Light Up Your Summer VBS 2026 · Illumination Station · the brightest days of the year · June 8–10 Register Now
Light Up Your Summer VBS 2026 · Illumination Station The brightest days of the year · June 8–10 Register Now
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GIVE TO ONE FAMILY
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ONE WEEKEND

WHAT IS ONE WEEKEND?

ONE Weekend is the best way to get connected at One Family Church. You’ll learn who we are, what we’re about, and how to take your next step into serving and community.

Join us every first Sunday of the month. Lunch and childcare are always provided.
REGISTER HERE

WHY JOIN A CHURCH?

Here are some helpful reasons to help you have a framework as to why being part of a local church is important for your walk with Jesus.
Jesus established the church to be a public, earthly institution that consists of, affirm, and oversee those who profess to believe in him (Matt. 16:18-19, 18:15-20). Through the church we publicly declare that we belong to Jesus, in order to give the world a display of the good news about him (John 17:21, 23; see also Eph. 3:10). How is the world to know who belongs to him and who doesn’t? They are to see which people publicly identify themselves with his people in the visible, public institution he established for this very purpose. They’re to look at the members of his church. And if some people claim to be part of the universal church even though they belong to no local church, they reject Jesus’ plan for them and his church. Jesus intends for his people to be marked out as a visible, public group, which means joining together in local churches.
Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25); if you love Christ, you must love His church and commit yourself to her well-being. Jesus established the local church and all the apostles did their ministry through it. The Christian life in the New Testament is church life. Christians today should expect and desire the same.
When we trust Jesus and begin to follow him, we don’t just have our sins forgiven. We also have a new family. We are adopted into God’s family, and his adoption gives us not only a new Father, but new brothers and sisters as well. And to not commit to this new, spiritual family as a member makes no more sense than not committing to our families here on earth.
Church membership helps us distinguish between “neighbor” and “household of faith.” God calls us to love everyone. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. But Galatians 6:10 says, “Let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Paul is making some distinction here between the quality of love we give to non-Christians and that which we give to our fellow Christians. Membership helps you to know which Christians on planet Earth you are specifically responsible to love, serve, warn, and encourage. It enables you to fulfill your biblical responsibilities to Christ’s body (for example, see Eph. 4:11-16; 25-32). God has given each of his children specific gifts and talents for the unique purpose of building up and encouraging one another.
Church membership lets Christian leaders know which Christians on Planet Earth they will “give an account” for (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” If we hop from church to church, or refuse to join a church, how will we obey this verse? And if there are no criteria to determine who is “inside the church” and “outside” (1 Cor. 5:12–13), for whom are church leaders responsible?

ONE FAMILY MEMBER COVENANT

Since God has saved us by his grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we now, depending upon the Holy Spirit, establish this covenant with one another:

In all we do, we will aim to glorify and enjoy the God of our salvation: to Him be all glory forever! (1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36)

We will eagerly maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace by walking together in love, putting away all bitterness, anger, gossip, and hurtful speech. (Eph. 4:3; Gal. 5:16, 25; Eph. 4:29, 31)

With humility and gentleness, patience, and love, we will be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven us. (Eph. 4:1-2; Luke 17:3; Col. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Pet. 1:22)

We will carry each other’s burdens, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. (Gal. 6:2; Rom. 12:15)

We will raise our children according to the word of God, seeking to live in a way that honors the gospel of Christ before our family, friends, and neighbors (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:1).

We will not neglect our gatherings or get in the habit of not meeting together, and will honor the biblical preaching of God’s word, and the faithful observance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Heb. 10:25; 2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 11:26)

We will contribute cheerfully and generously to the ministry of the church, and the advancement of the gospel both to our neighbors and the nations. (Matt. 28:19; Luke 12:33; 2 Cor. 9:7)

We will care for and be watchful over each other to intentionally encourage and build up, or to faithfully warn, rebuke, and admonish one another when necessary. (1Cor. 5:1-2; Heb. 3:12-14, 4:12, Eph 4:16, 1Thes 5:11)

We will not neglect our personal responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission and will always seek opportunities to win souls to Christ. (Acts 1:8; Matt. 4:19; 5:12-16)

We will, when God calls us elsewhere, unite as soon as possible with another Gospel preaching church and faithfully serve God with them.

In all these things, we rely on our God to make us one, just as our savior Jesus himself prayed for saying:

“May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.” John 17:20–26