DISCOVERING

CHURCH
MEMBERSHIP

CLASS
101
FREE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST FELLOWSHIP, INC.
Purok 7, New Lucban Interior
Baguio City 2600

DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM
 Welcome To
Discovering Church
Membership

We’re glad you’ve chosen to find out more about this church! This class is the basic introduction to our church
family. Since we have members from many different church backgrounds, this class was designed to clearly
explain who and what our church is.

The Basis for This Class:

“…You are a member of God’s very own family…and you belong in God’s household with every other
Christian.” Eph.2:19 (LB)

Key Truths:
1. The church is a family.
2. God expects you to be a member of a church family.
3. A Christian without a church family is orphan.

The Goal of This Class:

…That I will commit myself to Christ and to the church family.

What Makes This Church a Family?

Four things unite us:

1. Our Salvation (what God has done for us)
2. Our Statement (why we exist as a church)
3. Our Strategy (how we fulfill our purpose)
4. Our Structure (when and where we fulfill our purpose)

2
 Seminar Outline

Session One: Our Salvation

 What it means to be a Christian

 The symbols of salvation: Baptism and Communion

Session Two: Our Statements

 Our purpose statement

 Our faith statement
 Our lifestyle statement
 Our hymn
 Our pledge

Session Three: Our Strategy

 Who we are trying to reach (target)

 Circles of commitment/4 covenants

Session Four: Our Structure

 How our church is structured

 What it means to be a member

SESSION ONE: OUR SALVATION

“For now we are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and we who have been baptized into
union with Christ are enveloped by Him. We are no longer Jews or Gentiles, or slaves or free. Men, or even
merely men or women, but we are all the same- we are Christians; we are one in Jesus Christ!” Gal.3:26-28
(LB)

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Most people live their entire lives without ever knowing “WHY?” they exist year after year with no idea of why
they live or God’s purpose for their lives. The most basic question a person can ask is, “what is the meaning of
my life?”

Everyone wants to be happy. People try many ways:

….. Some look for happiness by acquiring possessions.
….. Some look for happiness by experiencing pleasure
….. Some look for happiness by gaining prestige and power.
3
But real happiness comes from understanding my purpose.

I. Why am I here?
1. God made me to love me! Eph.1:4-5
2. We were created to enjoy a personal relationship with God and to manage all of the rest of God’s
creation! This makes us special! Gen.1:27-28; 1Tim.6:17; Jn.10:10
3. When we know and love God, and live in harmony with His purpose for our lives, it produces
tremendous benefits in our lives.
Clear conscience Life & peace Help with weakness
Rom.8:1 Rom.8:6 Rom.8:26
Purpose Confidence Security
Rom.8:28 Rom.8:31 Rom.8:39
Power & strength Fulfillment Freedom
Phil.4:13 Phil.4:19 Jn.8:32-36
This is the kind of lifestyle God intends for us to live. Why then aren’t most people really happy?

II. What’s the problem?

Man has a natural desire to boss and to ignore God’s principles for living.
The Bible calls this attitude: sin – Isaiah 53:6; 1Jn.1:8
Sin breaks our close relationship with God. It causes us to fear God and try to live our lives outside
of His will. Isa.59:2; Rom.3:23
When our relationship to God is not right, it causes problems in every area of our lives.

When people have problems, they often try many different ways of coping before turning to God.
Prov.16:25
Even when we know that our deepest need is God, we often try wrong ways of getting to know Him:
“My mother was a Christian so…”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe, just be sincere.”
“I’ll give up all my bad habits.”
“I’ll work real hard and earn it.”
“I’ll be religious and go to church.”

III. What’s the solution

Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me!” John 14:6

Jesus has already taken care of your sin problem! Rom.6:23

God did this for us because He loves us and wants us to know Him. Rom.5:8; 1Tim.2:5
God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him. He took the initiative. Now He
waits for each of us to individually accept what He has done for us.

IV. What does God want me to do?

1. Admit that God has not been first place in your life and ask Him to forgive your sins. 1Jn.1:9
2. Believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins and that he rose again, and is alive today. Rom.10:9;
Acts 4:12
a. Accept God’s free gift of salvation. Don’t try to earn it. Eph.2:8,9
Our relationship to God is not restored by anything we do, but on the basis of what Jesus already
did for us!
b. Invite Jesus Christ to come into your life and be the director (Lord) of your life.
J.1:12,13; Rev.3:20
4
 You can take these steps by praying a simple prayer of commitment to God.
“Dear Jesus, thank you for making me and loving me, even when I’ve ignored you and gone
my own way. I realize I need you in my life and I’m sorry for my sins. I ask you to forgive me.
Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Please help me to understand it more. As much as I
know how, I want to follow you from now on. Please come into my life and make me a new
person inside. I accept your gift of salvation. Please help me to grow now as a Christian.”

“Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” Rom.10:13

The Importance of Being Baptized

I. Why should I be baptized?

1. to follow the example set by Christ- Mk.1:9
2. Because Christ commands it – Mt.28:19-20.
3. It demonstrates that I really am a believer – Ac.18:8; 1Jn.2:3

II. What is the meaning of baptism?

1. It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection – 1Cor.15:3-4; Col.2:12.
2. It illustrates my new life as a Christian – 2Cor.5:17; Rom.6:4

III. Why be baptized by immersion?

Because Jesus was baptized that way – Mt.3:16
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion – Ac.8:38-39
The Word “baptize” means to dip under water.
It best symbolizes burial and resurrection!
IV. Who should be baptized?
Every person who has believed in Christ – Ac.2:41; 8:12,13
It is a membership requirement that every member must have been baptized the way Jesus
demonstrated, even though many of us were “confirmed” as children.

V. When should I be baptized?

As soon as you have believed! – Ac.2:41; 8: 35-38; 21:16

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper

Jesus never asked His disciples to remember His birth. But He did instruct them to remember His death and
resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinance”) as reminders of His death. These two
ordinances are: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is an object lesson that represents a great
spiritual truth for believers.

I. What is the Lord’s Supper? 1Cor.11:23-26

1. It is a simple act – v.23
2. It is a reminder – v.24
3. It is a symbol – v.25
4. It is a statement of faith – v.26

II. Who should take the Lord’s Supper?

Only those who are already believes – Mk.14:22-26

III. How do I prepare myself for the Lord’s Supper?

5
 1. By self-examination – 1Cor.11:27 2. by confessing my sins- 1Jn.1:9
3. By recommitment – Rom.12:1 4. By restoring relationships- Mt.5:23-24

IV. When and how often should we observe the Lord’s Supper?
Jesus never said when or how often believers should observe the Lord’s Supper. He instituted it on a
Thursday night. Since it is a “supper” it may seem more appropriate to observe it at an evening
service.

SESSION TWO
THE CHURCH STATEMENT

“Let there be real harmony among you so there won’t be any split with you to be of one mind, united in thought
and purpose.” 1Cor.1:10 (LB)

Our Purpose statement Why We Exist as a Church

“We believe a great commitment to the great commandment and the great commission will grow a great
church!”
The Great Commandment – Mt.22:36-40
The Great Commission – Mt.28:19-20
 To “love God with all your heart” is Worship.
 To “love your neighbor as yourself” is Ministry
 To “go…make disciples” is Evangelism
 To “baptize…” is to Incorporate into Fellowship
 To “teach them…all things” is Discipleship

The Church Exists:

1. To celebrate God’s presence (worship)
2. To demonstrate God’s love (ministry)
3. To communicate God’s Word (evangelism)
4. To incorporate God’s people into God’s family (fellowship)
5. To educate God’s people (discipleship)

I. We exist to celebrate God’s presence

Worship: Mt.4:10; Jn.4:23-24

Expressions of worship
Singing - Eph.5:19 Giving – 1Cor.16:1-2
Commitment – Rom.12:1-2 Meditating – Hab.2:20
Praying – Ps.95:6 Hearing the Word – Jn.17:17
The church worship style
Celebration Inspiration Preparation
Ps.122:1 Isa.40:31 Eph.4:11-12

II. We exist to communicate God’s Word

Evangelism: Eph.3:10; Rom.10:13-14

Why our church must never stop growing
1. Because God loves people – 2Pet.3:9; 2Cor.5:14; Lk.15:3-10; Mt.9:12-13

6
 2. Because God commands us to reach out – Lk.14:23; Ac.1:8
3. Because growth is God’s will – Col.2:19; Mt.16:18
Unbiblical excuses for not growing:
 “God isn’t interested in numbers.”
 “Our church wants quality not quantity.”
 “Large churches are impersonal.”
We believe our church must grow larger in Sunday morning and smaller (by being in a small group) at the
same time.
“And the Good News of the Kingdom will be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and
then the end will come.” Mt.24:14

