The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment.
Attenders are spectators from the sidelines; members get involved in the ministry. Attenders are consumers; members are contributors. Attenders want the benefits of a church without sharing the responsibility.
One of the biggest hurdles you will face as a church leader is convincing attenders they need to commit to their church family and become members. Today’s culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans without any identity, accountability, or commitment.
God is not silent on this issue. The Bible offers many compelling reasons why every believer needs to be committed to and active in a local fellowship.
1. A church family identifies you as a genuine believer.
I can’t claim to be following Christ if I’m not committed to any specific group of disciples. Jesus said,“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT).
When we come together in love as a church family from different backgrounds, races, and social statuses, it is a witness to the world. No one believer can be the body of Christ on his own. We need others in order to fully express the shape God has given us. It is when we are together, not when we’re separated, that we are his body.
2. A church family moves you out of isolation.
The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love.
As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor” (1 Corinthians 12:26 NCV).
Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected to and dependent on each other.
Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. God expects us to give our lives for each other. Many Christians who know John 3:16 are unaware of 1 John 3:16: “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (NIV).
This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers—a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.
3. A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle.
No one will ever grow to maturity just by attending worship services and being a passive spectator. Only participation in the full life of a local church builds spiritual muscle. The Bible says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:16 NLT).
Over 50 times in the New Testament the phrase “one another” or “each other” is used. We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other’s burdens, forgive each other, submit to each other, be devoted to each other, and many other mutual tasks.
This is biblical membership! These are the “family responsibilities” that God expects every believer to fulfill through a local fellowship.
4. The body of Christ needs you.
God has a unique role for every believer to play in his family. This is called your “ministry,” and God has gifted you for this assignment: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT).
The local fellowship is the place God designed for his children to discover, develop, and use their gifts. Even those with a wider ministry need to understand that their first responsibility is to the local body. Jesus has not promised to build anyone’s ministry; he has promised to build his church.
5. You will share in Christ’s mission in the world.
When Jesus walked the earth, God worked through the physical body of Christ; today he uses his spiritual body. The church is God’s instrument on Earth. We are not just to model God’s love by loving each other; we are to carry it together to the rest of the world.
This is an incredible privilege we have been given together. As members of Christ’s body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. He works through us in the world. We each have a contribution to make.
Paul tells us, “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing” (Ephesians 2:10 The Message).
6. A church family will help you avoid moral failure.
No one is immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track.
The Bible says, “Encourage one another daily . . . so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13 NIV).
“Mind your own business” is not a Christian phrase. We are called and commanded to be involved in each other’s lives. If you know someone who is wavering spiritually right now, it is your responsibility to lovingly bring them back into the fellowship.
James tells us, “If you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back” (James 5:19 The Message).
A related benefit of a local church is that it also provides the spiritual protection of godly leaders. God gives shepherd leaders the responsibility to guard, protect, defend, and care for the spiritual welfare of his flock. We are told, “Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God” (Hebrews 13:17 NLT).
Satan loves detached believers—unplugged from the life of the body, isolated from God’s family, and unaccountable to spiritual leaders—because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics. The Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ; it includes a commitment to other Christians.
We must remind those who fill our buildings each weekend that joining the membership of a local church is the natural next step once they become a child of God. You become a Christian by committing yourself to Christ, but you become a church member by committing yourself to a specific group of believers. The first decision brings salvation; the second brings fellowship.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the valuable information you provided me with. Your insights and knowledge have been incredibly helpful, and I appreciate the time and effort you put into sharing your expertise with me.
Thanks to your guidance, I now have a much better understanding of the subject matter, and I feel much more confident moving forward. I am truly grateful for your willingness to help me and for being such a supportive resource.
If you’re new to a community or organization, getting plugged in can be intimidating, but it’s worth the effort. Here are six reasons why newcomers should make the effort to get involved:
Build relationships and make new friends
Gain knowledge and experience
Discover opportunities for personal and professional growth
Make a positive impact in the community
Develop a sense of belonging and identity
Have fun and enjoy new experiences
Don’t be afraid to take that first step and get involved. You never know where it may lead you!
Great post on the importance of getting plugged in as a newcomer! Building relationships, finding support, and opportunities for growth are all key benefits of becoming involved in a community. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much Pastor for the insightful teachings
very nice information you share with us. thanks for this.
No one is immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track.
It’s so powerful, I learn a lot. pastor keep on the good work. it really shapes our life, opening our mind in a way that we cannot explain. May God bless you with many years.
I am blessed by this wonderful exhortation sir! Is really a wake up call for some of us that are still wandering in ignorance. Long live pastor Rick
My conservative roommate doesn’t like public education because it “creates competition in the job market”
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Very powerful teaching.
