Steppingstone Discipleship Series
Membership
Lesson One
The Meaning of Church Membership
We trust that as you become acquainted with the Church of the Nazarene you will begin to desire to identify with it by becoming a member. We extend to you a welcome to come and join us. However, we want it to be a meaningful and happy experience for you. To do that, there are a few things you need to know about us before making your final decision. The purpose of this series of lessons it to inform you about the Church of the Nazarene and to prepare you to become a member.
What does it mean to “join” the church?
To become a member means that you have met the requirements to become part of the church. You are then eligible to participate in all activities of the church, and to receive all the benefits of church membership. It also means that you have accepted certain responsibilities as a church member. When you become a member you will promise to maintain specific standards of Christian conduct. You will also promise to be faithful in attending and supporting the church. Your name will be written in the official church membership roll to remain there for the rest of your life, or until Jesus comes, as long as you keep the promises you have made.
Why join the church?
Because you need the church: The major objective of the church on earth is to help you get to heaven. Few Christians (if any) can survive without the help of the church. The church will teach you, guide you, inspire you, nurture you, and help you in every possible way to remain faithful to God. It would be very difficult to live the Christian life apart from the church.
Because the church needs you: No matter what your abilities are, there are places where you can help the church fulfil its functions. The church is called the “body of Christ.” You have become part of that body. Like any healthy body, all parts of the body of Christ must fulfil their function for the church to be complete and healthy.
What are the benefits of joining the church?
l Fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ
l Mutual helpfulness and counsel
l Spiritual care from godly pastors
l Teaching from God’s Word
l Inspiration from worship together
l Cooperation in Christian service
l Opportunities for service to God
l While you have responsibilities to the church, the church also has a responsibility to you. It will do everything possible to help you make it to heaven. You will be prayed for and encouraged in every way
What it does not mean to be a church member.
Joining the church does not make you a Christian. It is expected that you have already come into a right relationship with God through repentance and faith in Christ as your Saviour before you join the church.
Joining the church does not guarantee your salvation. You can have your name on the church membership roll and still lose your soul if the saving and transforming work of Christ has not taken place in your heart. Your name must also be written in the Book of Life. Only God can do that since He alone can see your heart.
Steppingstone Discipleship Series
Membership
Lesson Two
The Origin and History of the Church of the Nazarene
We want you to know a little about where we came from. We will not go into a lot of names and dates concerning our history since those will not mean much to you at this point. There are several books available that go into detail concerning the development of the church. There is also a more detailed summary of our history at the beginning of the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene. For now we will only give a broad outline of the movement which gave birth to our church.
The Church of the Nazarene was born in a revival.
The Church of the Nazarene came into existence as a result of a revival (a renewal of religious fervour) which swept across
During that revival there was an emphasis on the experience of entire sanctification, Christian perfection, the baptism to the Holy Spirit, or holiness. These terms all refer to the same experience and only focus on different aspects of it. (See more information in the lesson on “What Nazarenes Believe.”)
Independent groups unite.
As a result of the revival, mentioned above, a movement was born that resulted in a number of independent groups that sprung up in different parts of the
What does “Church of the Nazarene” mean?
Jesus grew up in the town of Nazareth. As his popularity grew and he travelled across other parts of Israel, He was often referred to as “the Nazarene,” which simply means “the man from Nazareth.” (See Mt.
The development of the Church of the Nazarene
Since the day of our birth in
Steppingstone Discipleship Series
Membership
Lesson Three
The Characteristics of the Church of the Nazarene
There are some small non-essential differences due to culturally-related matters that may exist around the world, but the essential elements that distinguish us as a denomination are universal everywhere. We will briefly mention here, in a very condensed form, some of our most important characteristics to give you an ideal of what our church is like.
The Church of the Nazarene is:
A Centred Church: In most matters we could be described as middle-of-the-road. In worship style, we occupy a position between the extremes of formalism and disorderly emotionalism. Our style is warm and spiritual, but orderly. People are free to say “Amen” or “Praise the Lord” when moved to do so, but we stop short of speaking in “tongues” (unintelligible sounds).
