Church membership provides opportunities to learn new skills and challenge your personal spiritual growth. Belonging to a church family establishes care with elders and spiritual leaders, who have the desire to see you thrive while living in His commands. Church leaders provide counseling, support, and accountability to members in a similar manner God's Word counsels us and holds us accountable. It is critical for believers to regularly hear and obey the Word of God – without it, we are lost sheep without a shepherd. Our Savior has called us out of this world, to join the body of Christ. Therefore, when we join our local body, we are obeying and investing in our relationship with the Most High.

Do you have to be a member of a church? This is a very common questions when one is looking for God’s guidance on whether they should join a church.

The Bible describes the church as the Body of Christ, which functions both separately and together to bring glory to God. Romans 12:4-5 says:

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Ephesians 2:19–22 offers more detail about this special relationship God has with His people. It says:

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

God also commands that there be no division of the Body. 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 and 25 says:

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable . . . 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Finally, God wants the Body to grow. Acts 2:41 says:

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

While Scripture has much more to say on the importance of serving God, we can conclude from these passages that finding a Body to belong to is an integral component of each believers intimate relationship with Him.