SHIP Building
- November 16, 2025
- memberSHIP & discipleSHIP
Open - Membership has its privileges was a marketing campaign that is still connected to the American Express credit cards. But the concept is much greater than American Express - and in many fields.
Segway - We take a little shift today … we have looked at ownerSHIP (we are not our own) to relationSHIP (to those who believe, we have the right to be called children of God)
Then last week, we looked at our stewardSHIP (a responsibility given by God Himself over our time, talents and treasures) to our debtorSHIP (we owe it all to the one who saved us and redeemed us).
But today, we shift to our role within the bigger picture of the church as a whole - our memberSHIP and discipleSHIP.
MEMBERSHIP
As we look at this, we question if membership is something that is Biblical. I know we have many modern practices (many of our schedules are geared around a agrarian society, we have an invitation time with an old camp tent revival type of format, and obviously, Peter and Paul assuredly never thought of streaming or online ministry, and so on). Also, having one's name on a roll, or in a computer excel spreadsheet, does not mean you are getting into heaven.
But, there are references to lists (widows and orphans), to a majority consensus (implying a group from which a majority is formed), and to see local accountability to a group, means there was a group. So, yes … churches existed and had some form of membership.
This verse is one several that talks of members of household, joined together, built together
Ephesians 2:19-22 …19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
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Let's look at some descriptions of membership.
To be a member, means … - Being Born Again, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ - Being Baptized as a believer - as Baptist, we hold to a baptism, by immersion, of one who is following in obedience - So infant, or pedi-baptism, is not what we hold to. Nor is sprinkling or effusion - Belonging to a local congregation as well as to the universal Church of all ages. - Being used to BUILD UP the Body of Christ - though submitting, serving, and stoking one another to good works
FORMAL DEFINITION —— Membership is a formal relationship between a church and a Christian characterized by the church's affirmation and oversight of a Christian's discipleship … and the Christian's submission to living out his or her's discipleship in the care of the church.
Basically, we (the church) take responsibility for you and you (the member) take responsibility and a role in part of God's family.
DISCIPLESHIP
Which brings us to the next part - discipleSHIP
Unfortunately, people are leaving the church. Teens (though the trend is better in recent years, especially in Gen Z men) often take years to return to the church after they leave home. Apathy is setting in. Attendance is dropping. Busy-ness plagues individuals. The church is a low priority.
And, also tragic, churches are lowering the bar to discipleship. They should be raising the bar - more Bible, not less - more theology, not less - more in the disciplines, not less - more of the Gospel, not less - get out of the shallow end
The key verse - Matthew 28:18-20
What does this look like, to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus - Be with the Rabbi - Become like the Rabbi - Do as the Rabbi did
Let's have a DISCIPLESHIP SHIFT
- From reaching to MAKING - From informing to EQUIPPING - From program(s) to PURPOSE - From activity to RELATIONSHIPS - From assimilation to DEPLOYING - examples given here
As a member, you are part of something great. It's what you are. But it requires us to do something as well - grow, be like Jesus, together.
