Why Membership Matters

Even though many people’s time at High Point is limited due to the occupational nature of our community, it is amazing how God can use you as a blessing to our church and use the church body to change your life when you commit yourself to membership and get plugged in. We hope that you will prayerfully consider joining the church body at High Point!

Membership helps us live out three core biblical commitments:

  • Connection to the Body of Christ: Scripture describes the church as one body with many parts, or “members” (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:15-16). Membership emphasizes connection and belonging—the body belongs to the part, and the part belongs to the body (Romans 12:4-5). This creates a sense of ownership and shared identity: “my church/our church.” Scripture calls believers to gather, belong, and care for one another. Hebrews 10:25 commands us to "not neglect to meet together." Galatians 6:2 takes it one step further—not only should we come together, but once we’re united, we are called to "bear one another's burdens." Membership shows us who has joined with the local body of Christ and who we should commit to meaningfully love, support, and walk alongside of.

  • Submission to Spiritual Leadership: It is the responsibility of the pastor to feed the flock of God (I Peter 5:2; Acts 6:2-4) by emphasizing the preaching of the Word of God (I Timothy 4:2; Ephesians 4:11-12) from the pulpit and in stated services and on special occasions. Spiritual leaders guide, teach, and model Christ-like living,and as members, we are directed to imitate them as they imitate Christ (Hebrews 13:7). Membership clarifies whose leadership and teaching we follow and who pastors are responsible to shepherd and "give an account" for (Hebrews 13:17). The Bible teaches that pastors are responsible for specific souls, but they simply cannot be responsible for every single person who walks through the doors of the church, so membership clarifies for pastors who they are called to shepherd, teach, and lead—and clarifies for members whom they are committing to follow (see also 1 Peter 5:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

  • Commitment to One Another: Membership affirms responsibility to love, care for, and hold one another accountable as a spiritual family — not just a general community. Membership is a commitment to live out the "one anothers" of Scripture together: loving one another (John 13:34-35), encouraging one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24), holding one another accountable (Galatians 6:1), and pursue repentance and restoration with one another (Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Timothy 5:19). This commitment helps cultivate a family-like community marked by love, unity, and responsibility.

Membership expresses itself through five key practices that shape how we live together as a church family:

  • Engage: Members are called, simply put, to do life together. Rooted in Acts 2:42, this practice is about engaging both our time and presence. Discipleship is a pivotal part of the Christian life, and we have many ways for you to be a part of that here at High Point. Small groups and Bible studies, for example, are a great way to connect and grow with other believers, especially because there simply isn’t enough time or opportunity to deeply know one another on Sunday mornings before or after service. Membership gives us an opportunity to choose how we intentionally spend our time with others. 


  • Love: Finding commonalities and accepting differences are part of the heart of Christian life (1 John 4:11). We all come from many different backgrounds, and that’s okay! You do not need to be Baptist to join our church—the most important thing that we have to have in common is Jesus. Additionally, we do not require our members to wholeheartedly agree with every individual church doctrine; instead, we simply ask that you support our doctrines by avoiding disorder and division over difference of opinion.


  • Serve: It is the responsibility of members to be active in the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:5-9) and supportive of the pastor and church body (Hebrews 13:7,17). This means serving the Lord and one another with our time, talents, and treasures. On a foundational level, all members should help maintain a welcoming, family-like environment by ensuring others feel seen, connected, and cared for. Additionally, every member has a meaningful role within our church, and it is important that you determine where you’re gifted and where you’re needed. We want you to apply your talents within our church body and building, but it is also important to recognize that we are also called to do good works out of necessity, even when they are not necessarily within our personal scope of interest.


  • Give: We understand that many people feel distrust or have experienced hurt at other churches, especially as it relates to finances. At High Point, there is no financial pressure or manipulation, and we strive for transparency and desire open-hearted giving (2 Corinthians 9:6–7). There are no mandatory amounts or expectations to how much you give; in fact, leadership does not track your giving in any way (with the sole exception of the treasurer seeing online giving records) We have two main forms of giving. The first is through usual tithing, which helps the church operate. One way to prayerfully consider how much you should give is by asking yourself, “If everyone gave to the church the way that I give, could the church function?” Our second form of giving is through what we call Faith Promise, which supports missions and the spread of the Gospel.


  • Repent: Nobody is sinless (Romans 3:23), but we actively fight against the sin in our own lives and the lives of those around us. The church is like a hospital, where you come because you need healing, but there must be an expectation that you will then be treated and your illness will be taken seriously. We care about your spiritual health and we hope that you do to. As members, we ought to have a habitually repentant heart posture (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:8–9) and be willing to share our struggles with trusted believers (James 5:16).

We hope this information has helped you understand what it means to be a member at High Point. If you feel ready to become a member of our church, please fill out our membership questionnaire that helps us better understand who you are and where you are coming from. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.