Church Membership Biblical References:

 Church Membership Biblical References:

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Mat. 18:17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Acts 2:46 “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts”

Acts 2:47 “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Acts 4:32 (CSB) “Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.”

Acts 5:11 (CSB) “Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.” 

Acts 11:22 “The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.”

Acts 12:1 “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.”

Acts 12:5 “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”

Acts 13:1 “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

Acts 14:27 “And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.”

Acts 15:3 “So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.”

Acts 15:4 “When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.”

Acts 15:22 “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers…”

Acts 15:30 “So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.”

Acts 20:28-29 “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock…”

Romans 12:3-8 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function..” 

1 Cor. 5:1-2 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”

1 Cor. 5:4 “When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus…”

1 Cor. 6:4 “So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?”

1Cor. 11:18  “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part”

1Cor. 11:19 “for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.”

1 Cor. 12:1-31 “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”

1 Cor. 14:23 “If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

1 Cor. 14:24 “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all.”

1 Cor 16:19 “The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.”

2 Cor. 2:5-11 “Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure--not to put it too severely--to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough…”

Col. 4:12-16 “...Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”

1 Tim. 3:7 “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

1Pet. 5:1-3 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

1 Pet 5:5 “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Heb. 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Heb. 13:17 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

James 2:2 “For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in...”

Philemon 2 “And Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house…”

Notes: The above verses imply belonging to a local church or being a member of a local church. Some analogies for the church directly lend themselves to this ecclesiological stance.  The above verses are overt and reveal a consistent pattern in the early church of belonging to a local body of believers. While reading the verses one should ask: “If belonging to a local church is not supported, how would this verse effectively apply to the church?” For example, how would one expel a person from a church if they did not belong to the church? Likewise, if you do not belong to a local church what elders should one submit themselves to?