershepherds (Pastors) and to oversee specific flocks of people.  When a person is born again, he or she becomes part of the Body of Christ, and a member of the universal Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The universal Church is made up of all of God's children, regardless of age, race, or denomination.  Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd (Pastor) of the universal Church. Jesus, the Chief Pastor, has established local churches and called individuals to serve as local Pastors. Ephesians 4:11-12 "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Local Pastors are to oversee a geographic area of believers who come together for worship, teaching, and ministry.  Jesus said a good shepherd is responsible to "know" his sheep.  Jesus said a good shepherd knows his sheep by name.  In fact, Jesus tells the story of one Shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep (notice that the sheep were counted) and the shepherd went out looking for that one lost sheep.  Without some type of membership, how would a Pastor know his sheep, their names, or who was missing?  Jesus expects you to be counted as a member of a local "flock"!   1Peter 5:1-4  "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;  nor as being lords 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 does not fade away."  (Acts 20:28, Jn 10:1-5, Matt 9:36, Lk 15:4-6)

3. God speaks to Local Churches

Jesus said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."  Notice, Jesus did not say, "What the Spirit saith to the isolated Christian."  Notice the word "churches" is plural, meaning local churches!  God's plan for the Body of Christ was revealed then, and continues to be revealed now, through His Word and by His Spirit, to those whom He has delegated authority.  That is, revelation for the Body of Christ comes through those God has called to lead His Church. On the other hand, each believer has the responsibility through their own personal relationship with God, to receive the revelation they need from God and His Word for their own personal lives.  However, when it comes to God's plan in the earth and in His church, God is revealing this to those whom He has called to lead the Body of Christ.  Church Membership helps you to stay in the flow of what the "Spirit is saying to the churches."  (See Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22)

4. We need you

A vision from God always includes people reaching people. Look at this verse, "from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." - Ephesians 4:16 NKJV. The natural body is held together by every part and each part is valuable and precious. You are a part and you fit right in. God has given you gifts, talents and abilities to use for Him and His Kingdom. If God has called you to join Lifeway Church we need you to fulfill the vision that He has given us. We value each member and believe that God will direct us to connect you to the right place of service within the local body. A place where you can grow, flourish and be a blessing. You belong and we need you!

5. The Holy Spirit wrote to Local Churches

The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the New Testament to write letters to local churches where believers gathered.  (The letters to the Philippians, Galatians, Ephesians, and so on.)  Apparently, the Holy Spirit knew that letters to local churches would provide the best avenue to disseminate the information He wanted individual believers to have.  The Holy Spirit must have known that the majority of the Christian world were members in their particular churches and would therefore receive His message.  (See New Testament)

6. A Safe Place

There is spiritual safety when you sit under a God-called, Jesus-appointed, and Holy Spirit anointed Pastor.  It is a Pastor's job to "feed and lead" the flock of God into rich pasture and safety!  (See Eph 4:11-16, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5)

7. Organisms are organized

While some disdain the need for organized Christianity, the New Testament says that Christians should worship together "decently and in an organized way".  Some Christians are against anything that is organized, but if we look at the nature of God Himself, we will see that He is a God of perfect order and precision.  Church membership is a simple way for a local church to operate decently and in an organized way.  We have yet to see a ministry flourish without some type of organization and structure.  We have yet to see an individual Christian bear much spiritual fruit that is lasting without some type of commitment, organization, or structure in their service to the Lord. (See 1 Cor. 14:33, 40)

8. A Blessing on Unity

God has never favored independent, rebellious, proud, maverick-spirited people who were unwilling to submit to others in the Body of Christ.  God has given explicit instructions to "mark and avoid, reject, and expel" those who persist in causing divisions, spreading false doctrine, or who persist in unrepentant, flagrant sin.  Generally, it is the "lone ranger" or those who rebel against God's delegated authorities who cause this type of trouble.  How would a local church "expel" a person from a church to which he/she never belonged? (See Rom 16:17-18, 1 Cor. 9-13, 2 Th 3:6, 2 Tim 3:5-6, Ti 3:10, 2 Jn 10) "BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:1-3 NKJV

9. You Count! We Count!

We see many references in the Early Church, that describe a tangible, committed membership which people could join, and where people were counted. The New Testament teaches that, as Christians, we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together on a regular basis.  We see the early church in the book of Acts meeting together on a regular basis.  We see a church of devoted believers who were counted.  We see Peter and John, after being persecuted, "returned to their own company" (that is, to their own local church).  We also see that for one reason or another, certain people did not want to "join" the local church. (See Acts 1:14-15, 2:41-42, 4:4, 23; 5:13-14, Heb 10:24)

10. Corporate Faith Produces Results

Joining together in faith with your church family is extremely powerful. The church began in a time of corporate prayer where all that were there in the upper room were in unity and in faith, expecting to receive the promise from the Father. (Acts 2) At special times the Lord will assemble the local church together to pray as in Acts 4. They prayed and the place that they were in shook with the power of God, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness. They were unified in faith and it produced results. Your faith grows as you assemble with your other faith filled, church family members.