Many churches have an official process to join their membership. Is this really a biblical practice? The authors show that the Bible assumes the necessity of formal church membership so that we can fulfill the commands and apply the promises given to the church. Clearly and carefully, and answering contemporary objections along the way, the authors make the biblical case that God desires the members of His heavenly kingdom to join with the earthly society that reflects it Christ's body, the church. RYAN M. MCGRAW is pastor of First Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale, California; research associate, University of the Free State; and adjunct professor of systematic theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. RYAN SPECK received his MDiv from Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Columbia, Missouri. He is blessed to be married to Carolina and to be the father of five daughters.
