Membership in the Bible and History

Is Church Membership Biblical?

Is Church Membership Biblical?

By Matt Chandler | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

If there is no understanding of local church membership, then who are we to submit to and obey? Is it anyone with the title “elder” from any church?

Joining a Church the Ancient Way: From Clement to Egeria

By Michael A. G. Haykin | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

As it was in the earliest days of the Christian faith, so it is again: entry into a local church should be by way of catechism, creed, and baptism—and in that order.

Church Membership and Contextualization

By Ed Roberts | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

Our doctrine of church membership should take us close to a universal biblical constant, but formulating how it is lived out introduces all kinds of particular expressions.

Book Review: The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love, by Jonathan Leeman

Review by Tim Chester | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

I was asked to review this book as a “friendly dissenter,” but I have struggled to dissent. So now I am worried. What is it that I am supposed to have objected to?

Does Membership Matter?

Meaningless Membership: A Southern Baptist Perspective

By Al Jackson | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

How has meaningless church membership adversely affected the Southern Baptist Convention?

Twelve Reasons Why Membership Matters

By Jonathan Leeman | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

The Christian life in the New Testament is church life. Christians today should expect and desire the same.

Membership Instruction for Pastors

Implementing Membership in an Existing Church

By John Folmar | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

We believe the most important question that should confront a new person attending any church is this: Where do you stand with God?

Implementing Membership in a Church Plant

By Mike McKinley | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

In order to have a church, you need Christians. So a planter . . . will need to be able to discern that there are people in his meeting who are genuinely converted.

Moving Attenders to Members

By Thabiti Anyabwile | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

One thing we can assume about the Christian who regularly attends church but does not join is that his or her view of the Christian life is defective somewhere.

What Does the Regulative Principle Require of Church Members?

By Terry Johnson | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

The regulative principle, properly applied, means that church members are free from the threats of idolatry and weirdness, heresy and tomfoolery.

Cleaning Up the Rolls

By Matt Schmucker | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 02.26.2010

Bad records and outdated rolls trouble any faithful pastor’s existence. Yet before you sweep things clean, consider both why and how this should be done.

Resources on Membership

9Marks | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 05.01.2011

If you’re looking for some more practical resources on church membership, here are a few suggestions.

Miscellaneous Book Reviews

Book Review: The Next Christians, by Gabe Lyons

Review by Owen Strachan | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

As we’ll see, there is room for agreement and disagreement in the answers Lyons provides to these questions.

Book Review: The Gospel Commission, by Michael Horton

Review by Bobby Jamieson | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.03.2011

This book is theologically rich, carefully critical, and it throbs with a missionary heartbeat. Reading it will both instruct and inspire you to go and make disciples of all nations.

Book Review: Paul’s Understanding of the Church’s Mission, by Robert Plummer

Review by Kevin DeYoung | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

I hope Dr. Plummer will consider publishing a popular level edition of the material which puts the cookies a few shelves lower and hires a graphic design team not so tied to the 1970s.

Book Review: 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, by Rob Plummer

Review by Jason Meyer | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

This book is a sterling example of how to answer specific questions clearly and succinctly, which is something all who teach the Bible must learn to do well.

Book Review: Loving the Church, by John Crotts

Review by Brian Croft | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011

This book speaks a piercing word to pastors. It reminds us of the biblical standard to which God calls us.

Evangelism

február 2024
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Catholicity

november 2023
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Church Planting

november 2023
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A New Christian Authoritarianism?

apríl 2023
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The Church’s Ministries

december 2022
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The Pastor and Church Administration

september 2022
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Pursuing Revival While Avoiding Revivalism

jún 2022
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Expressive Individualism in the Church

marec 2022
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Sound Doctrine: The Foundation for Faithful Ministry

október 2021
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The Ordinary Means of Grace—Or, Don’t Do Weird Stuff

July 2021
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How to Build Up Your Church: A Guidebook for Members

marec 2021
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Heaven: Rejoicing in Future Glory

december 2020
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Pastoring Through Political Turmoil

September 2020
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Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor

jún 2020
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What’s Wrong With Gospel-Centered Preaching Today?

marec 2020
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Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning

Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning

december 2019
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The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement

August 2019
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Church Membership: Following the Lord Together

Church Membership: Following the Lord Together

máj 2019
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Ecclesiology for Calvinists

február 2019
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The Pastor and Pornography

The Pastor and Pornography

október 2018
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Pastoral Burnout: Its Causes & Cures

júl 2018
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Church Life: Our True Political Witness

Spring 2018
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Church Discipline: Medicine for the Body

január 2018
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The Reformation and Your Church

Fall 2017
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Church Mergers and Plants

Summer 2017
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Pastoring Singles

Spring 2017
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Healthy Churches around the World

Fall / Winter 2016
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Authority: God’s Good and Dangerous Gift

Summer/Fall 2016
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The Church Praying

Spring 2016
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Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church

Winter 2016
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Missions: Adding Wisdom to Zeal

december 2015
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Multi-Ethnic Churches

Summer/Fall 2015
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Expositional Preaching

Spring 2015
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Complementarianism & the Local Church

Winter 2015
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Vanishing Church?

Fall 2014
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Biblical Theology: Guardian and Guide of the Church

Summer 2014
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The Church Singing

May–June 2014
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Prosperity Gospel

January–February 2014
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Evangelism – Part 2

November–December 2013
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Evangelism – Part 1

September–October 2013
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Is Scripture Enough?

July–August 2013
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Church and Churches

May—June 2013
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Pastoring Christians for the Workplace

March—April 2013
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Lay Elders: A User’s Guide—Part 2

Jan—Feb 2013
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Lay Elders: A User’s Guide – Part 1

November—December 2012
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Discipling in the Church

September—October 2012
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Mercy Ministry in the Church

July—August 2012
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Wanted: Apostolic Pastors

May—June 2012
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The Underestimated Doctrine of Conversion

March—April 2012
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Don’t Be Too Cool for Sunday School

January—February 2012
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Revitalize: Why We Must Reclaim Dying Churches—and How

November—December 2011
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The Pastor and his Staff, Part 2

September—October 2011
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The Pastor and his Staff, Part 1

July—August 2011
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Church Membership: Holding the Body Together

May—June 2011
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Church and Parachurch: Friends or Foes?

March—April 2011
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Pastoral Moves

January—February 2011
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Book Reviews on the Mission of the Church

November—December 2010
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Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality

September—October 2010
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Pastoring Women

July—August 2010
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Journal about Deacons

Deacons

May - June 2010
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A New Evangelical Liberalism

January—February 2010

Church Discipline (Part 2)

November—December 2009

Church Discipline (Part 1)

September—October 2009

Missions

July—August 2009

Multi-site Churches

May—June 2009

Young Pastors

March–April 2009

Raising Up the Next Generation of Pastors

January–February 2009

Counseling in the Church

November–December 2008

Family & Parenting

September–October 2008

Marriage & Pastors‘ Wives

July—August 2008
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Living As a Church

May–June 2008

Cooperation

March–April 2008

Corporate Prayer

January–February 2008

Church & Culture

November–December 2007

Race and Ethnicity

September—October 2007

The Gospel

July–August 2007

Preaching

May–June 2007

Elders (Part 2)

March–April 2007

Hospitality & Friendship

January 2007

Elders (Part 1)

February 2007

Biblical Theology

November–December 2006

The Church’s Mission

October 2006

The Emerging Church

September 2006

Miscellaneous Articles

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