We are a redeemed community of Jesus followers on mission together
membership
Every Jesus follower should belong to and commit in membership to a healthy local church. A TCBC member has a personal relationship with Jesus, has been scripturally baptized by immersion, and affirms and pursues faithfulness to Tri-Cities Baptist Church’s Membership Promises. Every member commits to prioritize the well being and growth of the entire body.
Discover Tri-Cities is our way of helping you discover if TCBC is the right church for you and is recommended for everyone pursuing becoming a member of TCBC. Upon completion, participants are encouraged to commit in membership by completing the TCBC Membership Form.
New Members are then invited to participate in our quarterly New Members Celebration, comprised of a New Members Presentation in both of our worship gatherings and a New Members Lunch afterward.
PROMISES
A Membership Promise is given by both the church to its members and its members to the church, conveying the commitment to pursue defined expectations. The promise is not dependent on the faithfulness of the other party. Instead, each pursues the fulfillment of his or her promise out of obedience and faithfulness to the instructions of our Heavenly Father.
God’s Glory
We Promise
to do all as a church to the glory of God. (Psalm 115, Isaiah 43:7, Romans 9:17)
I Promise
to do all as a Jesus follower to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17; Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Biblical Authority
We Promise
to affirm, teach, and adhere to the absolute authority of the Bible in all matters. (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16)
I Promise
to affirm and submit to the absolute authority of the Bible in all matters. (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16)
to affirm the doctrinal statement of Tri-Cities Baptist Church. (Romans 16:17; 1 Peter 3:15)
Gospel Sufficiency: Abide
We Promise
to make much of Jesus, keeping Him as head of our church and calling people to abide in Him. (John 15:1-17; Ephesians 1:22, 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18)
I Promise
to abide in my Savior Jesus by resting in His saving and sanctifying work through faith and pursuing Him through regular Bible study, prayer, and the consistent practice of spiritual disciplines.(Psalm 105:1-2; Psalm 119:97; John 15:1-17; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3)
to pursue holiness by the grace of God, living a life of obedience to Scripture as an ambassador of Christ and representative of His church. (Ephesians 4:1-3, 6:10-20)
The Church
We Promise
to lead you with leaders who meet the Biblical criteria according to their role. (1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
to exhort, admonish, and discipline you when necessary according to Scripture. (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14)
I Promise
to pray for and submit to my church’s leadership. (1 Thessalonians 5:25; Hebrews 13:17)
to love and promote unity and mutual edification. (Romans 13:13-14; Ephesians 4:1-3, 12-13)
The Church: Gather For Worship
We Promise
to gather to worship with you. (Matthew 4:10, 22:36-37; Hebrews 10:25)
to lead you in the two ordinances (Baptism and Lord’s Supper) according to the criteria set in Scripture. (Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Colossians 2:12)
I Promise
to gather with my church family to worship. (Matthew 4:10, 22:36-37; Hebrews 10:25)
to sacrificially and cheerfully steward the resources God has given me through regular financial giving. (Malachi 3:7-10; Acts 2:45; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Acts 20:33-35)
The Church: Equip The Saints
We Promise
to pursue fellowship, equipping you to connect in community. (Matthew 22:39; Acts 2:42-44, 4:32; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:14)
to pursue mutual edification, equipping you to serve one another. (Romans 12:3-5, 14:19; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-13)
to pray for you. (Colossians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; James 5:14-16)
to love you. (Matthew 22:39; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Hebrews 10:24; 1 John 4:7,11)
to value and prioritize the family as the first place of faithful ministry for every Jesus follower. (1 Timothy 3:4-5, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Ephesians 5:22-33).
to resource, encourage, and partner with families for gospel advancement and spiritual growth. (Ephesians 4:12, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Psalm 145:4-7)
I Promise
to live in Christian fellowship, connecting in community with my church family. (Matthew 22:39; Acts 2:42-44; 4:32; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:14)
to discover, develop, and use my gifts, talents, and experiences to serve one another. (Romans 12:3-5, 14:19; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-13)
to value my family as the first place of faithful ministry. (Joshua 24:15, 1 Timothy 5:8, Psalm 71:17-18, Ephesians 5:22-33)
to be committed to the discipleship of my family in partnership with the family of faith. (Psalm 78:4-8, Ephesians 4:12, 6:4, Proverbs 1:7-9)
The Church: Go Make Disciples
We Promise
to pursue the Great Commission, equipping you to go make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8)
I Promise
to go make disciples, sharing the love and message of Jesus. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8)
why membership matters
Obedience
In light of the example of the early church, biblical church leadership, and our mutual responsibility for discipline and edification, local church membership should be viewed as an act of obedience.
Community
Believers are commanded to live in fellowship with one another. This involves transparency and vulnerability as well as trusting, encouraging, admonishing, teaching, correcting, and helping one another.
Mission
Sharing the love and hope found in Jesus is a joint mission.
Worship
We exist to worship and glorify God. As members of a local church body, we are commanded to gather regularly and worship Him in song and proclamation of His Word.
Growth
Discipleship does not occur in isolation. The local church has been designed to function together in community to build one another up to maturity.
Ministry
The church is healthy only when individual members are utilizing their gifts to serve one another, disciple one another, and build up the body of Christ.
How Scripture Affirms Church Membership:
The example of the early church
– The early churches organized themselves locally. (Acts 2:37-47; 5:14; 16:5; 1 Timothy 5:9)
– Paul and other apostles addressed organized, local churches (Corinth, Philippi, etc.).
– New Testament language consistently affirms some form of recognizable local church membership. (Acts 14:23; 15; 1 Corinthians 14:23; Hebrews 10:24-25)
The leadership of church elders
God appointed elders to lead local churches. His Word gives elders the responsibility of overseeing and the church the responsibility of following their leadership. This charge demands a commitment to a local church. (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:2)
The responsibility of church discipline
The local church is responsible for the admonishment, correction, and discipline of their own. Again, this demands a committed belonging to the local church. (1 Corinthians 5:1-12)
The expectation of mutual edification
Similar to discipline, edification is communicated and charged to the local church body. The local church gathers believers of various giftedness and calling to edify the local and global church. (Ephesians 4:12-16)
