The Church and You 
The Word of God tell us that "Christ loved the church, and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25; cf. Acts 20:28). Christ died to save you, and when you believed in Christ for salvation, He placed you into the church, that is, He made you one of the people of God. If you are in Christ, you belong to an eternal and universal body made up of all true believers from every tribe, tongue and nation and nothing can remove you from it. This is what we would call the "Universal church." In other words, no matter where you live you are a part of the church. On the other hand, this invisible and universal reality has a visible and local manifestation - the local church. God calls every Christian to be actively involved in a local gathering together of believers.
Unfortunately, the consumer mentality has crept subtly into the church and caused many Christians to falter in their commitment to the local church. Christians many times look at the church in much the same way as people do a country club or a fitness center - they join and participate how, when, and where they want. Belonging to the club means nothing more than you have the right to use the facilities however you please. Your involvement is arbitrary and unaccountable. It is not to be this way in the Lord's church.
The following collection of Scripture will help you understand what the New Testament teaches about your responsibility to the church, and what we would expect of you if you choose to identify with, and belong to, our church. Specifically, God calls you to faithfully participate in 11 functions within the life of the church.
1. God calls you to learn God's word in the church. (1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to regularly attend the preaching of the Word of God by our Pastor/Teacher so that you can learn and grow as a Christian in your walk with Christ.
2. God calls you to worship with the church (John 4:23-24; Colossians 3:16-17). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to consistently participate in the God-centered, Christ-exalting, reverent worship of God with the congregation with a pure heart.
3. God calls you to fellowship with the church (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 1:3-7). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to be present when the church meets corporately, and to involve yourself in spiritual friendships, commitments to one another that demonstrate Christ's love, stimulate growth in Christ, and welcome others into this as well.
4. God calls you to minister to others in the church (1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you in time to use the spiritual gifts God has given you to serve others for the mutual edification of the body.
5. God calls you to pray with the church (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 6:18). If you became a part of our church, we would expect prayer, both private and corporate, to be a priority so that you consistently participate in prayer for the church, its leaders, members, and its effectiveness in it’s mission.
6. God calls you to submit to the leadership of the church (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to support and follow the direction, leadership, and teaching of the Pastors and Elders, promising never to do anything that would fracture the unity of the church nor to teach others contrary to the doctrinal position of the church as described in the Statement of Faith.
7. God calls you to be accountable to the church (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-3). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to be accountable to your commitment to Christ as described in the Bible. By the grace of God we would expect you to seek to live out your commitment to Christ and be open to loving rebuke, correction if you ever stray. We would use church discipline, (only as a last resort) to provide the highest form of Biblical accountability.
8. God calls you to be equipped in the church (Ephesians 4:11-16). If you became a part of our church we would expect you to be trained and equipped that you might have greater effectiveness in service and ministry.
9. God calls you to give to the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to give of you time, talents, and treasures. We would expect you to give consistently, cheerfully, sacrificially, and proportionately for the support and the furthering of the ministry of this church.
10. God calls you to witness with the church (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to do your part to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in your sphere of influence (job, neighborhood, etc.), and join with us as a church in supporting those who do the same locally and around the world.
Unfortunately, the consumer mentality has crept subtly into the church and caused many Christians to falter in their commitment to the local church. Christians many times look at the church in much the same way as people do a country club or a fitness center - they join and participate how, when, and where they want. Belonging to the club means nothing more than you have the right to use the facilities however you please. Your involvement is arbitrary and unaccountable. It is not to be this way in the Lord's church.
The following collection of Scripture will help you understand what the New Testament teaches about your responsibility to the church, and what we would expect of you if you choose to identify with, and belong to, our church. Specifically, God calls you to faithfully participate in 11 functions within the life of the church.
1. God calls you to learn God's word in the church. (1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to regularly attend the preaching of the Word of God by our Pastor/Teacher so that you can learn and grow as a Christian in your walk with Christ.
2. God calls you to worship with the church (John 4:23-24; Colossians 3:16-17). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to consistently participate in the God-centered, Christ-exalting, reverent worship of God with the congregation with a pure heart.
3. God calls you to fellowship with the church (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 1:3-7). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to be present when the church meets corporately, and to involve yourself in spiritual friendships, commitments to one another that demonstrate Christ's love, stimulate growth in Christ, and welcome others into this as well.
4. God calls you to minister to others in the church (1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you in time to use the spiritual gifts God has given you to serve others for the mutual edification of the body.
5. God calls you to pray with the church (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 6:18). If you became a part of our church, we would expect prayer, both private and corporate, to be a priority so that you consistently participate in prayer for the church, its leaders, members, and its effectiveness in it’s mission.
6. God calls you to submit to the leadership of the church (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to support and follow the direction, leadership, and teaching of the Pastors and Elders, promising never to do anything that would fracture the unity of the church nor to teach others contrary to the doctrinal position of the church as described in the Statement of Faith.
7. God calls you to be accountable to the church (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-3). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to be accountable to your commitment to Christ as described in the Bible. By the grace of God we would expect you to seek to live out your commitment to Christ and be open to loving rebuke, correction if you ever stray. We would use church discipline, (only as a last resort) to provide the highest form of Biblical accountability.
8. God calls you to be equipped in the church (Ephesians 4:11-16). If you became a part of our church we would expect you to be trained and equipped that you might have greater effectiveness in service and ministry.
9. God calls you to give to the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to give of you time, talents, and treasures. We would expect you to give consistently, cheerfully, sacrificially, and proportionately for the support and the furthering of the ministry of this church.
10. God calls you to witness with the church (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18). If you became a part of our church, we would expect you to do your part to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in your sphere of influence (job, neighborhood, etc.), and join with us as a church in supporting those who do the same locally and around the world.
11. God calls you to participate in the ordinances of the church. There are two ordinances outlined in the church that we are to perform in memory and obedience to Christ, until He comes:
Conclusion
The New Testament knows nothing of a Christian who is not a member of a local church, committed to belonging and participating in the activities described above. We recognize that no person and no church perfectly fulfills all of these responsibilities all of the time. What is described above is our direction and goal, which by the Grace of God we hope to grow in more faithfully through your faithful ministry and support. We pray that God will lead you to identify and belong to His church, wherever it meets.
- Public Confession of Faith in Christ through baptism - the public declaration of commitment to Christ through testimony and water baptism to picture the death to sin and new life in Christ (Acts 8:30-38 (Matthew 28:19-20).
- Celebrating and Remembering of the Lord's Death through communion - the broken bread and poured out wine symbolize the broken body and shed blood of Christ on our behalf, which is pictured in a memorial way to reflect together on the One whose death for us makes salvation possible (1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
Conclusion
The New Testament knows nothing of a Christian who is not a member of a local church, committed to belonging and participating in the activities described above. We recognize that no person and no church perfectly fulfills all of these responsibilities all of the time. What is described above is our direction and goal, which by the Grace of God we hope to grow in more faithfully through your faithful ministry and support. We pray that God will lead you to identify and belong to His church, wherever it meets.