Membership as Commitment

Becoming a member of a church involves a mutual commitment—you commit to the church, and the church commits to you. Learn how to avoid it becoming too one-sided.

Transcript

We’ve been teaching about membership because starting next week, you can sign up to be a member at RiverLife. And we’ve got seven core principles that will define membership here. If you’ve been around lately, you’ve heard them. They’re our membership mantras.

Here are the first six:

1. Membership is about growing spiritually not belonging to a club.

2. We don’t exist for ourselves. We exist for God first and others second.

3. Members unite; complainers divide.

4. Membership means learning a new set of family rules.

5. Membership is finding your function in the family.

6. Membership is understanding and joining the mission of God and the mission of the church.

And now, here’s our seventh and final mantra: Membership is a partnership between church and member. It’s not a one-way street. It’s a set of mutual commitments that each party agrees to. That’s what we’re going to talk about today—membership as commitment.

What’s the biggest commitment, contract, or agreement that you’ve made in your life?

• If you’re married, you better have said your wedding. Or you’re gonna be on the couch tonight.

• Maybe it’s your house.

• Some of you, it’s your cell phone. Those contracts are crazy nowadays. I’ve seen relationships end before their phone plans.

We make all kinds of contracts. We live in a world of contracts, agreements, and commitments. But what does it mean to see church membership as a commitment—a partnership between church and member?

To answer this question, we can turn to the biblical concept of covenant. Covenants between kings or clans were common in the ancient near east. But in God’s relationship with humans, they were critical. In fact, it’s one of the most important themes in story of God. Why? Because God is a promise-making, promise-keeping God. Without that, covenants are useless.

So, here’s a simple definition of covenants. A covenant is a partnership based on mutual commitments. I do this; you do that. I make one promise; you make another promise. Other words that are like covenant are: agreement, contract, arrangement, alliance, promise, partnership, or the ever-binding pinky swear. All of these are similar in concept to a covenant.

As you saw in the video, the Old Testament is centered around 5 major covenants between Yahweh God and the Israelites: in the garden, with Noah, Abraham, Israel, and David. And then Jesus fulfilled all five of these covenants and introduced a new covenant where in God will forgive sin through Jesus Christ and restore relationship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him.

We’re going to briefly look at 2 passages today, one for God’s covenant with Israel and one for the new covenant in Jesus Christ.

First, we have Moses on Mr. Sinai. God is establishing a mutual partnership, a covenant, with Israel. As we read this, pay attention to two-way commitments being made here. God’s commitments will be in red and Israel’s commitments will be in green.

Exodus 19:3-9
”3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me [God] speaking with you [Moses] and will always put their trust in you.”

Did you see the mutual commitments there? God says, “if you obey me, you will me my treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.” The Israelites say, “We will obey your commands”. God says, “I will come to you in a cloud.” And the Israelites are to trust Moses as their priest. That’s a picture of mutual partnership and responsibility.

Now, let’s talk about the new covenant. We’re going to read a passage of prophecy from Jeremiah written 600 years before Jesus. Then’s it’s directly applied to Jesus in the book of Hebrews 30 years after Jesus. This passages states four amazing commitments God makes to those of the new covenant, like you and me.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Did you catch those promises?

1. God promises that He will write His laws on our hearts

2. He promises to be our God and make us His people

3. He promises to reveal Himself to the whole world

4. He promises to forgive our sins and remember them no more

What about our part in this covenant? That’s what Jesus taught. Jesus’ whole life and teaching was a description of what our responsibility is in covenant life with God.

Now, let’s look at church membership through the lens of covenant and mutual commitment. Remember our mantra: Membership is a partnership between church and member.

We’re spend the next few minutes looking at the handout that was in your bulletin—something I’m sure you’ve already looked at. This is what partnership between church and member looks like at RiverLife.

Four Membership Commitments You Make to RiverLife

1. Be a Disciple of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20)

   • Believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

   • Be baptized as a public declaration of your faith.

   • Commit to ongoing spiritual growth (discipleship).

   • Look for opportunities to disciple others.

2. Gather in Community (Hebrews 10:25)

   • Participate in the life of the church.

   • Attend service at least half the time.

   • Develop friendships at church.

3. Serve Others (Philippians 2:3, 1 Peter 4:10)

   • Volunteer in a ministry at least once a month.

   • Participate is opportunities to serve those outside the church.

   • Consider others more important than yourself.

4. Give Generously (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

   • Financially give faithfully, generously, and according to your ability.

     • Faithful = consistent, regular, intentional, planned

     • Generous = an amount that matters to you, costs you something, and engages your heart

     • According to your ability = in proportion to what God has given you.

   • Look for opportunities to give time, skills, expertise, donations, etc.

   • Don’t come before God empty-handed.

Four Membership Commitments RiverLife Makes to You

1. Shepherding Care (1 Peter 5:2-3, Acts 20:28)

   • Care for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of members and their family.

   • Provide spiritual guidance and training.

   • Lead out of a desire to please God and not for personal gain.

2. Spiritual Authority (Titus 2:15, Hebrews 13:17)

   • Recognize that Jesus is the head of this church and that our authority comes from him.

   • Speak against sin and call people to repentance.

   • Assist in resolving conflict with biblical reconciliation.

   • Exercise spiritual discipline when necessary.

   • Encourage and empower believers to use their spiritual authority in Christ.

3. Support for Life Events (Galatians 6:2, Acts 2:42-47)

   • Participate in life’s celebrations—baby dedications, parties, house blessings, graduations, weddings, funerals, and more.

   • Preside over weddings and funerals.

   • Provide financial and practical assistance for funerals.

4. Voting Rights (Acts 6:1-4)

   • Provide members opportunities to vote in church elections and business meetings.

   • Listen to members’ needs, opinions, and concerns about church initiatives, strategic plans, and leadership.