Desert Springs Bible Church

Members are not a "special class" of Christians. It is simply a way to identify a deep level of commitment to our local church family. As Mark Dever puts it in his book "9 Marks of a Healthy Church": "...church membership has developed as an attempt to help us grasp hold of each other in responsibility and love. By identifying ourselves with a particular church, we let the pastors and other members of that local church know that we intend to be committed in attendance, giving, prayer and service. We increase others' expectations of us in these areas, and we make it known that we are the responsibility of this local church. We assure the church of our commitment to Christ in serving with them, and we call for their commitment to serve us in love and to encourage us in our discipleship." What are members asked to do? At DSBC, our mission is advanced through three primary elements: Service, Community, and Worship. We ask members to commit to participating in all three by serving within our church or community, participating in a smaller gathering of believers (Missional Communities) and gathering on Sundays to worship Jesus together. These elements are only able to advance as we rely on the Lord through faith, prayer, and sacrificial giving. We ask all members to participate in these as well. Why does Desert Springs have "members"? God refers to the Church as a family or a body (1 Corinthians 12:12). This image of the church shows that while the church family is made up of unique individuals, we are meant to work together as a unified whole under Jesus, who is the head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:18). What's the difference between a member and someone who frequently attends DSBC events? We are on a mission from Jesus to, by His power, transform people to impact their world for Christ. Members are those who have formally aligned themselves with the mission, values, beliefs, and vision of our church family. Members voluntarily place themselves under the protection, accountability, and care of our Pastors and Elders. Contrary to the common consumer mentality of our culture, members voluntarily commit to sacrificing their time, talents, and treasure; committing to the care and community of their fellow members; and submitting to the authority of the leadership that God has established to lead our local church family. Why should I become a member? If you are a Christian who believes in the mission, values, and vision of DSBC, we invite you to pray about becoming a member. If there is hesitation, or if you have any questions or concerns, please speak with one of our Pastors or Elders. What is the "covenant of fellowship"? A covenant is a promise by which we obligate ourselves to one another in such a way that the obligation of one party is not dependent on the faithfulness of the other (Ezekiel 20:44, 36:22, Psalm 76:11, Hosea 2:19-20 3:1, 2 Timothy 2:13). A covenant is what we would use to describe the vows between a husband and his wife, and between God and His people. We ask our members to sign a covenant to formally identify with this local church family and to make a public commitment to striving towards its mission, values, beliefs, and vision. The covenant is not a legal document or some sort of cultic rite. It is an affirmation, an agreement, and a source of accountability for both the church and its individual members. A copy of our Covenant of Fellowship is included in our ByLaws. Do members have to be baptized? Jesus calls everyone that follows Him to be baptized. We strongly encourage everyone considering membership to be baptized as an act of faithfulness to Jesus. (Matt. 28:19, Acts 2:38, 10:48, 1 Peter 3:21). If you've already been baptized since you became a Christian, you don't need to get re-baptized. For more information on what it means to be a member of a church, we recommend reading "I Am a Church Member" by Thom Rainer.