Church Membership

For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: — read the full passage →

not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.

praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.

Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.

so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.

So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, — read the full passage →

for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: — read the full passage →

ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. — read the full passage →

Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. — read the full passage →

Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: — read the full passage →

to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.

Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. — read the full passage →

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.

And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.

and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; — read the full passage →

but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;

Now concerning spiritualgifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. — read the full passage →

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.

And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. — read the full passage →

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,

because we are members of his body.

For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?

And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. — read the full passage →

and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, — read the full passage →

But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.

For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles.

And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. — read the full passage →

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. — read the full passage →

but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; — read the full passage →

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. — read the full passage →

I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreæ:

And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:

which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that oneof you hath his father’s wife. — read the full passage →

It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that oneof you hath his father’s wife.

unto the church of God which is at Corinth, eventhem that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, calledto besaints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, theirLordand ours:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.

Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:

to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.

A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;

And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

But now they are many members, but one body.

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;

Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; — read the full passage →

But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.

Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.

Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church.

and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

So the church throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.

Is any among you sick? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. — read the full passage →

Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?

but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:

And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: