Your local church plays a significant role in your spiritual life. In most cases, the local church is the primary source of Bible teaching, worship, discipleship, accountability, admonishment, encouragement, and fellowship.

Considering the vital role the local church plays in spiritual growth, it’s a wonder that so many Christians don’t feel the need to identify with a specific congregation through church membership. Rather than planting with one church body and developing deep spiritual roots, too many believers today seem content to drift among multiple congregations, landing wherever they feel their needs and interests are best served.

That consumer-driven approach contradicts the New Testament model for the church and bypasses the Lord’s design for spiritual growth and leadership. It also cripples the believer’s usefulness to the Lord and to the Body of Christ.

When John MacArthur was recently in studio, we asked him about the importance of church membership and the role it plays in the life of the believer. Here’s what he said:

This week we began to look closer at the importance of the local church and how public identification with the Lord and His people impacts your spiritual life.

We want to hear from you. Are you a member of your local church? If so, what fruit have you seen in your life from publically identifying and submitting to your church? And if you’re not a member of your local church, what’s holding you back?

GTY Staff