WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH
Following Jesus means belonging to His people.
The Bible teaches that Christians are not meant to follow Jesus alone. When we trust in Christ, we become part of His body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:27). The New Testament also shows believers committing themselves to particular local churches, gathering together, serving one another, caring for one another, and living on mission together.
Church membership is not simply having your name on a list. It is making a commitment to a particular family of believers.
At Mulberry Baptist Church, we think about local church membership in two simple ways: Who can I count on, and who can I care for.
The Bible teaches that Christians are not meant to follow Jesus alone. When we trust in Christ, we become part of His body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:27). The New Testament also shows believers committing themselves to particular local churches, gathering together, serving one another, caring for one another, and living on mission together.
Church membership is not simply having your name on a list. It is making a commitment to a particular family of believers.
At Mulberry Baptist Church, we think about local church membership in two simple ways: Who can I count on, and who can I care for.
WHO TO COUNT ON
1. Who can I count on?
Membership means committing yourself to a church family—and allowing that family to commit themselves to you.
The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone. Scripture calls believers to:
When you become a member, you are saying:
“These are my people, and I am committed to walking with them.”
And you are allowing them to say:
“You are one of us, and we are committed to walking with you.”
Membership means committing yourself to a church family—and allowing that family to commit themselves to you.
The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone. Scripture calls believers to:
- “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2
- “Encourage one another and build one another up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together.” — Hebrews 10:24–25
When you become a member, you are saying:
“These are my people, and I am committed to walking with them.”
And you are allowing them to say:
“You are one of us, and we are committed to walking with you.”
WHO TO CARE FOR
2. Who do I care for?
Membership is not primarily about what the church can do for me. It is also about whom God has entrusted to me to care for.
The church is one body, and every member has a role to play. Scripture says:
“Who will be there for me?”
but also:
“Who has God placed around me for me to care for?”
Membership is not primarily about what the church can do for me. It is also about whom God has entrusted to me to care for.
The church is one body, and every member has a role to play. Scripture says:
- “The members may have the same care for one another.” — 1 Corinthians 12:25
- “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.” — 1 Peter 4:10
“Who will be there for me?”
but also:
“Who has God placed around me for me to care for?”
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
At Mulberry Baptist Church, we believe there are two biblical prerequisites for church membership: salvation and baptism.
1. Salvation — You Have Trusted in Jesus Christ
The church is made up of people who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Becoming a member begins with becoming a follower of Jesus.
Salvation means recognizing our sin, asking God for forgiveness from it, and turning away from that sin and towards God - trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Jesus said:
“Repent and believe in the gospel.” — Mark 1:15
Romans 10:9 teaches:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Church membership does not save us. Jesus saves us. We become members of His church because we have first become followers of Christ.
2. Baptism — You Have Followed Christ in Believer’s Baptism
The next step for someone who has trusted Christ is baptism.
In the New Testament, those who believed in Christ were baptized as an outward expression of their faith and identification with Jesus (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:36–38).
At Mulberry Baptist Church, we practice believer’s baptism by immersion. Baptism does not save us; rather, it publicly identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ:
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... we too might walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4
Therefore, before becoming a member of Mulberry Baptist Church, a person should have trusted Christ for salvation and followed Him in believer’s baptism by immersion.
1. Salvation — You Have Trusted in Jesus Christ
The church is made up of people who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Becoming a member begins with becoming a follower of Jesus.
Salvation means recognizing our sin, asking God for forgiveness from it, and turning away from that sin and towards God - trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Jesus said:
“Repent and believe in the gospel.” — Mark 1:15
Romans 10:9 teaches:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Church membership does not save us. Jesus saves us. We become members of His church because we have first become followers of Christ.
2. Baptism — You Have Followed Christ in Believer’s Baptism
The next step for someone who has trusted Christ is baptism.
In the New Testament, those who believed in Christ were baptized as an outward expression of their faith and identification with Jesus (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:36–38).
At Mulberry Baptist Church, we practice believer’s baptism by immersion. Baptism does not save us; rather, it publicly identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ:
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... we too might walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4
Therefore, before becoming a member of Mulberry Baptist Church, a person should have trusted Christ for salvation and followed Him in believer’s baptism by immersion.
NEXT STEPS
Once you've accepted Christ as Lord and have been Baptized then the process for joining our church is simple:
1. Let a pastor or church leader know you want to join.
2. Fill out a connect card in person or online.
3. You will be asked to walk up during the invitation time at the end of the service on any given Sunday and be presented to the church for formal affirmation.
4. To complete church membership, you will be asked to attend one of our Discovering Mulberry Classes that are offered quarterly. This is to ensure you know who we are, what we believe, and how we work together towards our unified mission.
1. Let a pastor or church leader know you want to join.
2. Fill out a connect card in person or online.
3. You will be asked to walk up during the invitation time at the end of the service on any given Sunday and be presented to the church for formal affirmation.
4. To complete church membership, you will be asked to attend one of our Discovering Mulberry Classes that are offered quarterly. This is to ensure you know who we are, what we believe, and how we work together towards our unified mission.