Is the church a service I attend or a body I belong to? We live in a "consumer" culture where we stay as long as our needs are met. However, the biblical reality shows that a Christian without a church is like a finger without a body. We look at membership as the way the local church "embassies" the Kingdom of God – providing a clear boundary where we can truly practice the "one another" commands of Jesus. It is the formal move from being a spectator to being a "covenant partner" who is known, cared for, and held accountable by a specific spiritual family.
How does this specific family work? Every family has a unique heritage and a way of ordering its home. In this module, we look at our "Presbyterian" roots – not as a dusty tradition, but as a healthy way of being governed by a plurality of elders who guard the peace and purity of the church. We’ll discuss the specific vision of ICC for Melbourne and what it looks like for you to commit your time, gifts, and resources to this local expression of God’s people. This concludes with a look at our Church Covenant: the mutual promises we make to support and love one another as we follow Jesus together.