Why Should I Join a Church?

Why Should I Join a Church? offers a concise introduction to the doctrine of the church, exploring what the church is, why it matters, and why Christians are called to belong to a local body of believers.

Dr. R.C. Sproul begins by examining the biblical meaning of the church as the ekklesia—those called out by God from the world—and traces the scriptural imagery of the church as both the bride of Christ and the body of Christ. He addresses the widespread tendency to treat faith as a purely private matter, showing from Scripture that Christ places redeemed individuals into a community and does not leave them in isolation.

The booklet surveys the classical marks of a true church—the faithful preaching of the gospel, the right administration of the sacraments, and the practice of church discipline—drawing on the distinction between the visible and invisible church as developed by Augustine. Sproul also offers pastoral guidance on when it may be appropriate to leave a church body, urging care and patience in applying these marks. The final chapter turns to the church’s mission, calling believers to bear witness to the kingdom of God through word and deed, even at great cost.

Written as part of the Crucial Questions series, this booklet is suited for individual study, small group discussion, or as a resource for those reconsidering the place of the church in the Christian life.

Key Themes

• The biblical identity of the church as God’s called-out people and the bride of Christ
• The danger of individualism and the necessity of corporate worship and fellowship
• The three marks of a true church and their role in discerning ecclesiastical faithfulness
• The church’s mission to bear witness to Christ to the ends of the earth

Featured Quotes

“When Christ redeems an individual, He never leaves that individual in isolation.”

“Church bodies, like individuals, are capable of serious falls, yet they still can be restored.”