Church Membership

 

Author: Jonathan Leeman
Written: 2012


The local church is the authority on earth that Jesus has instituted to officially affirm and give shape to my Christian life and yours.
— p. 24

Hello Ordinary Readers,

Leeman’s book is great for understanding why church membership matters and what it looks like. I know there are many out there that would say churches shouldn’t have membership and that the Bible doesn’t command us to. I think Leeman does a great job of showing biblically the institution of church membership. Not only does he help us understand the biblical basis for it, but also more in-depth on why it is important and a great way to handle membership well.

All the churches I have been a part of have had some sort of membership process. Some have had a membership process that is more focused on what programs the church has and how a person can serve, rather than what the church believes theologically. Leeman does a great job of showing that church membership is the relationship between a church and a Christian. Leeman loves clunky definitions because they are fully thought out. I will say they are not great definitions to memorize but they are great for understanding each aspect of what he is defining. Regarding church membership, Leeman defines it as, “church 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 discipleship in the care of the church.” It is this relationship that Leeman apply compares to marriage because the Bible compares the church to marriage.

I think this is a great read for all believers. Even if you don’t agree with everything Leeman writes it will help you think more intentionally about what it means to care for those that attend the same church as you.

Happy Reading!


Quotes

The local church has heaven’s authority for declaring who on earth is a kingdom citizen and therefore represents heaveen.
— p. 61
Church 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 discipleship in the care of the church.
— p. 64
It’s as if God, before he created the world, said to himself, “How can I weave into the fabric of creation a symbol or shadow of my Son’s covenant love for the church? How can I proclaim this universally, so that everyone sees it and realizes that they are standing in the shadow of something very, very big?

Answer: he created marriage. It’s the shadowy outline that points to the real reality-Christ and the church.
— p. 75
Our church began calling her a member. To do so is like sending a press release: “To the nations: You may now look to this woman to know what Jesus is like. she is an official Jesus representative.
— p. 85
Also, our church should be a safe place to move outside our social comfort zones. Friendships should form between old and young, rich and poor, uneducated and educated, one ethnic group and another.
— p. 98

 
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