Some people think of membership as a dry formality – a hoop to jump through. Still others point to the fact that it is nowhere mentioned in the Bible and wonder if the practice is even biblical. On the other side, there are some who place great importance on membership, maybe even to the point of being legalistic about it.

My prayer is that this Sunday as we hold the practice of church membership up to the light of scripture, that we will be helped to look on this old practice in a new, fresh way. Please join me in praying that the Holy Spirit, who guides us in all truth (John 16:13), would help us to think biblically about the practice of church membership.

Charles Spurgeon, speaking on church membership, once said, “There’s a brick. What is the brick made for? It’s made to build a house. It is of no use for the brick to tell you that it’s just as good a brick while it is kicking around on the ground by itself, as it would be as part of a house. Actually, it’s a good-for-nothing brick. So, you rolling stone Christians, I don’t believe you’re answering the purpose for which Christ saved you.”