1. For GOD

• For God's name: If Jesus identified himself closely with the church, we should too. {John 3:29; Acts 9:4}
• For God's fame: God wants the glory of his gospel spread to all nations through his covenant people.
  {Isaiah 49:6}

2. For THE CHURCH

• To build up the church: Joining a local church counters individualism and helps us live out the corporateness of Christianity. {1 Corinthians 12:12-20}
• To expose false gospels: The best way to defend the gospel is together, being sharpened by shared insight and correction. {Ephesians 4:1-15}

3. For OTHERS

• For weaker Christians: God wants us to encourage weaker Christians and to run the race with them.
  {1 John 3:16; 4:7-8; Hebrews 10:24-25}
• For church Leaders: Elders and pastors need to know which sheep God will hold them accountable for so that they can care for them in the most responsible and effective way. {Hebrews 13:17}
• For the lost: Church membership helps make the gospel clear to unbelievers by providing a unified witness to its power and worth. {John 13:35}

4. For YOU

• For your spiritual protection: We can't always read our own souls perfectly. We need other Christians to help us. {Psalm 19:12; Jeremiah 17:9; Galatians 6:1-2}
• For your spiritual assurance: In joining a church, we are asking our church family to hold us accountable to live according to what we confess. {Hebrews 12:14; John 14:21}
• To pursue obedience: We are called to act with love toward each other. These loving actions require real relationships. {1 John 3:23; Romans 12:15; Ephesians 4:2, 32:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24; James 5:16)