Church Membership - Part 2

About this episode

David Pawson discusses the governance structure of the New Testament church and its implications for modern church membership.

Part 2. What is The Church For? Drawing on his experience of pastoring a church that modelled itself on the New Testament church, David Pawson argues that the latter’s governance was not that of a democracy but was instead founded on “corporate leadership”. This structure enables a church that adopts it to “become not only self-governing but also self-supporting”. David states that “the scriptural pattern for the church is elders with a distinction recognised between pastor elders and teacher elders,” including “a presiding elder”, and “elders and deacons” working “together”, crucially with Christ as head of the church. David regards this as a model for the modern church. To those who view churchgoing as an optional extra, or select their church based on preference rather than proximity to their home, the emphasis on corporate leadership with an involved membership may come as a shock. It is a focus on structure and discipline that differs markedly from the approach taken in some denominations. In the New Testament church, the membership will experience every facet of church life with the goal of enabling the church body to worship as one, have fellowship with each other…

People in this episode

Host: David Pawson

Topics covered

• church governance
• corporate leadership
• New Testament church
• membership involvement
• obedience to God
• elders and deacons

Keywords

• church membership
• corporate leadership
• New Testament
• elders
• discipline
• fellowship
• evangelism

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• Church Membership - Part 3 · June 9, 2026 · 43 min
• Church Membership - Part 1 · May 26, 2026 · 47 min
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• The Character of Jesus - Part 9 · May 5, 2026 · 42 min
• The Character of Jesus - Part 8 · April 28, 2026 · 1h 3m