Thank you Pastor. Following you over the years has really being a blessing and worthwhile. You are a vessel prepared by God to preserve His end time harvest of the church. Thank you sir. I’m a Resident pastor of the Grapesland Parish of the ROYAL HOUSE OF GRACE INT’L CHURCH. Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Good post. I find out something new and challenging on articles I stumbleupon day-to-day. It will always be exciting to study content material from all other editors and practice a little something from other online websites.
I sure want to know, learn and preach like Jesus did for effectiveness.
I was so blessed reading some of Pastor Rick Warren teaching. This will help me teaching our church members for them to know and learn many about their task as members of the local church. I love to read books and teaching materials like what you did. Because I also want to learn many thing being a pastor.
Thank GOD for you and your teaching ministry. You teach in a way that’s understandable, and easy to comprehend. Your book, The Purpose Driven Church is always not too fare from me when I am studying GOD’S WORD. May GOD continue to Bless you and your work..
Ooopps. My last post was mistakenly sent here. Sorry
Very friendly. Enjoyed chatting with him even for a short time
Wow! What an awesome message , this is a revival it self, I feel that I’m far behind the true love of God , there’s a lot I need to improve in . Pastor you equipped me and you showed me how to do things in the true sense of God, sometimes when one of us moved back we don’t worry about her or him we just say when she /he is right will come back forgetting that Jesus left 99 sheep and look for one which was missing, we practised a selfishness practice , so this message reminds me to not being selfish, as long as things are going ok on my side I forget about other people ‘s lives , as from today I will go and talk to every Christian who backslide no matter what the reason is he /she must come back to God.
I love listening to you you have helped me so much my life was a mess about 4 or 5 yrs ago I started listening to you and how you explain the Bible it has really helped I have wrote you before and you never answer back that was a little discouraging because there is a lot more I just loss my mother about 8 weeks ago that’s been very hard
Thank you Pastor Rick
Sir, in case you have tried your best as a minister to get the attenders to be committed but they keep on giving flimsy excuses and only to discovered that he or she has moved to other church. What I do sir?
I attend a church where we have very active church attenders but not members for years, is this ok? i.e. they are in worship ministry, pastor assistance, Then after many years they become members. Why is this? And is this ok spiritually for the church?
Thank you for that message. I am a Catholic/Christian. I started attending Christian Church this April. Since I am still new I get off track in my commitment. Im a shy person , most of the time quiet. You mentioned that the members should responsibly bring them back to fellowship, the person who invited me to that fellowship kinda left me on my own. I don’t know what to do. Please help
Take the bold step and approach one of the ushers or a member to guide and direct you about the church you are attending, tell them you are new to the church and would like to know what ministries/events/fellowship they have to offer for example do they have a visitors welcome section at he church? All the best.
Hey Joyce
I can deffinetly relate to your current situation. I am also extremely new to following Jesus Christ, as well as attending church. It’s only been about 8 months I’d say, since I became a believer. It was actually my Ex boyfriend who who played an important part in me meeting Jesus and also introducing me to the church I now attend. I was led to Christ and now unfortunately have been (for lack of a better word) abandoned, now left to figure out how to move forward spiritually. I too can be incredibly shy and reserved, which makes talking to people at church rather tricky.
I know you said the person who originally brought you to church left you hanging. I have been thinking quite a lot how God sends specific people into our lives in order for us to reach our next step. I know that was certainly the case with my Ex. He helped bring me to Christ and now I am left standing with no current spiritual leader. The same could be true for you. Perhaps that person’s job was only meant to get you into the right church and now you too are left standing until God sends the next helper.
This of course is just a thought. And having a support system, as I am now learning for myself, is truly vital in our walk with God. I know this wasn’t the advice you were seeking but just know you are not alone. Be patient and trust in God. Even if this person has left you in a lurch, God is still with you. Maybe for now, you can work on getting comfortable with this church? Gain a feel for the people and the atmosphere first. Then you can ease into a conversation with the other people who attend.
Excelente mensaje, gracias por tu tiempo. Cuanto desearía me regalaras uno de tus libros de ayuda espiritual que Dios te concedió.
Great word Pastor Rick.
Excellent article filled with helpful truth!
Take the bold step and approach one of the ushers or a member to guide and direct you about the church
I know you said the person who originally brought you to church left you hanging. I have been thinking quite a lot how God sends specific people into our lives in order for us to reach our next step
I love listening to you you have helped me so much my life was a mess about 4 or 5 yrs ago
I sure want to know, learn and preach like Jesus did for effectiveness.
Very powerful teaching.