At TCM Baptist Church, we believe that God desires every believer to be committed to one another in the local church. We teach that church membership is a biblical and beneficial way to express this commitment. Christians who do not join the local church in membership tend to be irregular attenders and they miss out on the advantages that accompany a membership commitment.
In keeping with our mission to be a church established on the Word of God, we are committed to practising meaningful church membership.
Scripture teaches that once a person is born again, he is baptised into the body of Christ (Rom. 6:1-5; 1 Cor. 12:13). The thought of a nomadic, self-sufficient believer is foreign to Scripture. The desire of Christians is to gather together for biblical fellowship and worship.
We believe it is the joy and the responsibility of every believer to commit to church membership, to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes.
Basis for Church Membership
Although Scripture does not contain an explicit command to formally join a local church, the biblical foundation for church membership permeates the New Testament. This biblical basis can be seen most clearly in (1) the example of the early church, (2) the existence of church government, (3) the exercise of church discipline, and (4) the exhortation to mutual edification.
Benefits of Church Membership
Far more than a disimpassioned duty, membership is a gateway to biblically defined benefits. Some of these benefits include:
Loving Accountability. Commitment in membership naturally leads to richer fellowship. God wants you to belong to a Christian family to help you live for Him (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Galatians 6:1). You have brothers and sisters in Christ who can help you fight off sin and hold you accountable.
Mutual Edification. Each believer is given spiritual gifts for the “common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). We benefit from other Christians who use their spiritual gifts to serve, sharpen, and encourage us. We, in turn, have the privilege of doing the same for others. Neglecting membership is a lose-lose situation for you and the other believers in the body.
Theological Guardrails. You make yourself easy prey for false teachers when you are disconnected from leaders and other Christians who can help you discern biblical truth. Isolation naturally leads to wrong beliefs. Committing yourself to other believers (especially those more mature and discerning) submits your life to correction and edification in the truth.
Biblical Preaching. The Word of God sanctifies believers (John 17:17). Sitting under the regular, expository preaching of God’s Word with other Christians will expose your sin and instruct you on how to grow in Christlikeness. Every Christian needs a steady diet of spiritual nourishment if they are going to grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:1–3).
Corporate Worship. We were made to worship God. While all of life should be an act of worship (Romans 12:1–2), God places a special emphasis on the importance of the regular gathering of His people where we sing together (Colossians 3:16), sit under the preaching of God’s Word (1 Timothy 4:13), and fellowship with and serve one another as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Hebrews 10:24–25). During spiritually dry times, that we all go through, being with other worshippers can reignite passionate worship in your heart. There is a reason God commands believers to not neglect gathering with others believers (Hebrews 10:24)
Consistent Giving. Staying at one local church gives you the unique opportunity to witness the specific ways God uses the church’s offerings to further the ministry there. Here at TCM, we have the opportunity to see disciples made and equipped both locally and around the world.
Effective Evangelism. For many believers, sharing the gospel is not easy. Being alone only enhances our fear and laziness toward evangelism. Yet when we unite in the purpose of sharing the gospel, we walk in a manner worthy of our heavenly citizenship (Philippians 1:27). Evangelising alongside other Christians emboldens us when we are fearful and spurs us on when we are lazy.
Please look at our FAQ’s page to find out more about why membership is both biblical and beneficial.
Application Process
The first step in becoming a member of TCM Baptist Church is to contact us at admin@tcmlincoln.co.uk. We will note your interest and get you an application form. Then, you will attend our membership Nuts and Bolts classes. These classes are held throughout the year and are designed to teach you all that you need to know about biblical church membership. Once you have completed the classes, we will schedule a time for you to meet with one of the church elders. The last step in the process is to be received publicly into membership during a Lord’s Day worship service.
Looking for more detail? Check out our Membership FAQ article.