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Together, we can seek to find.
About 21st Century Church Membership
We start with Wonder, and we have a feeling you do too.
Have you heard of a man who had an infectious presence, was worth more than all the world could offer, and who brought answers and solutions? His name is Jesus, we believe Jesus is our founder, and we believe he wants his followers to be nurtured within a community.
Because of that, we’ve made a commitment to the community through membership a priority to help every person who is a part of this local church body express the wonder of Jesus’s Kingdom.
Why membership: We care where you’re headed.
Membership is an “all-in” voluntary commitment of an individual to respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading to be identified as belonging to a certain fellowship of believers. Through this relationship, the individual is inviting accountability to the teachings of the Bible, pursuing maturity in the likeness of Jesus Christ, and seeking participation in the mission of God for the global Church and mandate for a particular local Church.
Why membership: We don't want to leave without you.
“As members of Christ’s body, we have many ‘one another’ obligations to fulfill, e.g., “Love one another, encourage one another, build up one another, admonish one another,” etc. To achieve these biblical commands, we need one another: We need to know who we are connected to and committed to, and we need to know who we can lean on and who is depending on us. Membership is an intentional commitment to every other member.” (Copyright River Oaks)
Why membership: We believe in the power of a good hug.
God calls his body to be shepherded by a group of church leaders, pastors, and elders. We must know the sheep entrusted to our care and oversight as shepherds. Membership allows leaders, elders, and pastors to know who they have been entrusted to care for and oversee. Below, we see from Acts chapter 28 the call for the church leaders to “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” Holy Spirit draws people to a local body where their shepherds (pastors) keep watch.
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock, the Holy Spirit, has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your number, men will arise and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years, I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Why membership: We’ve got your back, friend;-)
Holy Spirit calls caretakers, i.e., tested, trained, and called pastors and elders, are called to pay careful attention to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, to care for the church of God. Membership is a submission to Jesus’ plan for oversight by ordained and called men and women who have the authority to govern, care for, and lead the local church body.
“16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you—18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, to shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
Qualifications
Qualifications for membership
1. A commitment to the Lordship of Jesus
When a person is born again, that person becomes a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Cor. 12:23) and is therefore qualified to become a committed member of a local expression of the body of Christ.
2. A commitment to the local church
The biblical foundation and mandate for commitment can be seen through the life of the early church, the existence of church order and governance (Ti 1:5; Act 14:23; 1Tim 5:17), the exercise of church discipline ( 2nd Timothy 4:2; Heb 13:17; 1st Thes 5:14; 2 Thess 3:13-14, 1Tim 6:3-4), the exhortation to mutual edification, and training of the members to mature (Eph 4:9-15).
Commitments
Commitments for membership
- One Community: A commitment to the community. Me for the community rather than community for me. Scattering in communities across the city is central to life at 21st Century Church. Based on their location in the city, people unite to learn and live the kingdom of God in a community with others.
- One Gathering: Diving deep into our community rhythms encourages you to participate in our weekly Sunday gatherings on Sundays. During our gatherings, we celebrate what God is doing in our communities, worship in song together, and hear God’s word taught to build, strengthen, and correct us to shape us more into Jesus’ disciples.
- One Team: Our teams help us thrive at 21st Century Church. From leading or serving in a community to welcoming people to our Sunday gathering and much more, there are many wants to contribute to life at 21st Century Church.
- One Mandate: The founding mandate of 21st Century Church given to pastor Dele Okuwobi is based on the founder’s intent, Jesus; we are reimagining the 21st Century Church as a societal movement in community. This will require a reimagined ecclesiology for the 21st century Church as God’s subversive city, the tangible reality of God’s inaugurated kingdom in this age.
- One Confession: The members at 21st Century Church are committed to our confession, mission, and vision. Our confession is a world view in one statement, “Jesus Is Lord.” Our vision is to “Remember Jesus always.” Our mission is to “Seek first the Kingdom of God.”
- Generosity: The people at 21st Century Church are generous and sacrificial in how they live with their money, possessions, wealth, and time. The members are committed to strengthening the work at 21st Century Church through tithes, offering, and mission giving.
- Mission: A commitment to start your journey as a sent Christian. In John 20:21, we have Jesus saying to his disciples, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” and in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Members are committed to the mission of Jesus and understand that “There is no such thing as an unsent Christian.” In light of that, we like to say–our mission is to help you fulfill yours to the Glory of God the father.
- Governance: A commitment to our statements of faith, leadership, and values.
THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY, THOSE IN NEED HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS. HERE ARE A FEW WAYS YOUR GIVING HAS HAD IMPACT:
Donated to our socially-distanced food drives at all Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky sites, collectively donating approximately 40,000lbs of non-perishable items for local food pantries and non-profits.
Our Crossroads community has partnered with Sew Masks 4 Cincy to sew 10,000 masks (and counting) for frontline workers.
Becoming
Steps to becomeing a member
Our membership class takes place over a series of four sessions. After learning what membership is all about, a person can decide if they would like to apply for membership.
- Start with Wonder
Session one starts with wonder as we reimagine the local church based on the founder’s intent, i.e., Jesus. This is the first step to learning more about what we are building at 21st Century Church, beginning with the mandate given to Pastor OlaDele Okuwobi. - Our Manifesto
Session two starts with us sharing the story of the 21st Century Church captured in our manifesto and making room for individuals to share their own stories.
- Our Communities
Session three starts with a closer look at the lifestyle of the first-century church as described in Acts 2:42. We use the framework to introduce our heart for communities and how we grow in relationships at 21st Century Church. - Our Governance
Session four starts with a deeper look at our organizational structure, values, and statement of faith.
Registration
Registration for membership class
You came at just the right time. Use the form below to register for the membership class.
Watch The Blessed Life
Culture is full of ideas, influencers, and suggestions on what it means to be blessed. But why are so many people who seem “blessed” living in absolute emptiness? God has a different way to look at blessings and he wants to show us the freedom that comes along with that. Join us as we explore what it really means to live a blessed life.
messages
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
Robert Morris on the Aggressive Life
Everyone likes the idea of being generous… but very few people actually practice it. And then there’s Robert Morris. The pastor and author is an obvious exception to that rule. Brian flew out to Dallas to hear Robert’s incredible stories and to find the connection between aggression and generosity.
Application
Application for membership class
Use the form below to apply for membership at 21st Century Church.
Watch The Blessed Life
Culture is full of ideas, influencers, and suggestions on what it means to be blessed. But why are so many people who seem “blessed” living in absolute emptiness? God has a different way to look at blessings and he wants to show us the freedom that comes along with that. Join us as we explore what it really means to live a blessed life.
messages
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART THE BLESSED LIFE: WEEK 1
Robert Morris on the Aggressive Life
Everyone likes the idea of being generous… but very few people actually practice it. And then there’s Robert Morris. The pastor and author is an obvious exception to that rule. Brian flew out to Dallas to hear Robert’s incredible stories and to find the connection between aggression and generosity.
Follow Us
- info@21stcenturychurch.com
- +1 513-799-8838
- Cincinnati,Ohio
Partners and Affiliation
Ohio Ministry Network | Peoples Church Uptown Cincinnati | Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas | 100 Movements | Movement Leaders Collective | Ohio Ministry Network