CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
Membership in a local church is vital to the spiritual health of each believer. The local church provides a place for corporate worship, fellowship, accountability, and opportunities to serve alongside fellow Christians. Below is some information on biblical membership and how to complete the membership process here at Lake Chelan Bible Church.
MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
1. Review Church Beliefs
2. Review Expectations of the Church
3. Review Expectations of the Church Member
4. Apply for Membership
*Each individual person desiring membership must fill out their own form; please be clear and detailed so we can understand your life and experiences.
5. Attend a Church Membership Class (In-person with lunch provided at the church)
*If you attend online and still want to be a church member at Lake Chelan Bible Church you can.
Please contact us about an online option to the Church Membership Class: office@lakechelanbiblechurch.org.
2. Review Expectations of the Church
3. Review Expectations of the Church Member
4. Apply for Membership
*Each individual person desiring membership must fill out their own form; please be clear and detailed so we can understand your life and experiences.
5. Attend a Church Membership Class (In-person with lunch provided at the church)
*If you attend online and still want to be a church member at Lake Chelan Bible Church you can.
Please contact us about an online option to the Church Membership Class: office@lakechelanbiblechurch.org.
LAKE CHELAN BIBLE CHURCH BELIEFS
- The Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative written word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16
- There is one God eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19
- In the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ and His virgin birth.
- In His sinless life.
- In His miracles.
- In His vicarious atoning death and his bodily resurrection.
- In His Ascension to the right hand of the Father.
- In His personal future return to this earth and power and glory to rule a thousand years. John 1:1
- In the Blessed hope, the rapture of the Church at Christ coming. Titus 2:13
- The only means of being cleansed from sin is through through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. John 14:6
- Regeneration (born-again) by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation. Titus 3:5
- Water baptism by immersion. Matthew 28:19
- The Redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body and the answer to believing prayer. 1 Peter 2:24
- The baptism in the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4 is given to believers who ask for it.
- In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life. Galatians 5:16--25
- In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation. Revelation 20:11-15
EXPECTATIONS of the PASTOR and CHURCH
John 21 ‘Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep.’
1. The first priority of the pastor is to care for God’s people by teaching them God’s Word. Teaching God’s Word and Preaching the Gospel is the means by which Christ said,
He would build His church (ref. Matt. 16).
Teaching the word of God tends to the soul of God’s people. Teaching God’s word is to be done with all patience and instruction. It is capable of ‘building, directing, correcting, and refuting.’
2. Secondly, it is to care for the people of God by visiting the sick,
encouraging the broken-hearted, recovering the lost, and praying for those who are distressed. Bringing people back to reconciliation in Christ through forgiveness and sanctification in Pastoral Counseling.
1 Tim. ‘the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart’
All people love something – humble people love others, prideful people love themselves.
The goal of the pastor is to lead people to love God and their neighbor to a greater degree.
3. You can expect the pastor to discipline the church: A church without discipline is not a church.
Heb. 12:6 ‘God disciplines those whom He loves’
Christ gives us a model of discipline as a church, Paul does as well.
*Matt. 18:15: 1 to 1, 2 to 1, church to 1
*Tit. 3 ‘correct a factious man twice and on the third time remove him knowing that he is perverted and living in sin’
‘It is inevitable that offenses would come but woe to those by whom they come’ Christ
Gal. 6:1-2 'if anyone is caught in a transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.'
Eph. 2 ‘a bond of unity and a spirit of peace’
The purpose of church discipline is to build reconciliation, unity, and purity in the body of Christ through living in truth and grace demonstrated by actively forgiving others as Christ has forgiven us.
4. Fourth, my ministry as a pastor is given by Christ to steward His church by the authority of His word. You can expect me to lead people to Christ by the means of His word – ‘the flower will fade but His word will remain forever’ 1 Pet. 1
He would build His church (ref. Matt. 16).
Teaching the word of God tends to the soul of God’s people. Teaching God’s word is to be done with all patience and instruction. It is capable of ‘building, directing, correcting, and refuting.’
2. Secondly, it is to care for the people of God by visiting the sick,
encouraging the broken-hearted, recovering the lost, and praying for those who are distressed. Bringing people back to reconciliation in Christ through forgiveness and sanctification in Pastoral Counseling.
1 Tim. ‘the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart’
All people love something – humble people love others, prideful people love themselves.
The goal of the pastor is to lead people to love God and their neighbor to a greater degree.
3. You can expect the pastor to discipline the church: A church without discipline is not a church.
Heb. 12:6 ‘God disciplines those whom He loves’
Christ gives us a model of discipline as a church, Paul does as well.
*Matt. 18:15: 1 to 1, 2 to 1, church to 1
*Tit. 3 ‘correct a factious man twice and on the third time remove him knowing that he is perverted and living in sin’
‘It is inevitable that offenses would come but woe to those by whom they come’ Christ
Gal. 6:1-2 'if anyone is caught in a transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.'
Eph. 2 ‘a bond of unity and a spirit of peace’
The purpose of church discipline is to build reconciliation, unity, and purity in the body of Christ through living in truth and grace demonstrated by actively forgiving others as Christ has forgiven us.
4. Fourth, my ministry as a pastor is given by Christ to steward His church by the authority of His word. You can expect me to lead people to Christ by the means of His word – ‘the flower will fade but His word will remain forever’ 1 Pet. 1
EXPECTATIONS of the CHURCH MEMBER
Make it your reasonable act of worship
Romans 12
1. Spiritual Gifts – Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, Eph. 4, 1 Pet. 4: All spiritual gifts are working toward the purpose to save the lost and sanctify the found; evangelism and discipleship. Every Christian is given specified gifts from the Holy Spirit to serve their local church. This is to be done with diligence, faithfulness, peace, love, and unity. When all believers are actively serving in their local church in a peaceful and unified way, the Gospel to unbelievers becomes more meaningful.
2. Two offices – Elder and Deacon: As a member of this church, you are called to serve. To serve those who are lost, broken, impoverished and to build up the saints. This service is seen in the two offices of the church which are identified through two specific categories of gifts; teaching/speaking gifts and service gifts. The character qualities of Elders and Deacons is largely the same (1 Tim. 3, Tit. 1) but the roles are distinctly different (Acts 6).
3. Two purposes in the church – Evangelism and Discipleship: There is no opinion-based ministry in the church. There is no room for criticism, God condemns critical and contrary spirits as works of the flesh (Gal. 5). God has not left anything up to subjectivity with regard to His will for the church. Instead, God's will for the church is for the Gospel to be proclaimed and disciples to be produced for the purpose of His eternal kingdom (Matt. 28, Rom. 10).
‘be diligent to preserve the Spirit of unity and bond of peace’ Eph. 4:3
WAYS to SERVE
List of Ministries at Lake Chelan Bible Church
- Sunday Morning Volunteers: Greeters, Ushers, etc.
- Men’s Ministry
- Women’s Ministry
- Small Groups and Family Worship
- Benevolence/Congregational Care
- Youth Ministry
- Children’s Ministry
- Truth Town Hall
- Seed Planters
- Missions – Domestic/Global
- Radio Ministry
- Worship Ministry
- Audio/Visual and Lighting
- Community events
- Sacraments/Ordinances
- Facilities Care and Maintenance
- Church Security
- First Impressions and Decor
- Newcomer's Ministry
- Elderly/Convalance (Joy Fellowship)
