Why is membership important?

• Membership is required for some areas of service at GCC.
• The Bible says we are knit together (Col.2:2), joined together (Eph.2:21), built together (Eph.2:22), members together (1Cor.12:27), heirs together (Rom.8:17), held together (Eph.4:16) and will be caught up together (1 Thess.4:17).
• Being a member of the church means being a vital organ of a living body (1Cor.12:12), an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ.  This church is not a building, but a body; not just an organization, but also a living organism.
• A Christian without a church home is an unnatural state. It is like an organ without a body (1Cor.12:19), a sheep without a flock (1Pet.5:8), or a child without a family (Eph.2:19).
• You are called to belong, not just believe (Rom.12:5).
• A commitment to living in the Gospel of Christ does more than merely place us as individuals in relationship with God.  It places us in a covenant community called the church, where people not only practice a common faith but grow with one another in transformative relationship that is rooted in the love and grace of Christ (Eph.3:17-18).

 

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.   -Romans 12:4-6a

The Basics

1. Provide a written testimony of your faith in Jesus Christ to the Pastor.

2. Schedule a membership interview with the Session.

3. Make your public profession of faith during a worship service.

For transfers, this usually means being introduced to the congregation so that others can put your name with your face.  For new believers, a public profession will usually come in the form of baptism.

The best way to walk through this process is to attend a Discover Grace class.

If you have any questions about the membership process, please contact us at membership@cvillegrace.org or check out our membership brochure in Documents.

What are the five questions?

At your membership interview and before the congregation, you will be asked these five questions.  Spend time considering what they mean. Our pastors or any of our elders would be glad to discuss them further with you.

1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?

4. Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?

5. Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

How do you write a testimony?

Your testimony should include the following: Creed + Testimony + Story.

Keep it simple and concise.  It can be emailed to a Pastor, mailed to the church office, or given to an Elder on a Sunday morning.

1.   Creed:

What do you believe about who Jesus is?

Example:  Jesus is the Son of God, fully God, and fully man. He lived a perfect life and died on the cross, then rose again…

2.   Testimony:

What has Jesus done for you personally?

Example: I know that Jesus took my sins on the cross. I have forgiveness and life because of Him…

3.   Story:

How did God work in your life to bring about your creed and testimony?

Example:  I don’t know exactly when I became a Christian. I grew up believing in a God, but I first heard about Jesus when…

Discover Grace

Whether you're new to GCC or have been a regular attendee for a while, Discover Grace is the way to get to know us as a church family, our membership and ministry opportunities, and our core beliefs and values as a PCA church. We meet for six Sundays during the Foundations hour in the church office.

This class is designed to help you:

1. Discover Christ's grace

2. Discover this local church

3. Discover the Reformed faith

4. Discover your testimony

We want everyone who walks through the doors at GCC to attend Discover Grace at some point. There is no obligation to join the church simply because you attend the class. We see church membership as crucial to the life of the believer and a serious commitment to discipleship and accountability, so we encourage people to learn about the joy and responsibility Christ offers to us in His church.

Please contact us for more info.