Includes bibliographical references (p. 137) and index.

Introduction : a bigger deal than we realize -- We've been approaching it all wrong -- Membership sightings in the New Testament -- What is a church? What is a church member? -- What are a church and its members like? -- What are the "standards" of membership? (becoming a member) -- How does a Christian submit to a church? (being a member) -- What happens when members don't represent Jesus? -- Must membership look the same everywhere? -- Conclusion : how church membership defines love.

Becoming a member of a church is an important, and often neglected, part of the Christian life. Yet the trend these days is one of shunning the practice of organized religion and showing a distaste or fear of commitment, especially of institutions. Jonathan Leeman addresses these issues with a straightforward explanation of what church membership is and why it's important. Giving the local church its proper due, Leeman has built a compelling case for committing to the local body. --from publisher description