membership

Committing To Your Local Church

While the phrase “church membership” is found nowhere in the Bible, the concept is everywhere. Throughout Scripture, we see that those who have a relationship with God are members of a visible expression of His people called a local church. It is in a local church that followers of Christ grow in Christ-like character, experience community, and are equipped and mobilized for God’s mission. Local churches are led by elders who are accountable before God for each person’s spiritual well-being, and to whom each church member is accountable as well (Hebrews 13:17). In this way, God’s design in the church reflects His design in the family (1 Tim. 3:5, 14-15).

Following the resurrection of Christ, when new churches were formed in new places, the believers in that place elected leaders according to God’s design that would care for them and to whom they would be accountable (Acts 1:8; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). The way that our church practices this truth is through the process of church membership.

While we are an imperfect church composed of imperfect people, our intent is to be faithful to God as leaders, and to enable our members to do the same.The only thing required to be a church member at HHPC is a credible profession of faith as expressed through the five membership vows of our denomination (PCA). Those joining HHPC this morning have attended HHPC’s Inquirer’s Class, and have met with a few of HHPC’s elders with whom they shared the story of how they became followers of Jesus.

We are so thankful for the way each new member is an example of how God transforms our lives by the power of the gospel.

If you are interested in learning more about church membership, please join us for our next Inquirer’s Class on Sunday mornings, March 23 through April 13.