Being a Member of a Local Church Family | S3E3

The question is not if every follower of Jesus should be a member of a local church but simply which one. God’s design for our lives as disciples is to be members of a local church. It’s a nonnegotiable in what it looks like to be a disciple-making disciple.1 Timothy 3:15–16 reminds us that all the instructions about what a local church is and how we should act in one are rooted in the gospel and in God’s mission to make disciples of all nations.Local churches are characterized by a combination of components:Right preaching of the gospel according to the ScripturesRight observance of baptism and communion Leadership and service of the elders and deaconsCovenant commitment of the believing members to God and one anotherGod designed us to live our lives in a web of familial relationships of covenant commitment—making a promise to God and one another to grow as a worshiper, family member, servant, steward, and witness. And we live that out as we baptize one another, share in communion, follow the leadership of the elders and be cared for by deacons, go tell the world about Jesus together and celebrate when new brothers and sisters join our family, and encourage one another toward hope as we wait for Jesus Christ to return again in glory and lead us to eternal life in the new creation.Resources:One in ChristSummit Church Membership CovenantStart the Membership Process at The Summit Church