Member:  A part of a whole

What does it mean to be a "member" of St. Peter? It does NOT mean...

• you're part of a"club" (like a Country Club membership)
• you're automatically "good with God" (just because your name is on a membership list)
• you've got to pay your dues... or else (like Costco membership)

What does it mean to be a "member" of St. Peter? It means...

• you belong to Christ and are part of his body through baptism. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
• you share a common belief with the body of believers at St. Peter. (Ephesians 4:2-6)
• you come to worship regularly to receive God's grace and forgiveness in Word and Sacrament. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• you are part of a body and you seek to use your unique gifts to serve others. (John 13:34)

Many churches avoid the term "membership" because it may scare people away. We use the word "member" because the Bible speaks of believers in this way! Romans 12:4-5 says, "For just as each of us has one body and many members, and these members to not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

The Christian Church is built on the rock of Jesus and his Word. A church is not a building but the people who gather there in the name of Jesus.

How does someone become a member?

Be Baptized

Before Jesus ascended into heaven he told his disciples, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19) All people are born with a deep need for baptism. Christians desire baptism for themselves and their children in order to receive the blessings of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) which God offers through baptism. 

There is no such thing at "Lutheran" baptism, but only Christian baptism. A person who has been baptized in the name of the Triune God, Father - Son - Holy Spirit, does not need to be baptized again. If you are interested in baptism either for yourself or your child, please contact our pastor and he will be happy to assist you.

Be Catechized

"Catechized" is a big word which means "to be instructed." Jesus not only commanded that his followers be baptized but that they also be taught: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)

Since membership in a congregation implies that a person believes what that church teaches,  wouldn't it be important that he or she be instructed first in the teachings of that church? For this reason we ask people who are considering membership to enroll and complete our series of instruction classes. Even if after the classes a person decides not to become a member of the congregation, studying God's Word is never a waste of time!

The first instruction class is Christianity 101. This course consists of four lessons that answer basic questions like...

• What makes Christianity different than other religions?
• What is the Bible and why should I trust it?
• Why do I really need Jesus?

The second class is called God's Answers. This 13 week study digs deeper into Biblical topics such as...

• Creation
• The Holy Spirit
• The 10 Commandments
• Baptism
• The Lord's Supper
• My life of Christian service
• Marriage and the Family
• Where is God when I struggle?
• End Times

The shell and three drops of water is an ancient Christian symbol for baptism. The three drops represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Click on the image above to learn more about Christianity 101 or to enroll in the next class