Does it really matter if I actually join a church? Am I not already a member of the universal church? Isn’t my relationship with Jesus all that really matters? The Scriptures make it clear: God’s specific purposes for His people are accomplished as individuals join themselves to and participate in local churches. While all genuine believers are members of the universal body of Christ, this "membership" is expressed tangibly through membership in specific local churches.

The primary New Testament metaphors for the church are: body (1 Corinthians 12:27), temple (Ephesians 2:21), household (1 Timothy 3:15), and flock (Acts 20:28). Each have as a key characteristic the idea of separate individuals joined together into a single entity.

Over again in the Scriptures, God makes covenants (sacred commitments) with His people. In the process, He calls them to a pattern of life and worship that's best for them and most glorifying to Him. In addition to divine covenants, we find a variety of human covenants in the Bible, where people make different kinds of commitments to one another. These biblical realities represent the heart behind Covenant Membership at Grace Bible Church.