Every church has varying membership requirements. In today’s podcast Thom and Sam discuss membership classes and the strengths and weaknesses of church expectations.

Some highlights from today’s episode –

• Church membership is the lived out metaphor of being a part of the body in 1 Corinthians 12.
• Follow up is critical and often the missing component of assimilation.
• The membership class is the starting line and follow up is the next immediate step.
• If people come to a class to learn about membership, they expect you to follow up with the expectations you set.
• If you can’t tell someone in an hour your church’s expectations, then you should be more succinct in what you are communicating.

Five Membership Models:

1. Membership through an entry class without significant follow-up
2. Membership by request and affirmation
3. Membership through an entry class with significant follow-up
4. Membership renewal
5. Avoidance of membership terminology

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

• I Am a Church Member
• High Expectations
• Church Membership Renewal, A New Trend – Episode #112
• A Case Study of an Established Church Adopting a Struggling Church – Episode #576
• Five Key Reasons Many Churches Struggle to Reach Their Communities – Episode #577

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For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

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