membership – La Vista Church of Christ

Members of One Body

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:21:50 +0000

by Hugh DeLong

Paul begins this letter by noting divisions within the church at Corinth. He addresses each issue in turn. In chapter 12, he gives the underlying reason such division is a problem: there is only one body, made up of many members.

When we read ‘members’, we are apt to see this from our 21st-century perspective and think of being a ‘member of a club’ or a ‘member of a baseball team’. While such a perspective can give us many good thoughts about unity and fellowship, Paul was speaking of a much more significant unity. Hence, he speaks of the church as a body, a living body. Hence, the members are likened to ‘eyes, foot, and hand’. While being a member of a club can have a take-it-or-leave-it quality, losing a body part in the 1st century would have had major consequences for the body's life.

The first application of this concerns being a divisive member! If you are such a member of the body, it is like mutilating your own physical body. It is easy to cause division: it requires no character or knowledge. And after you have caused it, what do you have? Thus, we are to strive to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. We are to love one another with a pure heart, fervently.

Secondly, this awareness should motivate us to be a living part of that body. It is a ‘one another’ relationship. Paul uses this ‘one another’ phrase five times in this letter (I Corinthians 6:7; 7:5; 11:33; 12:25; 16:20). A broader search of the New Testament shows it is used over 100 times! If you have never studied this, I would suggest you write out each and every one of these ‘one another’ duties and then set out to practice them. All of them.
We are added together (Acts 2:26), we join ourselves to the saints (Acts 9:26), and ‘going in and out among them (Acts 9:28). We become a living, active member of a living, active body.
If you severed yourself from the body you ‘belong to’, would they miss you?

Before You Choose a Church, Ask Yourself This Question

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:53:28 +0000

by Josh Creel
via InLight Media

How do you choose a church? Is it about the song worship, the preaching, the community, or something deeper? In this conversation, Josh Creel and Jackson Sneed explore what the Bible actually teaches about finding a healthy church, and why the first question may not be "Which church is right for me?" but rather "Who am I trying to please?" Galatians 1–2 and other New Testament passages discuss how Christians can evaluate a church based on Scripture rather than personal preferences, traditions, or personalities. Whether you're searching for a church, evaluating your current church, or simply wanting to grow as a disciple of Jesus, this conversation offers biblical principles that apply to every Christian.

In this video, you'll learn:

How to choose a church using biblical principles
Why doctrine matters more than personal preference
The danger of treating the church like a consumer product
How to recognize a healthy, Christ-centered church
What does it mean to follow Jesus above tradition, culture, or popular opinion
Why churches should not only teach the gospel but also live it

Following Jesus isn't about finding a church that caters to us. It's about becoming disciples who seek to honor Christ in every aspect of worship, doctrine, and daily life. If this conversation encouraged or challenged you, be sure to like the video, subscribe for more biblical discussions, and share it with someone who's seeking a church or wants to deepen their understanding of Scripture.

Running from Church Problems

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:07:56 +0000

by Richard Blackford

When a church has problems, the first inclination is to run from it and find a perfect congregation that doesn’t have problems. I know that feeling. I’ve had it too. Of course, honesty compels us to admit that this is the easy way out. “After all, my nerves just can’t take it.”

When the apostle Paul saw the church at Corinth with all of its problems, he didn’t run from it. He ran toward it to “put the fire out.”

I used to wonder why God put First Corinthians in the Bible. Who wants to read about church problems? The more I study it, the more I see how incomplete the Bible would be without it. It is nothing short of a masterpiece, and chapter thirteen is a masterpiece within a masterpiece – an oasis, a goldmine! It is a favorite passage of many, often read at weddings.

If Paul had run from the problems at Corinth, we would be without First Corinthians thirteen and many other jewels contained in the book. Ponder that. It’s not so much about church problems as it is about solving them. Every church can see itself mirrored in one or more of its problems. We learn how painstakingly patient Paul was and how much care he had for his brothers and sisters in Corinth.

The love Paul writes about to the Corinthians is the love he had for them. This is how he could discuss their problems and lead them to the solution. This is how he could persevere. We see both tenderness and scolding, patience and rebuking, praising and shaming as Paul pours himself out on their behalf.

Paul was about keeping brethren united. Not only was he about solving problems rather than running from them, but he also encouraged others to do the same. “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel,…” (Philippians 4:2-3). There is no indication that Paul thought any of the Corinthians should run, and no record that any of them did. In that, the “awful” church at Corinth puts us to shame.