A Missionary Church: We take the Great Commission of Christ to “make disciples of all nations” seriously, and we send missionaries to many parts of the world. We continue to enter new countries every year. People from any nation who feel called of God are eligible to be sent as missionaries. At present, we have missionaries on the field who originate from
An International Church: While the International Headquarters of the Church of the Nazarene is located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, members of the church enjoy the same rights and privileges all over the world. Delegates from every country where the church is working are sent to a General Assembly every four years to represent their respective areas in the election of our leaders as well as other important matters.
An Evangelistic Church: In our church the highest priority is given to aggressively seeking to win men and women to Christ through the preaching of the gospel and other methods.
A Biblical Church: Nothing that does not have a solid foundation in the Bible may be held as an article of faith in the Church of the Nazarene.
A Church Focused on Essentials: Our people have liberty in choosing what to believe in matters not included in our Articles of Faith, or that are not essential to salvation. We believe that our emphasis on holy hearts and holy lives is the essence of what the Bible is all about: a Holy God who wants a holy people.
A Holiness Church: We emphasize the importance of not only being forgiven for the sins we have committed, but of going on to seek heart cleansing from the sinful nature. We seek to live holy lives as God has commanded.
A Joyful Church: There is a joyful atmosphere in our worship services and social gatherings. Our people like to sing and praise God through testimonies of what He is doing in their lives.
A Compassionate Church: We believe that the church should not only minister to spiritual needs, but should also respond to the material and physical needs of the poor. Individuals are encouraged to develop a compassionate lifestyle; local churches are urged to develop ministries to the needy; and, on the international level, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries responds to disasters, famines, medical emergencies, and other urgent needs.
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A Church with High Standards of Conduct: We believe that holy people should live by high standards of conduct. We take Christ as our model and try to be like Him and follow His example. We seek to avoid sin in all its forms. We endeavour to demonstrate love to all men and women. (See lesson five on “The Way Nazarenes Live.”)
Steppingstone Discipleship Series
Membership
Lesson Four
What Nazarenes Believe
The official statement of what Nazarenes believe is found in sixteen Articles of Faith in the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene. We will give a brief summary of each article here in simplified language. For a more detailed and technical approach, we refer you to the Manual itself.
Article I, The Triune God: We believe the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, but that they are united in such a way that there is only one God. He is eternal, infinite and sovereign.
Article II, Jesus Christ: He is eternally one with the Father. He became a man, came to earth, and was born of the Virgin Mary. He died for our sins, but arose from the dead and lives in heaven to intercede for us.
Article III, The Holy Spirit: He is also God. He is present and active in the church. He is the one who works in the hearts of men and women to apply the benefits of our redemption.
Article IV, The Holy Scriptures: We believe that the
Article V, Sin, Original and Personal: We believe that sin exists in two forms. Original (or inbred) sin is the inclination towards evil (sometimes called depravity) with which we were all born as a part of a sinful race. Personal sins are acts of wilful disobedience when we know God’s law but violate it anyway, which results in guilt or condemnation. The problem of guilt is solved by forgiveness. The problem of the sinful nature is solved by a cleansing act of the Holy Spirit in the human heart.
Article VI, Atonement: We believe that Jesus suffered and died on the cross to pay the price for our redemption. There is no other ground for salvation apart from faith in what He did for us. His sacrifice is sufficient for every person of the human race who repents and believes on Him.
Article VII, Free Agency: We believe that all human beings have the power to choose between right and wrong, and therefore are morally responsible before God. Since man never loses his free will, it is possible to depart from God and be lost even after one has been saved.
Article VIII, Repentance: Repentance means to be truly sorry for the sins a person has committed, along with a strong resolve to avoid all sin in the future.
Article IX, Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption: We believe that in the experience of conversion (when Christ forgives a person) there are three things that happen all at once:
1. Justification: We are justified before the law of God. That means we are no longer considered guilty or condemned. God then sees us just as if we had never sinned.
2. Regeneration: We are given spiritual life, symbolized by the expression “born again.” (We were previously dead spiritually in our sins.)
3. Adoption: We become sons of God and members of the family of God.
Article X, Entire Sanctification: We believe that after conversion a person may be wholly cleansed from the sinful nature through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. This is the experience the disciples had on the Day of Pentecost. It is a cleansing that results in purity of heart. The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts in His fullness and gives us power to do God’s work. The experience comes to those who make a complete consecration which allows God to take complete control of their hearts and lives.
