The Church of Joy

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Church Membership

     The Bible teaches us that the Church is a family—God’s household. God expects us to be a functioning member of His chosen family. True faith is to be lived out in relationships with a spiritual authority and other believers. Church membership is about you making a commitment to grow and serve Christ with others. You must be born-again into the family of God and baptized in water.

                                                          HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
                                        1. Attend services for several weeks.
                                        2. Pray and ask the Lord if The Church of Joy is the spiritual family for you.
                                        3. Pick up a Membership Packet at Welcome Desk.
                                        4. If you feel the Lord is leading you to connect with Pastor Ron and the family of Joy,
                                            sign the Membership Covenant and give it to Pastor Ron.
                                        5. Be introduced to the family following a covenant ceremony, time to be announced
                                            in bulletin.
                                        6. Form relationships and find a place to serve.
                                        7. Join a Small Group or Home Fellowship. Small Group Page.

Important Membership Documents:
        The Membership Covenant
        Membership Ceremony - Order & Charges

Full Membership Packets are available at Welcome Center in Church foyer.

Spiritual Family

                                                                                                by Pastor Ron Laney
         Spiritual family is vitally important to your growth in Christ. When we are saved, we are brought into something supernatural, something much bigger than us - the Kingdom of God, the Body of Christ, and the Family of God. How we relate and function in the Kingdom, the Body, and the Family is how spiritual growth is measured. Our relationships are extremely important. But let me give you fair warning - relationships are difficult. None of us are perfect. All of us are flawed. Some are shy, pushy, obnoxious, and paranoid. While some are gentle, kind and patient. But here's the deal. You can choose your friends but you cannot choose your family. Father alone chooses who will be in His family. And He expects us to live in peace with each other, if at all possible. Psalm 68:6 says it like this, "God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." God not only sets you in His big family. He takes each of us and places us in a specific spiritual family. Within this family, God will teach you His Word. He will teach you how to live, love, forgive, celebrate, care, serve and be committed to something other than yourself. He will use this group of people to care for you, challenge you, correct you and ultimately change you to be more like Jesus. Are you a vital, functioning part of God's family? Here are 3 relationships that every believer needs in order to mature in Christ:

1) Pastor, a spiritual papa   (also called a spiritual leader, shepherd, a covering)
    Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 4:15-16, "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me." A spiritual papa is someone you follow, respect and submit to in the Lord. He is someone that God has called to be an example to the Family of God. A man who raises up sons and daughters and nurtures their faith in Jesus Christ.  He needs to be a man who is submitted to spiritual authority himself. This helps keep him accountable so he does not abuse the ones he has been given responsibility for.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Everybody needs a Pastor, a spiritual papa in the Lord.

2) Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Brothers and sisters are the people within the Family of God who we can relate to, love on and receive encouragement from. These are people we know personally and love deeply. It takes time to develop these important relationships. But they will be more than worth the effort. Brothers and sisters stick together, cry together and laugh together. These are Godly people we can share our lives with.

3) Someone You Are Discipling in Christ
One of the ways we grow in faith is to help someone else grow. We call this ministry. We all need people to share and study God's Word with. We must have someone to serve. You grow in Christ best when you are helping others.

Teachings to Listen to:
Connecting with Your Spiritual Family - 1 message
Understanding Authority - 2 messages
Fellowship: The Joy of Sharing Life Together - 1 message
Recognizing False Teachers - 2 messages
Honor One Another - 1 message
Basic Training - 5 messages

These teachings are available on our Teaching Archives Page. Type in the title of the message in the "Search" box at upper left.