Recovering Biblical Church Membership at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, Connelly Springs, North Carolina

Abstract

ABSTRACT

RECOVERING BIBLICAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AT MT. HEBRON BAPTIST CHURCH, CONNELLY SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA

Eric Byron James, D.Min.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2019

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Donald S. Whitney

The purpose of this project was to lead the body of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, Connelly Springs, North Carolina, to develop a process of maintaining a biblical church membership as a result of a biblical understanding of church membership and the practice of accountability.

Chapter 1 defines the goals of the project, ministry context, rationale, definitions, limitations, delimitations, and research methodology.

Chapter 2 defines the biblical practice of church membership by exploring 1 Corinthians 6:15, 10:16-17, 11:27-29, 12:12-26; Romans 12:3-5; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:18,24; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 Corinthians 3:9-17; 1 Peter 2:5; Mark:3-35; Acts 4:32-37; 1 Corinthians 1:10-11, 6:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20; 1 Timothy 3:14-16.

Chapter 3 explores the theoretical issues related to biblical church membership and practical ways to implement it in a local context.

Chapter 4 describes the process by which this project was implemented.

Chapter 5 records the results and evaluation of the project that consisted of a six-week sermon series and changes in church by-laws.