Article XI, The Church: The true Church is composed of all who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ alone for their salvation (sometimes called the “invisible church” to distinguish it from a human organization). God works through His Church to accomplish His purposes in the world. The Church in this world is called “the body of Christ.”
Article XII, Baptism: Baptism is a sacrament (a public ceremony which symbolizes a change that has taken place in the heart of a believer). It was commanded by Christ to be a declaration of our faith in Him, and a symbol of our acceptance of the benefits of His death for us.
Article XIII, The Lord’s Supper: The Lord’s Supper is also a sacrament. It was instituted by Christ Himself as a memorial ceremony to help us remember the price He paid for our salvation with His broken body and shed blood. A small amount of bread (which symbolizes His body) is eaten, and a small amount of grape juice (which symbolizes His blood) is drunk. Eating the symbols of His body and His blood represents our participation in the benefits of His death.
Article XIV, Divine Healing: We believe that God can heal sick bodies in response to our prayers, although He does not always choose to do so. He also heals through the use of medicine.
Article XV, Second Coming of Christ: We believe that Christ will return to earth someday to take His Church to heaven. At that time, the dead will be resurrected, and the saints will meet Him in the air. We will live with Him forever.
Article XVI, Resurrection, Judgment, and Destiny: We believe that both the just and the unjust will be resurrected to face final judgment. The eternal destiny of each person will be determined at that time. Those who have been saved will spend eternity in heaven. Those who have rejected Christ will suffer in hell.
If you have any questions about these beliefs you may consult with your pastor or another mature Christian. If there is a Manual of the Church of the Nazarene available to you, you may read a more complete and technical version of the Articles of Faith in it, along with the Scriptures that support each one.
Steppingstone Discipleship Series
Membership
Lesson Five
The Way Nazarenes Live
Guidelines of Conduct
The Bible sets the standard for Christian conduct with the command to “live holy lives.” Thousands of people who have sought to reach that ideal across many years have had experience that can be helpful to new Christians. The agreement of these people on the things which help and the things which hinder a holy life has been called the collective conscience of the church. They should be seriously considered by anyone who sincerely desires to live a holy life.
Guidelines for Christian conduct are found in two separate sections of the Manual, of the Church of the Nazarene. In the first section they are called “General Rules,” and focus on timeless principles. The second section is titled “Special Rules,” which deals with the application of biblical principles to contemporary society. We will now look specifically at each of these sections.
The most important of the General and Special rules listed below are taken from the Manual, of the Church of the Nazarene, but are abbreviated and simplified to make them easy to understand. Every effort has been made to maintain the essence of each item. For a more complete treatment we refer you to the Manual itself.
The General Rules
The General Rules are divided into two parts: (
Doing that which is commanded in God’s Word, including:
1. Loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and one’s neighbour as oneself.
2. Seeking he salvation of the lost.
3. Being courteous to all men.
4. Being helpful to Christian brothers and sisters.
5. Doing good to the bodies and souls of the needy: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned.
6. Contributing to the support of the ministry and the church and its work in tithes and offerings.
7. Faithfully attending the services of the church and participating in the sacraments.
8.
By avoiding evil of every kind, including:
1. Taking God’s name in vain. (Using God’s name in an unworthy way or as a swear word.)
2. Participating in unnecessary secular activities on the Lord’s Day.
3. Sexual immorality or perversion.
4. Habits or practices known to be destructive of physical and mental well-being.
5. Quarrelling, returning evil for evil, gossiping, slandering, and damaging the good reputation of others.
6. Dishonesty, taking advantage in buying and selling, bearing false witness (saying things that are not true), and similar things.
7. Indulging in pride in dress or behaviour.
8. Music, literature and entertainment that dishonours God.
The Special Rules
The following practices should be avoided:
1. Entertainment that is subversive of Christian ethics. We believe that Nazarenes should exercise extreme caution to prevent the entry of evils into their homes through all mediums of communication. We also believe that we should use our influence against social evils such as violence, sensuality, pornography, profanity, and the occult as portrayed by the entertainment industry.
2. Lotteries and other forms of gambling.
3. Membership in secret oath-bound societies.
4. Forms of dancing that detract from spiritual growth and break down proper moral inhibitions and reserve.
5. The use or sale of intoxicating beverages, illicit drugs, and tobacco.
Marriage and Divorce
Every possible effort should be made to avoid the breakdown of the marriage relationship, and to preserve its sanctity and permanence.
“Members of the Church of the Nazarene are to seek prayerfully a redemptive course of action when involved in marital unhappiness, in full harmony with their vows and the clear teachings of Scripture, their aim being to save the home and safeguard the good name of Christ and His church.” (Manual, paragraph
Marriage is defined as the commitment of a male and a female to each other for life.
Abortion
Abortion in any form when used for personal convenience or population control.
If a medical condition exists where the mother or the child could not survive, a pregnancy may be terminated after sound medical and Christian counselling.
Sexuality
Nazarenes view all forms of sexual intimacy that occur outside the covenant of marriage as sinful and distortions of the holiness and beauty God intended for it. Homosexuality is condemned as a form of perversion.
Stewardship
God is the owner of everything, and human beings are accountable to Him for the use we make of what He puts in our hands.
God’s plan for financing the activities of His Church is through the biblical system called tithing. Nazarenes are urged to faithfully contribute
We hope that after reading these standards of Christian conduct you will be attracted to becoming a part of a church that holds such high moral and ethical standards for its people.
Steppingstone Discipleship Series
Membership
Lesson Six
How to Join the Church of the Nazarene
Now that you have learned all about the Church of the Nazarene, we hope you will want to become a member if it.
What are the requirements to become a member of the Church of the Nazarene?
1. You must give a testimony of your personal salvation. (The facts that you know your sins have been forgiven.)
2. You must agree to a very brief summary of Nazarene beliefs.
3. You must promise to be faithful to the Church of the Nazarene, its doctrines, standards of conduct, attendance, and service.
What is the process?
If you think you meet the above requirements, you should talk to your pastor about your desire to join the church. He may want to confirm that you understand what it means to be a Nazarene. (If you have completed this series of lessons, there should be no problem.) Your pastor will then set a date to receive you into membership in a public service.
What is the ceremony like?
When the appointed time arrives, the order of the ceremony will be as follows:
1. The pastor will ask you to come forward and stand before the congregation facing him.
2. The pastor will read a few words from the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene explaining the meaning of church membership.
3. The next step will be to confirm that you agree to a summary of the beliefs held by the church. The pastor will read the following paragraphs:
a. “We believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We especially emphasize the deity of Jesus Christ and the personality of the Holy Spirit.
b. “We believe that human beings are born in sin; that they need the work of forgiveness through Christ and the new birth by the Holy spirit; that subsequent to this there is the deeper work of heart cleansing or entire sanctification through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and that to each of these works of grace the Holy spirit gives witness.
c. “We believe our Lord will return, and the dead shall be raised, and that all shall come to final judgment with its rewards and punishments.”
d. When he finishes reading these paragraphs, he will ask, “Do you heartily believe these truths? If so answer, “I do.”
4. The pastor will then proceed to inquire about your personal salvation by asking, “Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and do you realise that He saves you now? “ You will respond, “I do.”
5. The pastor will then ask you to make a commitment to the Church of the Nazarene. He will read the following paragraph.
a. “Desiring to unite with the Church of the Nazarene, do you covenant to give yourself to the fellowship and work of God in connection with it, as set forth in the General Rules and Special rules of the Church of the Nazarene? Will you endeavour in every way to glorify God, by a humble walk, godly conversation, and holy service; by devotedly giving of your means; by faithful attendance upon the means of grace; and, by abstaining from all evil, will you seek earnestly to perfect holiness of heart and life in the fear of the Lord?”
b. You will respond, “I will.”
6. The pastor will then shake your hand and express a welcome into the fellowship of the Church of the Nazarene. You are now a full member with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that go with it.
7. At this point your pastor may want to say a special prayer asking God’s blessing upon you.
8. You may be presented with a certificate of membership in the church.
9. Following the ceremony the pastor will enter your name in the official membership registry of the local church.
We expect that you will soon become a member of the church, and that the church will be a source of great blessing to you. We also expect that you will be a great blessing to the church through many years of faithful service.
