The most important decision a person can ever make is to obey the gospel of Christ.  When individuals do that, they become citizens in the kingdom of heaven and establish fellowship with God.  Their souls are saved, and they now have the hope of everlasting life.

After obeying the gospel, it is God’s will that His children join local churches.  Local churches are made up of  Christians who agree to work together in specific geographical areas.  They are scripturally organized with elders, deacons, and saints (Philippians 1:1).  Once Christians join a local church, they are under the oversight of the local eldership (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).

Becoming a part of a local church is the next important step in the life of a Christian.  When one joins a local church, he must make sure that it is scriptural in work, worship, and organization.

What should you do once you become a member of a local church?  If you are new to a local church, the first thing you must do involves your heart.  You must determine that you are going to be a faithful, reliable member, beginning with attending all the services of the saints.  It is a sin to forsake any assembling of the saints.

Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
²⁵  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. It has been pointed out that this is the only passage in the New Testament that commands us to assemble, implying that it is not a very important command.  Such is the reasoning of the carnal-minded.  How many times does God have to command something for it to be important? The correct answer is once.  If you want to be faithful to God, you must attend all the services of the local church of which you are a member.  This includes all Bible studies and worship services.

Next, determine to be an active member.  As important as assembling at the appointed times is, it is not all that is involved in faithfulness.  Being a faithful, useful member of a local church includes doing all you can to help the local church reach its full potential by using your talents to the best of your ability.

Ephesians 4:16 (ESV)
¹⁶  from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Finally, as a member of a local church, you should realize that you are a part of a spiritual family that you are to love, and with which you are to grow close.  Caring for one another in the body of Christ is a command, not an option (1 Corinthian 12:25-26).  It is also important for you to understand the importance of being on the same page with other members doctrinally.  Paul said that we are to speak the same thing and be perfectly joined together in mind and judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10).

This all comes by effort, not by accident.   We should all strive to be the best members we can be, helping the cause of Christ where we are.      

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.