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Membership

We believe strongly in Church Membership. Though not commanded in Scripture, it is implied that every believer should be connected with a local church in a recognized way for mutual growth and accountability, and our belief is that Church Membership is the best way to accomplish that.

Commitment to a local church involves many responsibilities:

  • Living a godly lifestyle in honor to Christ.1
  • Using one’s spiritual giftedness to build up the Body.2
  • Giving sacrificially to support the work of the ministry.3
  • Participating in corporate worship.4
  • Submitting to authority of the leaders and admonishment of other believers.5

When every believer is faithful to this kind of commitment, the church is able to live up to her calling as Christ’s representative here on earth.

Church membership is often a low priority to believers. It is not uncommon for Christians to move from church to church, never submitting themselves to the care of the elders or committing themselves to a group of fellow believers. It is essential for every Christian to understand what church membership is and why it matters. When God saves a person, he or she becomes a member of the body of Christ,6 which qualifies them to become members of a local body of believers.

Membership in a local church seems to be presumed in Scripture.  The early church had membership rolls, governments, exercised church discipline, and exhorted mutual edification. When individuals were saved, they were baptized and added to the church.7 They joined together with other believers in a local assembly and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.8

To learn more about membership at The Bible Church of Owasso, please e-mail Terry Devitt at -- td@owassobible.org or call the church office at 918-376-9900.

References:

1. Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:12-17
2. Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Romans 12:6-13
3. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5, 9:7-12
4. Hebrews 10:23-25, 13:15-16; Colossians 3:16
5. Hebrews 13:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:14
6. 1 Corinthians 12:13
7. Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5
8. Acts 2:42