A Faithful Church Member - Softcover

Joel Beeke

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0852347774 ISBN 13: 9780852347775

Publisher: Evangelical Press, 2011

Synopsis

A short, but helpful study of both the responsibilities and privileges of church membership. This is especially necessary today with the prevailing casualness that exists in relation to the membership of a local church. A clear reminder for those already part of a church and a challenge for any prospective members regarding commitment to the head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. For an annual fee, you can be a member of your community recreational center, where you have access to its exercise equipment and swimming pool. If you choose never to visit the building, it's no problem. You can sit at home and eat ice cream all day and never get your membership revoked. So long as you pay your dues, you are a member. It is not surprising that membership in a local church has also become non-demanding. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:10-16 that membership in the church is all about Christ. Attention is focused on five areas of marks: Christ's Word, His person, His people, His cause, and His image. Examination is made as to what it means to be a faithful member of the body of Christ in each of these areas in the (1) personal, (2) public, and (3) practical dimensions of our lives. Thus, fifteen characteristics of a faithful church member are made. Each section is followed by a series of Bible Study questions to enable the reader to take part actively in the text.

About this title

About the Author:

Joel R. Beeke is president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a minister of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as an international conference speaker and author of numerous books.

Review:

'I am delighted to commend this short but very relevant booklet of Dr Beeke on the duties and privileges of church membership. If these principles are taken to heart they will revolutionize the attitude of modern Christians to the real meaning of church membership and could lead to the revival which we should all be praying for.'--Maurice Roberts

'This concise account of what it means to be a faithful church member is exactly on target. All of us need to see God's central design for our lives as including "church," which is too often a Cinderella figure: ignored and forgotten. Dr Beeke's summary will challenge all who read it to both reflection and repentance. Essential reading.' --Derek W. H. Thomas Ph.D

'This is an enriching study of what it means to be in membership of the church. Joel Beeke's careful, Bible-based study of this important theme will go a long way to addressing the prevalent culture of casual church membership, and will be a useful resource both for current and prospective members who want to be serious about their commitment to Christ.' --Iain D. Campbell

'In a day when the Westminster Confession of Faith's statement about the necessity of church membership has fallen on hard times, Dr Beeke's booklet is a useful antidote. Many believe that church membership is not important, while others move from one congregation to another in order to satisfy their fancy. To help us think about the seriousness of church membership, Dr Beeke develops fifteen marks of church membership from Ephesians 4:10-16, and shows us the privilege that is ours in belonging to the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ.' --Dr Joseph A. Pipa

About this edition

• Publisher: Evangelical Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0852347774
• ISBN 13: 9780852347775
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48