I wonder if Jesus or Paul ever said, “My nerves are shot. I can’t take any more of this.” Did Jesus say that from the cross? Surely, if neither Jesus nor Paul ever entertained that idea, then we should be able to handle challenges far less than those they faced.

Should we run from problems? To say the least, that should be our last resort when all other efforts have failed. What did Paul say? What would Jesus do? “Be ye imitators of me as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). Paul told us what Jesus would do. How do we measure up? Paul did not abandon the Corinthian church when they were going through hard times. By teaching us to follow his example, he showed that you don’t have to be an apostle to care about the welfare of a congregation. Paul also said, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

Visitor or Member?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:41:20 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

Many congregations are made up of workers who pitch in to help the local church grow in edification and meaningful fellowship in the work and worship of God. They try to be involved in teaching classes, preparing communion, cleaning the building, hosting meals for other members, and fostering togetherness. They try to encourage the church to be friendly and tight-knit by greeting and being present for every opportunity to show team spirit and unity of heart.

But in many congregations, you have people who only come on Sunday morning for the Lord's Supper. They never pitch in to help the church. They act more like visitors than members. They never grow out of that pattern of one thing. It is like taking the Lord's Supper punches my ticket to heaven each week, and all I care about is getting my ticket punched, and the Lord's Supper assembly is the only thing commanded. They are willing to visit the church each week, but nothing more. It is disheartening to see an assembly with lots of visitors who never grow into working members.

Members see the church as more than an assembly for the Lord's Supper. They see the church as a family fellowship with responsibilities to the family to help the family grow richer and deeper in faith. Family members work for the good of the whole family. They attend meetings to "consider one another to provoke unto love and good works" and would never miss a class or meeting if they can help it (Hebrews 10:24-25). They want their children to be influenced to go to heaven, so they make sure they are in Bible classes. If they can teach, they get involved in teaching; if they can't help in that way, they help in other ways by getting materials ready for the teachers. They volunteer to host get-togethers outside the classes and assemblies. They hold themselves accountable to the group because this is the most important family on earth. We love our physical families only secondarily to our spiritual family in Christ. That is how "members" feel about the Lord's church. They refuse to settle on just acting like a lifelong visitor.

Are you a member or just a visitor? How does the Lord see you in this regard?

When the Church Disappoints You

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:35:17 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

Jesus’ twelve apostles disappointed Him at times. Sometimes they would look at Him with a bewildered look of “what are you talking about?” as they failed to grasp the meaning and application of what He said. Sometimes, he would plainly say something simple like, “We are going up to Jerusalem, where I will be betrayed, scourged, and crucified, and rise again the third day,” and they passed it off as not true. I would have been very agitated if, when it happened, my little assembly acted totally shocked and bewildered. I told them to expect resurrection after crucifixion, and they forgot to expect it. It is like I worked with them for three years and got nothing through their thick skulls. They would sometimes fuss with each other about who would be the greatest among them in the kingdom, and I would tell them the greatest is the servant of all. They saw My many miracles and thought about the possibility of their becoming great political leaders as they drove out the Roman Empire.

I tried to simplify it with parables about what the kingdom would be like, so they would quit making their dreams of future political glory. I told them that their righteous standard of living would have to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees and that they would have to love Me more than father, mother, son, or daughter, and yes, their very lives, but when the first sign of trouble came, they ran for their lives. One said he would never abandon me and that he would die for me, but turned right around and denied he even knew me three times before the morning rooster crowed. I have had about all I can take from this group! I’m fed up with them. I will no longer work with these disappointing people!

What if Jesus quit the church because of the disappointing way He saw you behave? What if He gave up on you because you were too eager to give up on others? Would He have laid His life on the line for you? Isn’t it time to come back to Him and work with His church?

Can a person be a member of two different congregations?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:59:13 +0000

Question:

We have a brother who used to worship with us, but eventually he took the gospel to his village, with the help of the congregation where we both worship. Worship services started in his village, with most members being his immediate family. However, he lives in our area but goes to the village every Sunday. He is currently serving as their preacher. Before all that, the church where he lives included him in its building project committee. He attends weekly Bible studies with us and participates in every evangelism effort. The family primarily worships here with us, except that he goes to the village every Sunday. Now he sees himself as a member of both congregations and sometimes wants to be involved in decisions for the church here.

