Mark and Emily dig into one of the most practically important, and often misunderstood, topics in the Christian life: church membership. From what the Bible actually says about it, to the common ditches people fall into, to how a large church like Cornerstone keeps track of its people, Mark offers pastoral clarity and honesty on why formal membership matters for every believer.

Episode Highlights

02:58 — What is church membership, biblically? Where do we even find it in Scripture?

07:36 — Common ditches: individualism, the "marriage to a church" extreme, and church hopping

09:52 — The two-way promises involved in church membership — what members commit to, and what elders commit back

11:00 — State church vs. free church: why the American context changes how we think about leaving a church

19:14 — How to know when it might be time to leave a church — and how to do it well

27:45 — How does a church the size of Cornerstone actually keep track of its members?

Resources

• Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

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