III. We exist to educate God’s people

Discipleship: Heb.6:1; 2Pet.3:18; Eph.4:11-13

IV. We exist to demonstrate God’s love

Ministry: Jn.13:35; 1Jn.3:16-17
The heartbeat of our church is our small group. Every member needs to be part of one- 1Cor.12: 4-5,
27
Our Statement of Faith
What We Believe

1. We believe in the One Triune God: the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
2. We believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came in the flesh (Jn.1:14) by conception through the Holy Spirit
(Mt.1:18-20) and was born of a virgin woman, Mary, and that He died and rose again (1Thess.4:14), and
that salvation is secured only through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph.2:8-9).
3. We believe in being born again through faith, being born of water and the Holy Spirit to enter the
Kingdom of God (Jn.3:3-5).
4. We believe in being filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit to guarantee our redemption (2Cor.1:22;
Eph.1:13-14) and for victorious life and effective witness and service (Ac.1:4-8).
5. We believe in the flight (Mt.24:20) or rapture of the true believers to meet Jesus in the air (1Thess.4:17)
and that He is coming again with His saints to reign for a thousand years in the millennium (Rev.20:4-6).
6. We believe in the final judgment and eternal punishment of the wicked in the fire of hell (Mt.13:41-42;
Rev.20:11-15), but the righteous to eternal life (Mt.25:46).
7. We believer that this first heaven and earth will pass away and there will be a new heaven and new earth
and there will be no more death or pain (Rev.21:1-5).
8. We believe in the Holy Bible as the written Word of God and that His Word will never return void nor
fail to accomplish everything that has been written (Isa.55:10-11; Mt. 5-18).
9. We believe that Jesus Christ is one mediator between God and man (1Tim.2:5) and He is the Great High
Priest who continually intercedes at the right hand of God the Father for the saints (Heb.4:14; 8:1).
10. We believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb.13:8), and He still does
powerful life-changing miracles today through His anointed servants and believers (Mk.16:17-18;
2Cor.12:12).
Our Lifestyle Statement
What We Practice

Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. Based on what the Bible teaches, we feel
very strongly about the following six practices:

Bible as our sole authority- 2Tim.3:15

7
Since God’s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the Bible as our manual for
living. Our first question when faced with a decision is “what does the Bible say?” we practice daily Bible
reading, Bible study, and Bible memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.

Priesthood of every believer – 1Pet.2:9

The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full time” Christian service, regardless of his or her
vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of
service and ministry. Every believer has direct access to God through prayer Bible reading

Tithing – Lev.26:30
We practice tithing for the support of Christ’s body, the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving
10% of our income is the Biblical standard of giving.

Immersion – Col.2:12
We practice baptism by immersion under water – the way Jesus was baptized, and the way the Bible commands.

Spirit-led living – Jn.15:5

We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. So we seek to practice a
daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right, Phil.2:13; Eph.5:18.

Telling others about Christ – 1Pet.3:15

It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those with whom God brings us into
contact. We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to church.

Our Hymn:

We are Free Believers from the Philippines

Free Believers in Christ we shall always be
Come, brothers, come, let’s conquer the enemy
From the East and to the West, North and to the South
O, o, rally brave Free Believers in Christ
From the cradle of our mountain-top city
To the farthest barrios all along the sea
Never grow weary until God’s final day.

We are Free Believers called to God’s duty

Free Believers in Christ we’re forever free
Come, comrades, come, let us join the Lord’s army
Let us fight the enemy on to victory
O, o, rally brave Free Believers in Christ
Let us draw with courage and vitality
Put the armor of God with humility
Never grow weary until God’s final day.

8
 Our Pledge:

I love the Lord my God with all my soul and with all my mind. He is my Creator and the Savior on my soul. He
protects my life, my family, my all. He gives me strength to endure my trials and persecutions and lifts me up
each time I fall.
In return I will serve Him with all my life, my whole, to do His will all the time I hear His call. I will cherish
and obey His Word, His laws, and His commands. I will share Jesus Christ to everyone at every chance to
witness and testify of His wonderful deeds for men.
I will love and uphold and devout myself to the family of true believers in Jesus Christ and will support His
Gospel by which I have seen the light and gained my salvation.
I renounce and shake off every bondage of the evil one, every sin and wickedness of the flesh and continually
seek after righteousness. I will always be a true and free believer in Jesus Christ all the days of my life.

