Membership at LifePoint

Christians are members of God’s household called to participate, connect, and serve among a particular body of believers, the local church (Eph. 2:19). The health and strength of the local church is determined by the faithful commitment of each of its members to the mission. Romans 12:1–8 sets forth a path of transformation for every Christian that begins with personal transformation leading into the church for full expression of giftedness and serving and into the world for faithful proclamation of the gospel.

At LifePoint, membership is a serious matter. Not every casual observer is allowed to become a member, and no member should ever become a casual observer. It does not mean your name is on file in the church office or database. When you join LifePoint, you join a community of people united by faith in Jesus through theology, mission, and vision. Membership is our pathway to leading people to become real Christ-followers in life—together.

What is membership?

Membership must be correctly understood. The Bible does not teach, illustrate, or organize membership as commonly understood in our day where one pays dues to receive services, products, or entitlements. Church membership is an identification with the community of Christ-followers that follows one Lord, begins by one faith, is sustained by one Holy Spirit, and is practiced by committed participation. This is the local, immediate expression of one’s identification with the universal church in Jesus Christ.

Church membership is a covenant to live in relationship with God and in community with his people. The community is built up by God—on the foundation of Jesus Christ—and builds up each member. It identifies those who hold the responsibility for accomplishing the work of mission and those whom the elders are accountable for before God to equip for ministry and mission.

Church membership is taught in the Bible (Rom.12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27). Since the Bible does not mention anyone who was saved and refused to be baptized but gives many examples of people who were saved and then baptized, we can assume that saved and baptized individuals were members of the church (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 36-39; 10:47-48; 16:14-15, 31-33; 18:8). Scripture teaches that church membership should be restricted to those who don’t practice lifestyle sin, sow seeds of disunity, or commit certain sexual sins (Matt.18:15-18; Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 5:1-2, 11).

Other scriptural evidences for church membership include numerical records and records of widows (Acts 2:37-47; 1 Tim. 5:3-16); awareness of church members (Rom. 16:1-16); elections (Acts 6:1-6); discipline (Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5; Gal. 6:1); and elders held accountable for members (Heb. 13:17).

Four Points of Membership

Membership serves to build a gospel-centered community by sound doctrine, transformed lives, missional living, and unity in the body. 

Sound Doctrine

The elders are charged with the oversight of church doctrine and are responsible to make sure it remains biblically faithful. Membership through the Navigation Series is a means of teaching and maintaining correct doctrine.

Transformed Lives

God’s Word is power and calls people to live by his created intention and Spirit- filled empowerment for his honor and glory. We lead people in this by teaching sound doctrine from the whole counsel of God’s Word and as biblical encouragement calls us to act in response to the teaching of God’s Word.

Missional Living

The Bible clearly teaches that every Christ-follower is to live with margin in life in order to serve through the church to build up the body and share the gospel with the world. Membership equips every Christ-follower to discover their unique giftedness and calling to serve (Eph. 4:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2).

Unity In The Body

The unity of the body of Christ is of utmost importance and is given by God through his Spirit. Membership serves as a gate through which the unity of the church is guarded and protected. Unity allows members to grow in their faith and relationship with God and in their serving through the church as they follow the leaders. Unity allows the leaders to fulfill their responsibility to members with joy and not with added burden (Heb. 13:17).

Membership Requirement
at LifePoint Church

People are received for membership based on their salvation or personal professions of faith in Jesus, followed by believer’s baptism. Membership is completed by attending the Navigation Series and signing the Membership Covenant.
Sign up for Navigation
There is a covenant relationship between Jesus, a Christ-follower, and a local church. Embracing and signing the covenant serves as the final step for full membership at LifePoint Church.

