Membership
At Grace Fellowship Church we’ve found that being part of a transformational community makes an enormous difference in our maturity as Christ-followers. We also understand that each of us has had a myriad of experiences when it comes to church and belonging.
Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose-Driven Church says this, “Many American Christians are what I call ‘floating believers.’ Anywhere else in the world, being a believer is synonymous with being connected to a local body of believers–you rarely find a lone ranger Christian in other countries. Many American Christians however hop from one church to another without identity, accountability or commitment. This is a direct expression of America’s rampant individualism. They have not been taught that the Christian life involves more than believing–it also includes belonging. We grow in Christ by being in relationship to other Christians.”
Frequently Asked Questions
To what age does membership apply?
It makes sense to us that if a child has reached the point where they want to be baptized, that would be an indication that they are ready to grasp membership.
Where can I get the membership form?
You can download the Grace Membership Form.
My spouse and I are in different places spiritually with regard to our willingness and participation in the four transformative environments. What do we do about membership?
Membership is an individual thing. It is fine for one spouse to decide to declare their membership while allowing the other spouse freedom to be in their process.
One of my spiritual gifts is giving. Does generous giving count as an act of service?
While we are all called to give, some do have the spiritual gift of giving; however, while this does serve the body, this is different from actually getting out there, getting one’s hands dirty. We have found that God gets at our hearts in unique ways when we encounter Him through acts of service that take us outside our comfort zones.
C.S. Lewis, in his essay on Membership, said this: “The Christian is not called to individualism, but to membership in the mystical body…The very word membership is of Christian origin, but it has been taken over by the world and emptied of all its meaning… By members, (Paul) meant what we should call organs, things essentially different from, and complementary to, one another.”
Wherever you are in your journey of belonging to a local body of believers, we invite you to consider and evaluate your process as you download and listen to our series on Membership.
1. What is the Church?
The church is not a building, contrary to popular belief. Rather, the church is an ecclesia, or gathering, of those who are called out to be the body of Christ. Historically, this Greek word referred to those called out to serve in civil government assemblies, beginning in Athens. Since Jesus was starting a Kingdom, it makes sense that he would borrow a term from government. We are the people called out to represent Jesus’ Kingdom to the world. But the church is more than a group of ambassadors. It is also mystical and universal, local and tangible…
2. The Large Group Experience
How many times have you come into a weekend service and felt like the Lord was speaking directly to you? Or had your spirit lifted through the experience of collective worship? In our sacred assembly each week, we encounter God–His deeds, the works of His hands, His thoughts for us–and in so doing we give the Holy Spirit a unique opportunity to speak directly to us.
3. The Small Group Experience
A small group is where we can live our lives more authentically with others. Listen to this weekend service as we interview several people, all of whom, despite their different experiences in their small groups, have experienced transformational growth in their lives.
4. Serving
Jesus gets at our hearts in a very different way when we meet people’s tangible needs.
5. Time Alone with God
Your relationship with God doesn’t have to be static. You can know Him in increasing measures. We have both the ability and responsibility to invest in the depth and growth of our relationship with Jesus.