I don't know how you see this idea. He suggested the church can empower members to build shops for them on the church land. And the church can set up a school to be run by brethren. Or possibly allow the brethren to use a portion of the church land to build a school.

I would appreciate your enlightenment on this matter, sir.

I want to help the congregation I work with organize their foundation class: we have children from 2-6 years old, 8-13, and 14 and up. How can the church determine the number of years each of this category should have before transiting to another category? We also have a new convert class. How long can one be in the new convert class?

Thank you, sir.

Answer:

Every Christian is a member of the church in the universal sense. However, each Christian can only be a member of the one congregation he attends and works with. While the brother attends two churches, it sounds more like he regularly teaches lessons for a congregation and lives and works with the congregation you attend. If these two congregations are close, they should join together to form a single larger group. If it is more practical to have two congregations, then the brother should decide which group he wants to work with. There is far more to preaching than delivering a lesson on Sunday morning. See So You Want to be a Preacher? and Preachers.

I would ask the brother where in the Bible he learned that the church is involved in businesses or secular education. The church has duties that are defined for it by God. It is not for men to add things that God did not authorize. See The Work God Gave the Local Church.

Every congregation has a different demographic. The local group has to decide what works best for their group. For example, in La Vista, we tend to divide classes by skills (the ability to recite, read, reason, or study a topic deeply). Physical age gives a rough guess, but ability dictates what can be taught. See What Children Can Learn.

If you can have multiple classes at the same time, select one basic topic and one deeper topic. Encourage the members to choose which they want to attend. There are going to be times that even long-time members will want a refresher. If you want to make sure your new members cover basic topics, then put together material on those topics, and that will dictate how long the class will run.

Does a church have the right to remove from its roll a member who no longer lives in the area?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:43:41 +0000

Question:

Dear Sir,

I have been reading your articles and learning a lot from your Bible teachings. Thank you for all you do and for your heart to spread the Truth.

Here’s my question: There’s a sister in our Church who was reached out while working as a house helper in a disciple’s home, but after years of working, she went home to her hometown to visit her family. but she got sick, and the doctor advised her that she could no longer work, so she told her employer. She decided to stay with her family in her home town but there’s no nearby church where she could attend to, it takes 12 to 14 hours travel by land to get to the nearest church, she’s poor and does not have the means to travel and since she could no longer work so that’ means she can’t go back to where she used to work as a house helper and join the church where she was reached out to. The church counted her out as a fallen away because she couldn’t come anymore and no longer physically attend church to worship or attend midweeks. Is the church's decision biblical?
By the way, I have an illness that limits me from going to church’s devotional and other Bible studies, especially at night, due to my health condition. Still, I reached out to people online, and I tuned in on Wednesday night to listen to the midweek devotional. I also attend Sunday service since it’s in the morning, and I usually have more energy then. I am sick myself. I felt sad when I heard the church’s decision regarding that sister.

Is it Biblical for the church to remove a member from their membership only because she cannot come anymore due to health issues, but her heart wants to stay faithful to God? What can we do as a Church to help those people who are sick but want to remain faithful to God, but there’s no disciple or nearby church in their hometown? What is the teaching of the Bible on this matter?

Thank you so much.

May God continue to bless and guide you as you spread His Word.

Answer:

I'm sorry to hear about the sister's illness.

Christians who live in a locality are to gather together as a church to offer worship to God and work together in service to God. The sister no longer lives in the area of the church. Practically, she cannot be a member of the church, though she could join a congregation near where she currently lives. If there isn't one, then she can start teaching people with hopes of getting another congregation started in time. She hasn't fallen away from the faith. She is in a difficult situation. While she can't be a member of the congregation because of distance, it isn't right for the congregation to declare her to be something she isn't.

Christians who are no longer able to attend due to illness should be cared for by their family and the brothers and sisters in the congregation (Acts 6:1-3; I Timothy 5:8-16). Do what you can while you're ill. Plan ahead to save up your energy so you can attend as often as possible. Find things to do for the Lord that is within your ability.

Why Are You a Member of the Church of Christ?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 22:50:11 +0000

by Vance E. Trefethen
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 3, September 1992

A full-page ad for the book "Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ" recently caught my eye, with its bold headline: "Now Is the Time to Act." Much of the message carried in this conservative journal was true—and quite disturbing. Still, I expected the editor to make some kind of comments concerning the thoroughly denominational thinking of the author. He said nothing.

