One might assume that, as long as you profess Christ, what is the need for any further identification with a local church? Isn’t it enough simply to call yourself a Christian and attend services somewhere regularly? What is the point of formal membership.

We believe there are at least three reasons for having formal membership. First, we believe the concept of membership is biblical. While the term “church member” is never used, the concept is implicit throughout the New Testament. Believers clearly identified themselves with a specific local body and were challenged to become devoted participants.

Second, formal membership is valuable to the leaders of the church as they seek to fulfill their God-given task of shepherding. Boca Community, by its very nature and location attracts the uncommitted visitors, seekers, observers and guests. We hope that will always be the case. But at some point it is important to identify those who truly comprise the “flock” at Boca Community – the core that can be counted on to build and sustain the ministries of the church. These are also the committed “family members” who should receive priority in the allocation of finite church resources (as commanded in Galatians 6:10).

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, experience shows that membership benefits the individual. In a culture where commitment is no longer highly valued, recognizable membership is an important step that moves each of us out of the vague clouds of our good intentions and into the clear light of committed participation. It presents a challenge to “step out of the stands” and publicly affirm a commitment to Christ and to a specific local body. In this sense, membership can be a significant “defining moment” in one’s lifelong discipleship journey.

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP

Members commit themselves to God and to other members to do the following:

Share the responsibility of Boca Raton Community Church:

1. By praying for the church
2. By honoring and seeking to obey the Word of God
3. By building relationships with the lost
4. By warmly welcoming those who visit

"To the church…we always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.”
1 Thessalonians 1:1-2

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.”
Luke 14:23

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Romans 15:7

Serve at Boca Raton Community Church

1. By seeking to discover spiritual gifts and ministry passion
2. By becoming equipped to serve
3. By serving in at least one area of ministry within BRCC

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms."
1 Peter 4:10

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
Ephesians 4:11-12

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others. [He] made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Philippians 2:3-4,7

Support the ministries of Boca Raton Community Church:

1. By attending faithfully
2. By giving of personal finances (tithing is encouraged)
3. By giving of time and gifts in ministry service

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25

“On the first day of each week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
1 Corinthians 16:2

“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”
Leviticus 27:30

Promote unity in the Spirit at Boca Raton Community Church:

1. By acting in love toward one another
   
2. By practicing biblical conflict resolution
   
3. By submitting to church leadership

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Romans 14:19

“…have sincere love for your brothers, love on another deeply, from the heart.”
1 Peter 1:22

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Hebrews 13:17

Cultivate their own spiritual lives and that of their family:

1. By faithful Bible reading
   
2. By regular prayer
   
3. By practicing family devotions (if applicable)

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:6-7

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PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

Being a member means that you now have the right to influence the key decisions of the church, most importantly the selection of elder candidates and their affirmation. Members also receive priority for facility usage and staff members’ time (such as weddings, funerals, benevolence needs, personal support in your area of ministry, etc.). From time to time, meeting or other functions are held which are for “members only.” These events are usually called to either inform the core of the church of a major concern or to garner input from the body.

Therefore they are limited only to those who are members. Finally, virtually all leadership positions in the church require membership as a prerequisite. The primary reason to become a member, however, is not to gain a personal advantage, but to identify ourselves with the characteristics, or marks, of biblical maturity. Since we’re all pursuing Him, we ought to be pursuing these qualities as a way to be pleasing to Him - first and foremost.

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WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER?

If you would like to become a member, please contact:

The Adult Ministries Office
Boca Raton Community Church
470 NW 4th Avenue
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561.395.2400 ext. 347
email: adultsbocacommunity.org