“Family Membership” (as we like to call it) is for anyone interested in making Sideris their “home” church and spiritual family in this season of life. Being a “family member” is not required to be a part of our community but we do think there are some profound reasons to take this next step of commitment.

As we will talk about in the class, membership helps transform the church into everything it was designed to be, for Christ’s glory and our good.

Even if you are unsure if “Family Membership” is right for you, this class will help you learn a lot about the church and our core beliefs and why considering church as family is an important thing.

Time: 9:30am -2:30pm
Light breakfast and full Lunch will be provided

P.S. If you scroll down below the sign-up form you’ll see a sneak peek of some course content.

REGISTRATION

SNEAK PEAK AT FMC CLASS CONTENT

WHILE JESUS WAS STILL TALKING TO THE CROWD, HIS MOTHER AND BROTHERS STOOD OUTSIDE, WANTING TO SPEAK TO HIM. SOMEONE TOLD HIM, “YOUR MOTHER AND BROTHERS ARE STANDING OUTSIDE, WANTING TO SPEAK TO YOU.” HE REPLIED TO HIM, “WHO IS MY MOTHER, AND WHO ARE MY BROTHERS?” POINTING TO HIS DISCIPLES, HE SAID, “HERE ARE MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS. FOR WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN IS MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER.” MATTHEW 12:46-50

NOW THE ELEVEN DISCIPLES WENT TO GALILEE, TO THE MOUNTAIN TO WHICH JESUS HAD DIRECTED THEM. AND WHEN THEY SAW HIM THEY WORSHIPED HIM, BUT SOME DOUBTED. AND JESUS CAME AND SAID TO THEM, “ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME. GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE.” MATTHEW 28:16-20

OUR VISION FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP:

1. Church is family on a mission. Looking to the Christian Scriptures we find that Jesus used familial language to describe his relationship with his followers, the implication is that all who are united to him in faith are also united to the family of God; they are united to one another! A local church is a collection of individuals who take God’s mission, to make disciples all over the world, very seriously and pursue a shared theological vision for the mission in the particular place and time they live together in.

2. Family survives & thrives on shared responsibility. Father, mother, siblings, spouse, child, best friend; these are the most meaningful relationships that we will have in this life. In fact, when people experience a void in any of these relationships they carry a deep wound and an enduring lament as a result. For relationships to continue in health people must actively accept responsibility on behalf of another. Think of a healthy family: How are parents responsible for children? What responsibilities do siblings have to each other? The family of God is no different: What are the responsibilities of a healthy family member in the local church? Responsibility for another creates an interdependent relationship where honesty, vulnerability, mercy, and grace multiply, bringing glory to God. The enemies of God use anything at their disposal to keep us alone and isolated, both physically and through the absence of real interdependent relationships. However, the local church should major in relationships of significant responsibility that are activated in seasons of loss, trauma, need and fear.

3. Covenanting to responsibilities together. At Sideris, we hope to take Jesus’ call to family very seriously. Beginning with the Word of God (Bible), we explore these shared responsibilities amidst a city with diverse church expressions so that we might establish a clear list of responsibilities to covenant to (promise) and keep. We hope that the following lists provide clarity and direction for all who desire to make Sideris their “home church” and “worshipping family.” As you will see these commitments are three-directional: Leaders to Family Members; Family Members to Leaders; and Family Member to Family Member. Three-way communication and commitment is essential to any thriving local church.