One statement particularly caught my eye: "We are not baptizing many, other than our own children...the average member doesn’t know what he believes and why he believes it ... [It is] urgent that we preach what we practice." However, as I considered some of the terminology used in the ad, I realized that the writer had missed the mark somewhere along the line. Several questions came to my mind that might spur us on to a deeper study of the scriptures:

Can the universal church go into apostasy?

To promote the book as a good way to indoctrinate saints (not a bad idea -- cf. Titus 2:1), the ad urges: "We also admit that if we fail to indoctrinate just one generation—not two—the church will go into apostasy. It has in the past."

"The church" is that body of people who have been saved by the blood of Christ. It is the "general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" and includes the deceased and Old Covenant saints now cleansed by the blood of the Messiah (Hebrews 12:23; 9:15; Matthew 8:11). In what year in the past did that body of people go into apostasy? How many times has it happened? Did it ever come out of apostasy? How and when?

If a local church drifts into apostasy, that would surely reflect poorly on its bishops. It is their job to shepherd the flock by feeding the truth and to "convict the gainsayer" by counteracting false doctrine (Titus 1:9-11; I Peter 5:2). If they don’t, they will answer to God for their failure to properly watch out for souls (Hebrews 13:17). How does it reflect on the universal church’s Shepherd and Bishop (I Peter 2:25; 5:4) if He has allowed His church to go into apostasy? If "the church" has gone into apostasy, does it perhaps need a new Overseer who will do a better job?

It is a fact that many local churches have gone into apostasy in the past. Certainly, that was true in the first century—five of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3 deserved rebuke. Jesus was going to spit out Laodicea, and Sardis was dead. But had the universal church gone into apostasy? Even in a "dead" church like Sardis, there were still a few who had not defiled their garments and were pleasing to God (Revelation 3:4).

If the universal church were an alliance or body of congregations, then it surely did go into apostasy, even during the lifetime of the apostles. However, individuals can go to heaven even as congregations deteriorate, because the universal church is composed of saints, not churches. The Lamb’s book of life contains the list of saved people, not a directory of "faithful churches" put out by men (Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 3:5).

Can the universal church cease to exist?

Consider this quote: "What we do in the next ten years will perhaps determine whether this generation and the next will have the church as we now know it."

Wow. Imagine the burden on our shoulders if we have it within our power to determine whether the universal church will go out of existence! Or perhaps, if we’re not careful, it will be replaced by some other kind of church different from the one "as we now know it"

Daniel predicted that when the Kingdom of God would be established, it would never be destroyed but would stand forever (Daniel 2:44). Hebrews 12:22-28 shows that the kingdom is comprised of those who are in the church. Is it really possible that the next generation will not have "the church"? Who has the power to destroy the kingdom after the next "ten years" are over?

How powerful are the writings of men?

"For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword..." (Hebrews 4:12). That sounds pretty good, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. The ad says: "Many believe that a million copies [of this book] distributed and studied in the church in the next four or five years would safeguard the church from apostasy for at least another generation or two."

A million copies of a book written by a man in the 20th century will accomplish something that the Bible apparently cannot do: safeguard "the church" from apostasy! If only John had had a million copies of "Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ," those churches of Asia wouldn’t have been in such a mess! If "the church" can go into apostasy, and the Bible can’t prevent it, it seems highly unlikely that any man’s book will do any better.

When we ask our denominational neighbors why they distribute millions of copies of creed books among their churches, how do they answer? "Well, we believe the Bible, but this creed keeps us doctrinally sound and consistent with all the other congregations in our fellowship." What will our answer be when we do the same thing?

I’m not opposed to the writing or reading of Bible study materials—I’ve written some myself (this article, for example). What I’m disturbed by is anyone’s claim that his materials should be bound upon the universal church and that his writings have more power than the inspired scriptures. I don’t claim that anything I’ve ever written can "safeguard the church from apostasy," and I’m amazed that anyone on earth today would make that claim for himself.

How do people get into the Lord’s church?

Consider: "They believe that another million [copies of the book] used among aliens would bring many into the church—and they would be well taught."

If they were taught that someone’s book has the power to get them into the Lord’s church, they’d be taught wrong. The Lord adds people to his church when they meet his conditions of salvation (Acts 2:47; John 17:2; Revelation 3:5). Those terms of pardon were revealed by inspiration long before this 20th-century book was written.

