Meaningful Membership
Membership is not a subscription and it is not a loyalty card. It is a group of people saying out loud that they belong to Christ and to each other. Here is everything you need before the class.
Start here with a welcome from our team
Join James, Alfie, Kent and Heidi for a brief introduction to Meaningful Membership at Christchurch Miami. In this video we share the heart behind the journey: helping you experience grace, find community, and discover purpose as part of our church family. Watch this first, then take your time with the four readings below. As you read, jot down your thoughts and questions and bring them with you to class. We look forward to getting to know you and exploring what it means to follow Jesus together.
Primary · read these first
The four readings
Read these before the class. Look up the key Bible passages, reflect at your own pace, and bring your questions. Read them here, or download the printable copy — each one ends with space to write, which only works on paper.
The five vows
Membership comes down to five questions, asked out loud in front of the church. They are the same five in every PCA congregation and they are the one part of the weekend you actually say yes to, so read them before you get there — with what each one means, and what it does not.
Read the five vows DownloadFinding your place here
Membership is not the finish line — it is the point at which you start serving somewhere and being known by someone. These two say what that actually looks like at Christchurch, and where the open hands are.
The weekend
Saturday · 9:00am – 1:00pm
Learn, connect and prepare
We will build on the four readings through conversation, questions and time together as we explore:
- Welcome Home Moving from attending church to belonging to a church family.
- Experience Grace How the good news of Jesus shapes our faith and our life together.
- Who We Are Christchurch Miami's story, mission and beliefs.
- Find Community Growing through worship, relationships, prayer, and caring for one another.
- Meaningful Membership Understanding the five membership vows, discovering ways to serve, and discussing next steps.
- Sharing Your God Story We close Saturday with practical guidance on sharing your faith journey.
Sunday · 12:30pm – 2:30pm, after church
Share your story
Return after worship for lunch and a conversation with our church leadership. You will have an opportunity to share your God story, ask any remaining questions, and talk about your next steps toward membership. You do not need a polished presentation or a dramatic story. We simply want to get to know you, hear how God is at work in your life, and pray with you.
Secondary · optional
If you want to go further
None of this is required for the class. It is here for anyone who wants to understand what we believe and why — before the weekend, or long after it.
The first two are ours. The last three were written by others — Read opens the original on the publisher's own site, which is where the author would rather you read it and which works far better on a phone. Download is always the printable copy we hand out in class.
Articles
- Baptism & Communion Christchurch Miami Read Download
- PCA Church Government Christchurch Miami Read Download
- The Five Solas Ryan McGraw · Ligonier Read Download
- Reformed Theology Jonathan Master · Ligonier Read Download
- Why Membership Matters Kevin DeYoung · The Gospel Coalition Read Download
Reference documents
The two our denomination works from. Nobody reads these cover to cover; they are here so you can look something up.