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Membership
Is Church Membership Biblical?
At first glance, the Bible doesn’t give us a step-by-step manual for church membership. There’s no verse that says, “Thou shalt sign a membership form.” But when we look at Scripture as a whole, we see strong evidence that some form of identifiable, committed church membership was not only present in the early church – it was essential to how it functioned.
Let’s explore why.
⛪ The Church Is More Than Just Attending
Hebrews 10:24–25 urges believers to regularly gather – not just for worship, but for mutual encouragement and accountability:
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
This verse assumes an ongoing relationship between believers. You can’t really stir one another up in love and good works without consistent, committed community. That’s a key part of what church membership helps make possible.
👥 The Early Church Knew Who Belonged
In Acts 2:41, we’re told:
“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
That’s not just a revival report – it’s a statement of who now belonged to the church. The word “added” implies a clear, counted group of believers.
Similarly, in Acts 5:12–13, we read that:
“They were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.”
People clearly understood that “joining” the church wasn’t casual. It was a public, recognized step – not just showing up, but joining.
📋 There Were Lists and Responsibilities
In 1 Timothy 5, Paul instructs Timothy on who should be “enrolled” as a widow eligible for support. The church in Ephesus kept a list – meaning they tracked who was part of the community and who wasn’t.
If they had a list for widows, it makes sense they had a way of identifying other members of the church too.
🤝 Discipline Requires Definition
Church discipline only works when there’s clarity on who is “inside” the church and who isn’t. Jesus Himself laid out a process in Matthew 18:15–17, which ends with:
“If he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
To “tell it to the church” assumes you know who the church is – meaning the group of people who are committed, accountable members.
Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 5:12–13:
“Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.”
This distinction between “insiders” and “outsiders” only makes sense if people had publicly aligned themselves with the church.
Even more striking is 2 Corinthians 2:6, where Paul references a man who had been disciplined by the church:
“This punishment by the majority is enough.”
You can’t have a majority unless there’s a clear, counted group of people. Membership makes that kind of accountability possible.
So, Is Church Membership Biblical?
While you won’t find the phrase “church membership” in the Bible, the principles are everywhere:
- Clear belonging
- Mutual accountability
- Public identification with a local body
- Loving discipline
- Shared responsibility
In short, the early church knew who belonged – and lived that out in very intentional ways.
Church membership is a way for us today to reflect the same commitment. It’s how we say, “I’m not just attending – I’m all in.” We belong to one another, not just on Sundays, but as a spiritual family growing together in Christ.
How to Become a Member of GFC
Our membership process follows a simple ABCDE approach to ensure you’re fully prepared to join our church family:
“A” Attendance
An aspiring member must have attended GFC’s Sunday services consistently for at least six months. This demonstrates a genuine commitment to the life of the church and provides time to be known, to grow, and to discern if GFC is the church family God is calling them to.
“B” Baptism
An aspiring member is to have been baptized and personally identified with our Lord Jesus Christ as modeled in the Book of Acts.
Acts 2:38-41; 8:35-38
“C” Covenant
An aspiring member should agree to the GFC Church Covenant. Our church covenant highlights the relational expectations for church members of GFC.
“D” Doctrine
An aspiring member should agree to the GFC Statement of Faith. The GFC SoF centers on the core truths of Christianity and answer the question of “What do we teach?”
“E” Exemplary life
An aspiring member should have a life that, while not perfect, exhibits continued repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
Next Steps to Membership
Once you are ready to join GFC, follow these steps:
- Attend GFC’s membership class – These are two sessions, scheduled by GFC’s Admin.
- Read GFC’s Membership Primer – Our staff will provide you with a physical copy of the Membership Covenant, which you must sign and submit to the church admin.
- Complete the Membership Interview Application – Ask for a copy from the church admin.
- Interview with a GFC elder – This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and receive spiritual direction or care.
- Join a GFC Bible study group near your area, to be connected to other members for formal accountability.
Statement of Faith
Our Statement of Faith is what we teach.
While there is some room for disagreement on non-salvation issues, we do require that prospective members read our Statement of Faith and agree to sit under and submit to our teaching.
Read what we teach →Bible Groups
If you are a member of GFC and are not yet part of a small group Bible study, let us know so we can place you. If you are not a member but want to be part of a small group, we encourage you to first begin attending PDF242 (every other Thursday at the GFC center). Here you will experience what it is like to fellowship with us on a deeper level. This will be very helpful should you decide to complete the steps towards becoming a member of GFC.
