Every pastor should have a class on what it means to be a church member. Here is an outline of the class I employed in one of the churches that I served. Click the download button to read the file.

1. What does it mean to be a Christian?

a. sharing of personal journeys of faith
b. What is faith?
c. What is profession of faith
d. What does it mean to be a Christian in Christ

2. What does it mean to be church?

a. definitions and images of the church
b. what are creeds: introduction to Heidelberg Catechism
c. using divisions of Belgic confession review church doctrine

1) Doctrine of Revelation: canon, inspiration, infallibility
2) Doctrine of God: trinity, attributes, works of God
3) Doctrine of Man: creation, image, providence, sin
4) Doctrine of Christ: person (God-man), work (atonement)
5) Doctrine of Salvation: justification, sanctification
6) Doctrine of the Church: unity, offices, government
7) Doctrine of the Last Things: last times, rapture,
judgment, resurrection, intermediate state, heaven, hell

3. What about the sacraments?

a. meaning and mode of baptism
b. infant baptism
c. meaning of Lord’s Supper
d. presence of Christ in Supper
e. children and Lord’s Supper
f. (if time): TULIP doctrine from Canons of Dort

4. What does it mean to be Reformed?

a. family tree of churches (handout)
b. history of the CRC
c. Reformed emphases: sovereignty of God, authority of
Scriptures, worship as dialogue, world and life view
(handout), lifestyle commitments
-use handout, “The Reformed Tradition” by John Hesselink

5. What does it mean to be at Unity Christian Reformed Church?

a. privileges of membership
b. responsibilities of membership: expectations (handout)
c. church structure (handout)
d. what are your gifts (handout)
e. what will be your ministry
f. procedure for joining our church