What the ad writer had in mind is a denominational concept of "The Church of Christ." We’re asking people to leave one alliance of congregations that has a particular sign on their door (Methodist, Baptist, etc) and get into our alliance of congregations that has the sign "Church of Christ" on the door. "Get out of your denomination and get into ours." We ought to tell people: "Get out of sin and get into Christ" (Acts 17:30; Galatians 3:27). We may have to defeat denominational doctrines to persuade people that they are still in sin, but we had better not substitute "our" denomination for theirs.

Why are you a member of "The Church of Christ?"

I didn’t become a member of "The Church of Christ" by deciding to join an alliance of congregations that don’t use instruments of music, eats the Lord’s supper each first day of the week, doesn’t support institutions, etc., I became a member of "the church of Christ" when my sins were washed away and Jesus wrote my name in His Book of Life in Heaven. It was then that the Lord made me part of that "church and general assembly of the firstborn [ones] who are enrolled in heaven" (Hebrews 12:23).

Why am I a member? Because Jesus wrote my name in heaven when I met his conditions, that’s why. Why are you a member of the church of Christ?

I Want a Church that Meets My Needs

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:49:31 +0000

by William Woodson

The statement made in the title is not only the desire of many in the religious world, but it is also becoming the philosophy of many Christians, as many of us are seeking a religion that "meets our needs." The phrase itself has virtually become a new religious term. Many persons praise or blame a particular congregation because it is or is not "meeting my needs."

Let me hasten to say that if the phrase means that we need to satisfy spiritual hunger, then it is a good expression, for surely everyone ought to be in a Christian community where his or her deepest spiritual longings are being addressed. The voice of God needs to be heard through spiritual teaching, and we need opportunities to serve, love, and be called to repentance.

However, for some, being part of the church means striving for goals of "self-actualization." So if the church doesn't fulfill certain expectations, wants, and preferences, they must move on to another emotional department store with different merchandise more appealing to their "tastes."

Sadly, and probably without realizing it, many congregations have come to believe that "we have to do all these things and plan all the activities to meet people's needs so they won't leave." Consequently, well-meaning leaders have turned God's church into a merchandising institution. So we promote this program and that program for this group and that group.

But, in my judgment, the system has turned upside down from the way God intended it to be. Whatever happened to the attitude in a Christian's heart of "I'd like to be a part of this congregation because of what I can do to meet its needs?" When are we most fulfilled? When our needs are met, or when we meet the needs of God's church on this earth? We ought to be a part of a congregation not so our needs can be met, but rather so we may best meet the needs of God's work.

Christians need to recall the Truth of the scriptures that personal fulfillment is a great spiritual paradox. We are most filled when we empty ourselves and are filled serving others. Jesus taught us, "… whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (servant)…even as the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (serve)" (Matthew 20:26-28).

Paul said of his own heart, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). And again, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). "Reasonable service" is not being served (having your needs met) but serving (meeting the needs of others). We need to relearn the axiom, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

Let's not demand that God's church be a place where people (leadership or membership) cater to our desires and preferences. Let's turn it right side up again and be a part of a congregation, not for what it can do for us, but for what we can do for it!

Of Visitors, Floaters, and Members of the Flock

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 03:15:52 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

I Peter 5:1f shows an elder-flock relationship. The elders know how many people are in the flock and who is just a visitor and who is an uncommitted floater. This verse attests to the autonomy or independence of the local church. It also implies that a local church is a flock.

The shepherds know the exact number they are responsible for overseeing. The implication of joining the local band or flock of disciples in Acts 9:26 shows that there must be a declared commitment to a local group to: 1) Be responsible toward a local flock, and 2) Be counted as one to whom the flock holds common responsibility.

It is not right to be a floater who never commits to a local flock. This also shows that local churches were not Christians who accidentally bumped into each other from time to time, but that they purposely formed themselves into a local flock with order, organization, and common commitment.
When possible, they appointed men to oversee the flock and recognized and submitted to their care and oversight. The mutual commitment is to the elders “among you,” not to elders in another city or flock. Christians did not just “show up” at a place, and that alone constituted local flock membership. When Paul “showed up” at Jerusalem, he was not automatically accepted as a member.

One must declare intentions and desires, and then be accepted. It requires communication, mutual understanding, and agreement. Visitors are not members of the flock we are among. They are welcome and encouraging, but they are not the responsibility of the shepherds or the flock. They are visitors until an understanding and commitment are made. At some point, a regular visitor needs to communicate their desire to be counted as members of the flock.

Don't be a non-committed visitor. Be a member of a faithful group of disciples! Be a “one another” oriented faithful disciple of Jesus Christ!