One of the central issues of our day when it comes to the doctrine of the Church is interestingly enough, church membership. Many Christians today struggle with the idea of becoming or even being members of the Church. For some Christians just merely attending Church is okay with them and they don’t care to be bothered with becoming a member. Having grown up in the Church, I’ve seen both approaches to this issue but there is a better way. Church membership is vital because the New Testament epistles were written in response to Christians gathering together in local churches under the authority and care of pastors and elders. Church membership is important not because it takes into account how many people are actually part of the Church thus affecting how money will be allocated in terms of a budget, but because church membership represents responsibility ordained by God. It is in the context of the local Church where Christians are to one another each other. The over fifty one another passages in the New Testament make no sense apart from being a member of a local Church under qualified and godly biblical eldership.
While the topic of church membership in recent years has thankfully risen to the fore, and we’ve discussed it extensively from a biblical-theological framework on Servants of Grace, a new book by Dr. Thom Rainer, President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources has come out. Dr. Rainer’s book does not get into all the biblical arguments for church membership. In fact the book isn’t concerned much with explaining church membership at all but it is with explaining the attitudes that Christians should exhibit towards church membership. This is an important point to note. Dr. Rainer believes firmly in church membership and has written about it on his blog. I have come to greatly appreciate Dr. Rainer’s stance and voice on matters of the church. His book I Am a Church Member is important for Christians to read to understand how to be a healthy church member.
The book opens with a story of a man committed to staying at his local church and another who wants to leave. In chapter one Dr. Rainer explores what it looks like to be a functioning member while in chapter two he looks at how to bring unity to the local church. Chapter three explores preferences and desires not getting in the way of committing to the church. Chapter four examines the importance of praying for church leaders. Chapter five explains what it means to lead one’s family to be healthy church members. The book concludes with looking at what it means to treasure church membership.
I Am A Church Member is a very good book that will challenge how Christian approach attending and being a part of the Church. Often in my experience Christians come to Church as consumers and forget that while yes; they need to be fed from the Word of God; as they are growing in Christ they also need to serve Christ. This book will help Christians understand what their role and responsibilities are within the Church with the intended goal being that a healthy and functioning members of local churches help impact their work places and communities for the Gospel. While what I just described is the heart of this book much more could be said about this excellent resource. This fabulous resource would be great for small groups to go through. Whether this resource is used in small group or just for reading at one’s leisure, Dr. Thom Rainer has given the Church a gift in I Am A Church Member, a book that I believe the Lord will use to help Christians understand the importance of the local Church and how they should approach their membership in it.
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From the brand
From the Publisher
Great book for the entire church to read
'I Am a Church Member' is an effective tool for churches and individuals to better understand how to make a difference in their church and community.
Easy to read, accessible to every church member and can be used as part of a church membership program. Also a wonderful gift to people visiting a church.
What Churches Are Saying
'Dr. Rainer has served us all well in this book. He has wrung from the scriptures God's commands concerning the fullness of life found in Christ among his people in covenant faithfulness. If you love your church, are frustrated with your church, or don't understand why membership matters, I encourage you to pick this book up and read it'.
Matt Chandler, Pastor, The Village Church
Other endorsers include:
- Ed Stezer
- Mark Dever
- Johnny Hunt
- Geoff Surratt
- Barnabas Piper
- and more
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Reviews with images
Eye Opener
I really enjoyed this book. It has caused me to appreciate Church membership. There are a few scriptures in this book I have read before but have taken for granted. So with that being said, I will pray more for our congregation, I will not be a gossiper, I will pray for my Pastor and his family and I will consider other before myself.
Top reviews from other countries
D. Campbell
Good Manual for Church Members
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2023
Guinevier
Excellent Guide to Church Membership
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2014