Congratulations on joining a church! While every congregation follows a unique procedure for membership, there are several universal next steps you can take to honor God and grow in your faith. These foundational practices apply to every believer seeking to deepen their commitment.
First, read your Bible every day. A national research study revealed that daily Scripture reading is the primary driver of spiritual growth. Despite this, only 35 percent of active churchgoers study their Bibles at least once a week. If you want to improve your spiritual health and reach maturity, the most effective path is to open God’s Word daily.
Second, prioritize weekly worship attendance. A recent study showed that regular church attendees were the only demographic to report improved mental health during the 2020 pandemic. While attendance is not a cure-all, the rhythm of gathering with a community of believers nourishes the heart, mind, and soul. Engaging in these church next steps is vital for establishing long-term spiritual growth and meaningful community connection.
Third, follow your church leadership. Most pastors and church leaders choose a life of sacrifice to serve others. They want to serve you! Blind loyalty is dangerous; only Jesus deserves unfettered commitment. But you should start with a posture of trust with your leadership.
Fourth, Encourage people around you. Encouragement is one of the most powerful and contagious forces in the church. The problem is discouragement is an even more powerful and infectious force. When you are an encourager, you can change the mood of just about everyone around you.
Fifth, invite others to church. Believers have the responsibility to invite others into the body of Christ. But this responsibility is a joy. Seeing others light up as they find community is exciting and fulfilling.
Sixth, share Jesus with people in your life. Inviting other people to church shows you love the body of Christ. But you should also show your love of Jesus by sharing Him with others. I realize sharing your faith—often called evangelism—is a struggle for many believers. But it doesn’t have to be. Live out your joy in Christ, and others will ask you about it. When they do, tell them about your salvation experience.
Seventh, join a group. Your church will get bigger by getting smaller. People will stay and grow in a church if they are part of a group. It is hard to connect personally with others in a worship gathering. When you are involved in a small group, you build relationships in a way that is not possible through the worship experience.
Eighth, pray every day for the ministries of your church and your church leaders. A few church members often remind me about their daily prayers. One of the most encouraging things people say to me is, “I’m praying for you every day.” I’ll never forget one church member showing me his prayer journal. He made entries daily. My name was listed in every entry.
Ninth, start giving regularly. This commitment need not be controversial. If you believe in the mission of your church, then you should give to it. Weekly or monthly giving is one of the best ways to invest in eternity. Frankly, you don’t give to your church. You give to God through your church. God does not need your money, but He does want your heart. Matthew’s gospel makes it clear: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Where your money goes is where your heart goes.
Tenth, volunteer in a needed area of the church. Ask your church leaders about an area of need. Even if this area is not your preference or expertise, God will honor your desire to fill in a gap.
Church membership is an essential part of following Christ. Enjoy the fellowship of believers at your church. Commit to God’s mission with them. With your church, be an active agent for good in your community.
Pastors and church leaders, do you need help with your church membership class? Now you can get everything you need to lead with The Complete Membership Class Toolkit.
This article originally appeared on ChuchAnwers.com and is reposted here by permission.