LifePoint Church Membership Covenant

When a person enters into relationship with God, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, that covenant holds two expressions. The first is to journey with God for the rest of their lives and to love him fully. The second is to journey with his children in a community of Christ- followers called the local church. Church membership is the means of fulfilling the life God intended for every Christian to live in this world. [1 Cor 3:10-17; Eph 2:19-22; 4:1-32]
The PURPOSE of the LifePoint Membership Covenant is to...
  • Join the Spirit in forming authentic community that reflects the relationship of the Triune God [Ephesians 4:1-6]
  • Clarify the ongoing blessings and responsibilities of each member [Ephesians 4:7-12]
  • Encourage consistency, accountability and loving unity for growth and maturity of every member [Ephesians 4:13-16]
  • Accomplish God’s will for the LifePoint family [Ephesians 2:19-22]

As the Leadership of LifePoint Church, we covenant to...
  1. Lovingly care for you and seek your growth in Christ. [Heb 13:7; 1 Thes 5:12; 1 Peter 5:1-3]
  2. Provide preaching, teaching and counsel from the Scriptures that spans the whole counsel of God’s Word. [Acts 20:27-28; 1 Cor 2:1-5; 2 Tim 4:1-2]
  3. Help you in times of need. [Acts 2:42; 4:32-35; James 2:14-17]
  4. Maintain that the Elders and Deacons will meet the criteria assigned to them in the scriptures. [1 Tim 3:1-13; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4]
  5. Pray for you regularly, particularly when you are sick. [James 5:14]
  6. Be on guard against false teachers. [Acts 20:28-31]
  7. Exercise church discipline when necessary. [Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5; Gal 6:1]
  8. Help equip you to serve Christ. [Eph 4:11-13]
  9. Seek God’s will for LPC to the best of our ability as we study the Scriptures and follow the Spirit. [Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5]
  10. Set an example and join you in fulfilling the duties of church members. [1 Cor 11:1; Phil 3:17; 1 Tim 4:12]

As a member of LifePoint Church, I covenant the following...
  1. Salvation: I am a Christian, saved by grace through faith. I have repented of my sins, received God’s forgiveness and trust Jesus with my whole life. [Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7]
  2. Doctrinal Unity & Followship: I have read and understand the LP doctrinal statement and agree not to be divisive to its teaching. I also understand the importance of submission to church leadership and will be diligent to preserve unity and peace. [Ephesians 4:1-6; 1 Thes 5:12-13; Heb 13:7,17]
  3. Spiritual Growth: I will seek to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ through the regular practice of spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, prayer, regular gathered worship attendance, community group participation and fellowship with other Christ-followers, serving through the LP community and sharing the gospel with people of the world. [Psa 119:97; Acts 2:42-47; Heb 10:23-25]
  4. Stewardship: I will strive to properly manage the resources God has entrusted to me including all my time, treasure and talents for the glory of God and regularly give my tithes and offerings to the Lord through LifePoint sacrificially, generously and cheerfully. [Prov 3:9-10; 2 Cor 8 & 9; Romans 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-26; Eph 4:1-16; 5:15-18]
  5. Missional Vision: I commit myself to aid in fulfilling LifePoint’s missional purpose to both serve and share the gospel; beginning in Ozark with my neighbor, extending to the nations at the ends of the earth. [Matt 28:18-20; Heb 13:17]
  6. Serve & Minister: I commit to using the spiritual gifts(s) God has given me for the building up the church, both at LP and universally. [Romans 12:1-8; 1 Cor 12:7-31; Eph 2:19-22; 4:12-16; 1 Peter 4:7-11]
  7. Fellowship Unity: I covenant to practice the humility and sacrificial attitude of Christ by considering the needs of others, not gossiping and seeking spiritual friendships. [Prov 16.28; 17:17; 27:17; Matt 18:15-17; Phil 2:1-11]
  8. Fellowship Loyalty: I covenant to have friendly Christian relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ from other churches, but I will not function in leadership or as a member in another church family. [Heb 13:17]
  9. Church Discipline: I covenant to follow the biblical procedures of church discipline, and submit myself to discipline if the need should ever arise. [Matt 18:15-17; Gal 6:1-5]
  10. Scriptural Authority: I covenant to submit to the authority of the Scriptures as the final arbiter on all issues. [Psa 119; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12]

By God’s grace, I will strive to consider my commitment to this Membership Covenant on a yearly basis. I understand that it is an evaluative tool, as well as an affirmation of my continuing conviction and purpose. My responsibility will be to notify the LifePoint Elders if at any time I can no longer commit to this covenant, or if I have any questions, comments or concerns regarding LifePoint Church. 
Download a copy of the Membership Covenant