Membership Course 101
Content covered:
The doctrinal convictions of MBC.
Membership
Church Membership
At Master’s Bible Church we work hard to maintain a high view of Christ’s Body, the Church. We believe that membership is both biblical and required by God’s word (1 Peter 1:2; John 21:16; Acts 20:28).
We encourage those who begin attending more regularly to consider joining our membership classes, held on the first Sunday of each month during the Sunday School hour (2:45 p.m.- 3:45 p.m.). There are three classes, all of which must be taken before we accept membership applications, and they can be taken out of order. These classes provide more detailed information on MBC's doctrinal convictions, the biblical case for church membership, and expectations for church members. All three must be attended in-person. There are also two books we provide for you, which are required reading for membership, and these are:
Rules for Walking in Fellowship by John Owen
The Church: Her Nature, Authority, Purpose, and Worship by Jeffery D. Johnson
Membership Courses
Below are the three membership courses offered on the first Sunday of each month for attendees who want to learn more about MBC and those who want to pursue membership. There is also a summary of what each course provides. Tyler Long, a deacon at MBC, will be your live teacher for these courses.
The reading schedule for the two books above aligns with each class (the schedule is printed in each Sunday bulletin). Here is the schedule:
- Course 101 Reading Due: Owen, Section 1: Rules 1-7; Johnson, Chapters 1-4
- Course 102 Reading Due: Owen, Section 2: Rules 1-7; Johnson, Chapters 5-8
- Course 103 Reading Due: Owen, Section 2: Rules 8-15; Johnson, Chapters 9-12
Membership Course 102
Content covered:
The biblical case for church membership.
Membership Course 103
Content covered:
What is expected of a church member.
After Completing the courses
When you complete all three classes, prepare to fill out the membership application (scroll to the "Right Hand of Fellowship" section for the link). Give yourself at least a couple of hours to complete it. We recommend you write down the questions from the digital application, pray through them, and answer them with an open bible.
Once your application is submitted to the elders, they will contact you to schedule your membership interview.
For Baptism
After completing all prior membership steps, if you have not been baptized, you will need to complete that step. We recommend you listen to this message on Baptism even if you have been baptized previously.
All baptism candidates, after their membership interview, must download the following form, read it carefully, and complete a written testimony (which will be read before baptism). Please follow the directions carefully and coordinate with the elder in charge of your baptism.
Right Hand Of Fellowship
The final step for membership is the Right Hand of Fellowship (Galatians 2:9). These are generally scheduled every three to four months, depending upon the number of prospective members that are seeking to join.
The Membership Application link is below, along with the other required documents to read before completing the form.
If you have any further questions about membership, please scroll to the next section. If you have further questions after reading the booklet below, please contact MBC leadership via the About or Contact Us pages. Or simply come and speak to one of us on Sunday before or after the service.
MBC Statement of Faith (FILE/PDF)MBC Statement on Marriage, Remarriage, and Sexual Immorality (File/PDF)MBC Bylaws (File/PDF)MBC Membership Application (Form)
To dig further into MBC's convictions, visit the "What We Teach" page, download, and read the additional booklets that provide longer explanations of MBC's doctrinal positions. Any additional distinctive position papers published in the future will be posted there.
IS church membership BIBLICAL?
Do you find yourself struggling with the concept of church membership? Below, you can download and read a booklet authored by one of our pastors (Joey DeRuntz) that addresses many of the questions you might have and also addresses the common spirit of opposition to biblical church membership.