What is Church Membership?
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel . . . (Philippians 1:27 ESV)
Faith is a community project. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul warns us that "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." In addition to outside pressures, we who belong to God in Christ struggle to live holy lives, denying our flesh. If we pursue a life of devotion to God by ourselves, under only our own strength, we fail to take advantage of one of God's greatest gifts to us: the local church.
Church membership is explained on the Desiring God website in this way:
"Membership in a local church involves commitment to worship the Lord corporately, edifying brothers and sisters through mutual exhortation and service, cooperating in mission, and holding each other accountable to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord as a witness to the truth of Christ in the world.
We believe that . . . church membership is a wise and helpful path for those who desire to walk together in obedience to the Lord and in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27)."
Put simply, if you desire to live for Jesus, you will need the church's help! And the church will need your help!
Joining a God-glorifying, Bible-teaching local church will be one of the greatest decisions you will ever make, both for your good and for the good of others in your community.
To learn more about why church membership is important, check out these articles:
Is Church Membership Biblical by Eric Roberts & David Platt
6 Reasons Why Membership Matters by Kevin DeYoung
How can I become a member at Indian Creek Baptist Church?
We are thrilled that you are interested in joining ICBC as a member! You will love it here!
The first step in the process is to attend Introducing Indian Creek. This is a class we offer several times per year for folks who are new or who feel new at Indian Creek. In this class, you will learn about church membership, why it is important, and what it looks like to belong as a member to this local church. For more information, click here.
The next step will be to contact one of our elders or pastors. You can do that by filling out this contact form OR by simpy calling the church office at (940) 325-8174.
The qualifications for and responsibilities of membership at Indian Creek are described in our Constitution & By-Laws (article 4). It would be helpful for you to read that document as well as our church's statement of faith.
We are excited to join you and help you in your walk with Christ!