Ephesians 4:10–16 shows us five marks of a faithful member of Christ’s body. A faithful member receives Christ’s Word, unites with Christ’s person, connects with Christ’s people, serves others for Christ’s sake, and grows into Christ’s image. In every respect, church membership depends on the church’s living Head, Jesus Christ.
Along with these marks, we have included fifteen ways to exercise faithful church membership. Ask yourself the following questions to help determine whether you are a healthy church member:
- Do I hunger for the Word?
- Do I faithfully attend worship services?
- Am I an active listener to the preached Word?
- Do I exercise faith in Christ?
- Do I partake of the sacraments?
- Does my relationship with Christ motivate me to obey God?
- Do I show love to fellow church members?
- Have I made public confession of faith?
- Do I exercise hospitality?
- Do Christ and His work stir me to love and obey Him?
- Am I a witness for Christ?
- Do I exercise good stewardship of the gifts God grants me?
- Do I exemplify humility?
- Do I pray and attend prayer meetings regularly?
- Do I engage in the practice of meditation?
Remember that how we treat the church is how we treat Jesus, for the church is His body. Therefore, the stakes are high. How dreadful were Christ’s words to Saul in Acts 9:4: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” If you abuse Christ’s body, you abuse Christ. If you neglect Christ’s body, you neglect Christ. On the other hand, what unspeakable joy faithful servants will experience when the King of kings comes with His holy angels, sits upon His throne, calls them by name, recounts their acts of service to His people, and says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). Strive therefore to be faithful members of the body of Christ!
Excerpt From
Beauty and Glory of Christ’s Bride
Joel R. Beeke
