Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 09052 Church membership is unfashionable in an age that prizes individual autonomy and resists anything that feels like institutional commitment. Many believers attend a church regularly without ever formally committing to it, treating the congregation as a service provider rather than a covenant community. But the New Testament does not describe the Christian life…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 09009 The distinction between open and closed communion is one that many churchgoers encounter without fully understanding. It determines who is welcome at the Lord’s Table when a church celebrates the Supper, and the answer a church gives reveals something about how it understands the nature of the church, the ordinances, and the boundaries…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 09098 Many churches, particularly in the Baptist tradition, ask members to sign a church covenant: a written statement of mutual commitment describing how the members intend to live together, care for one another, and uphold the life of the congregation. The practice is widespread enough that some assume it is biblically mandated. Others view…
Reading Time: 5 minutesQuestion 9009 When a church gathers for the Lord’s Supper, who is welcome at the table? This question has led to different practices among churches, often described as “open communion,” “closed communion,” and “close communion.” Understanding these different approaches will help you navigate the variety of practices you may encounter and think through what your…