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Have you ever been surprised by the fine print? Maybe your internet bill skyrocketed and you learned the deal you agreed to was only good for a few months. Or the sudden barrage of emails from the online retailer means you accidentally signed up for their promotions list when you made a recent purchase.
Church should never be like that. Those who join a local church ought never to feel, months or even years in, that they’ve signed up for something they don’t believe in fully. They should never be caught off guard by what the church teaches or expects of them.
Pastors and leaders in the church have a unique responsibility to make abundantly clear all that the church believes and what God-glorifying worship and service with Christ’s body look like. Clarity, direction, and purpose are all necessary if believers are going to use their gifts in such a way that the church is built up (1 Cor. 14:5; Eph. 4:12).
This is one of the great benefits of having an inquirers’ or new members’ class for those interested in formal membership. It’s a critical opportunity to magnify the “fine print” and let it be writ large for those anticipating making a commitment to the church.
But what needs to be taught and shared in this class? A lot could be said, but I believe the following must be said. My hope is this will help you as you consider how to educate God’s people on what membership in the local church is all about.
1. The Gospel
The first and final thing is Jesus. There’s nothing more fundamental required of a church member than that he or she believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what we’re called to profess, more so than any particular doctrine or denominational distinctive: that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The faithful church member rests in Christ alone for salvation, receiving through faith alone the gracious gift of Christ’s righteousness to cover all sin and iniquity that separates us from God.
Let’s not make the mistaken assumption that people excited and interested in joining the church have a complete grasp on what makes the church the church, namely Christ’s lordship. A new members’ class should major on the majors and bask in the basics. Jesus said, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32–33).
Pastor, preach the gospel in these classes.
There’s nothing more fundamental required of a church member than that he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Doctrinal Distinctives
A helpful new members’ class will cover the church’s theological and doctrinal commitments. In some instances, it’s not critical a member share every distinctive, but he or she must be aware of them.
For example, my church holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith as a faithful summary of the Bible’s teachings. This includes theological convictions about God’s sovereignty in election (what’s sometimes called “Calvinism”). It’s by no means a requirement that a member be a Calvinist to join our church. But it will alleviate much frustration on the part of both the member and the leaders if there’s full transparency about what will be taught regularly from the pulpit.
3. Authority and Submission
I’ve learned over the years that more time needs to be spent in these classes explaining the Bible’s teaching on leadership and laity in the church. To join a church means to be willing to “obey your leaders and submit to them” (Heb. 13:17; see also 1 Pet. 5:5). This often trips people up later when it’s not clear up front.
A church leader’s authority is strictly declarative, which means a pastor can only declare to you what the Bible says, not enforce his preferences on your life. Even so, it’s not uncommon for a member to be indignant at a pastor’s or elder’s spiritual admonishment in a particular area of life, assuming them to be overstepping their bounds. But church membership is meaningless without an accountability structure in place.
What it looks like to submit to elders will vary from church to church, as will the discipline administered when that submission is refused. That’s why it’s key for leaders to be clear about what’s expected. Whatever the specifics, discipline should be presented as a spiritual good, not a burden or a tyrannical demand. It’s a gracious gift from God to keep us from sin and on the path of holiness.
4. Meaningful Membership
The goal of a new members’ class shouldn’t just be to get more names on the rolls. We want our people to do more than keep their noses clean, showing up dutifully on Sunday and never causing us problems. That’s mere membership; we’re after meaningful membership.
In some instances, it’s not critical a member share every distinctive, but she must be aware of them.
The church is to do all of life together, being devoted to meeting together for worship, fellowship, and service (e.g., Acts 2:42). Showcase the beautiful blessings to be had by building one’s life around the local church. Highlight the various midweek events, studies, and opportunities for service. In our noncommittal age, call people to commit to something inherently and eternally valuable. There’s no place on earth that Jesus loves more than his church. Ministers should always try to instill that same love for the church in their people. A new members’ class is perhaps the greatest opportunity to do that.
Don’t Neglect Inquirers
Though church leaders have a seemingly endless list of things to do—meetings to run, lessons to prepare—don’t overlook the importance of spending concentrated time with those who are interested in membership. Teaching inquirers’ classes have been some of my favorite moments in ministry. It’s good for my own soul to review the privileges of belonging to a local church, and it’s a joy to see that reality dawn in the hearts and minds of the people the Lord brings to us. Also, the questions potential members ask about the faith and the church are some of the best I ever get.
It’ll become quickly apparent as you structure a class that you have a lot of ground you want to cover and likely not as much time as you’d prefer. These four themes can help you focus in on what matters most to bring inquirers into a full enjoyment of the blessings of church membership.