SESSION THREE
OUR CHURCH STRATEGY

(Paul) “I have been all things to all sorts of people that by every possible means I might win some to God. I
do all of this for the sake of the Good News.” 1Cor.9:22-23

Who Are We Trying to Reach?

5 circles of commitment

1- Core = Ministries

2- Committed=
Maturing Members

3- Congregation=
Members 3 2 1

4- Crowd =
Regular members

5- Community = Unchurched
& occasional attenders

The church’s objective is to keep moving people toward the center by encouraging personal spiritual
commitments. Specifically, we call people to four basic commitments:

9
The Four Church Covenants:
1. The membership covenant …
Is a commitment to Christ and our church family. Eph.2:19;
Rom.12:4-5
3. The maturing covenant…
Is a commitment to the habits necessary for spiritual growth.
2Pet.3:18; 1Tim.4:7
4. The ministry covenant…
Is a commitment to discovering and using my God-given gifts
and abilities in God and others. 1Pet.4:10; 1Cor.12:5, 27
5. The missions covenant…
Is a commitment to share the Good News with others. Ac.1:8;
1Pet.3:15

Why Do We have These Covenants?

We become what we are committed to

SESSION FOUR
THE CHURCH STRUCTURE

“For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace… everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
1Cor.14:33, 40

How our church is structured

The structure of the church should not be determined by culture, business practices, or even denominational
traditions.

The nature of the church determines its structure.

1. The church is a fellowship – Ac.2:42
A top priority in a fellowship is harmony and unity- Eph.4:3; Rom.14:19
Any attitude that causes disunity is sin- Col.2:2; 3:13-15; 1Cor.1:10;
14:33;
2Tim.2:14, 23; 2Cor.13:11; Phil1:27; 2:1-3; 4:2; 1Pet.3:8; Jn.13:34-35;
Rom.12:16-18; 15:5-6; Ps.133:1
Implication: a good structure promotes unity and downplays
2. The church is a family – Gal.6:10; Heb.2:10-12; 1Pet.3:8.
So we operate on the basis of relationships.
3. The church is a body – 1Cor.12:27; Eph.5:23; 1:22-23; Col.1:18;2:19
So we function on the basis of spiritual gifts

Our structure
 The people are the ministers.
 The pastors are the administers
4. The church is a flock- Jn.10:1-30; Mt. 26:31; 25:33
Therefore, it is cared for and led by shepherds- Jn.21:16-17; 1Pet.5:1-2; Ac.20:17, 18, 28

10
 What it means to be a member
At this church we recognize the need for a formal membership. We ask you to commit to membership for four
reasons:
1. A biblical reason: Christ is committed to the church- Eph.5:25
2. A cultural reason: It is an antidote to our society
We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything…a
job… a marriage…our country. This attitude has even produced a
generation of “church shoppers and hoppers”. It is an unselfish decision. Commitment always builds
character.
1. A practical reason: It defines who can be counted on.
Every team must have a roster. Every school must have an enrollment. Every business has a payroll.
Every army has an enlistment. Even our country takes a census and requires voter registration.
Membership identifies our family.
2. A personal reason: it produces spiritual growth.
The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christian to be accountable to each other
for spiritual growth. You cannot be accountable when you’re not committed to any specific church
family.

What is expected of me as a member?

At this Church we never ask our members to do more than the bible clearly teaches. We only expect our
members to do what the Bible expects every Christian to do. These responsibilities are spelled out in the
membership covenant.

The church membership covenant

Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized, and being in agreement with Church’s
statements, strategy and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the church family.

In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:

1. I will protect the unity of my church- Rom.15:5,19; 1Pet.1:22; Eph.4:29; Heb.13:17

….by praying for its growth
…..by inviting the unchurched to attend
…..by warmly welcoming those who visit
2. I will share the responsibility of my church- 1Thess.1:2; Lk.14:23; Rom.15:7
…..by acting in love toward other members
…..by refusing to gossip
…..by following the leaders
3. I will serve the ministry of my church- 1Pet.4:10; Eph.4:11-12; Phil.2:3-4,7
…..by discovering my gifts and talents
…..by being equipped to serve by my pastors
…..by developing a servant’s heart.
4. I will support the testimony of my church- Heb.10:25; Phil.1:27; 1Cor.16:2; Lev.27:30
….by attending faithfully
….by living a godly life
….by giving regularly

11