Church membership could be considered a relic of a bygone age. Many churches today have abandoned the idea and opted for a more informal association where those who attend a fellowship for any length of time are considered part of the church. This article seeks to demonstrate the case for membership from the Scripture. It… Read More ›
For a biblical presentation of church membership, click here. The True Church When a person believes the gospel—entrusting to Christ their life and death—they become part of the church. The church is the gospel made visible. The church consists of “the called-out ones” (this is the meaning of the Greek word ecclesia which is translated… Read More ›
To be a member at Fairview Baptist Church you must be baptized as a believer. The New Testament pattern is faith and repentance towards Christ followed by being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. For those desiring baptism, this is the procedure we follow at Fairview: You will meet with the… Read More ›
At Fairview we practice the Lord’s Supper weekly. (You can read here for an explanation of this practice.) One question that we receive is, who can participate in the Lord’s Supper? Closed, Close, or Open Different churches have different stances on who can participate in the Lord’s Supper. Some practice “closed” communion which permits only… Read More ›
Defending Sunday Worship? Imagine having to defend the practice of gathering together for worship (in song, Scripture reading, and preaching). How would you explain these practices to someone else? What if you also had to give good reasons for gathering together on Sunday to do these things? Would you look at church history? Your own… Read More ›
The Marks of a Healthy Church These marks are based on Mark Dever’s book Nine Marks of a Healthy Church and the website 9marks.org 1. Expositional Preaching An expositional sermon takes the main point of a passage of Scripture, makes it the main point of the sermon, and applies it to life today. 2. Biblical… Read More ›
The process for joining as a member involves three steps: (1) taking the new members class; (2) filling out the membership application; and (3) sitting down with two of the elders for an interview. The entire process usually takes at least six months from when a person beings attending to becoming a member. New Members… Read More ›
A testimony is an account of God’s work in your life. Everybody who has been born again and who is becoming like Christ has a unique, interesting, and powerful testimony, regardless of whether or not it appears spectacular. If you’re preparing to share your testimony you want to speak about how you came to trust… Read More ›