When we think about membership, we usually think about joining a group that will benefit us in some way. Take your local gym, for example. You commit to a relationship with the gym in hopes that you’ll get in better shape and they’ll provide you with the means to make that happen. Others join big box stores, like Costco, to get the best deals on whatever it is you’re looking to purchase, from food to furniture. Church membership is a little different. Actually, it’s a lot different.
Church membership isn’t about gaining special rights, anonymity, or even a temporary investment. It’s about accountability, sharing your life with others, and joining with them to leave an eternal legacy. Sign up for our Reimagine Class to learn more about being a church member at CCC, but in the meantime, here are a few essential points to get you started:
- Commitment: We don’t require membership to exclude people, but rather because we want you to make a commitment to one another and to the church as a whole. You may not even realize how merely being present at church can encourage somebody else! Our hope is that in you being a member, you commit to being there for one another, both on the weekends and the week (Heb. 10:24-25).
- Inclusion: Imagine an entire family of people who have your back through the ups and downs of life. Membership is about inclusion and being a part of something much bigger than yourself. This vision for something greater is why we strongly encourage every member to serve in the mission of the church, whether it be locally or globally. (Gal. 6:2; 2 Cor. 5:18-21).
- Support: Unlike other memberships where we look for how we will benefit, in this membership, we seek to help others. In What is a Healthy Church Member?, Thabiti Anyabwile shares, “A committed member gives resources, time, and talent to the furtherance of the gospel in the local church. He lives out the Bible’s call to the body of Christ.” (Acts 2:42-47) By partnering with CCC, we will walk you through discovering your spiritual gifts in order to serve the greater body of the church.
The early church thrived because its members were willing to identify themselves as followers of Christ, commit to supporting each other, and act as one unified body. Today, we embody that same spirit by becoming members of the church and following Jesus together.
Do you want to join in on the action, connect with others in purposeful life together through the church, and connect with God in the process? Start by finding out a bit more about what we believe. Are you all in? Learn more about what membership at CCC looks like during our next membership class! In the meantime, send us your questions and continue getting connected at church wherever you can. We’ll see you around!
READ MORE ON MEMBERSHIP
- How Important Is Church Membership? from Desiring God
- 3 Reasons for Church Membership from Christianity Today
- Is Church Membership Required?
- CCC and Church Membership