This week’s book of the week is none other than Chuck Lawless’ Membership Matters. I read this book because he required it for my next class time with him. Dr. Lawless is the dean of my school, friend, mentor, and also an incredible writer.
But I also read it because Jeff and I have been doing a lot of talking as of late concerning whether or not we are doing the best job at connecting new members to the life of the church. This book had a lot of great material to think over and how we could incorporate what other churches are successfully utilizing at their churches (and I’m not just brown nosing).
Top 5 Thoughts:
- “In this church, leaders emphasize a required membership class where prospective members learn that ‘uninvolved member’ is a contradiction in terms” (31).
- Concerning a church’s membership class’s emphasis, one leader stated, “I do want to get to know them (prospective members), but I also want them to get to know us and our vision” (54).
- “Most churches expect little from their members, and they usually get what they expect” (80).
- “One study has shown that on average, attenders come to church for eighteen months before they join” (95).
- To ensure that churches don’t merely make attenders into members without discipling them after the former process, Lawless stated, “As you make membership matter in your church, develop a clear disciple-making strategy” (145).
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
