Become a Disciple

Welcome to Holy Cross!

We are honored that you would consider joining our church family and thank God that He has been working in your life to lead you to Christian community!   

On this page, we explain what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Holy Cross.  We’ve also compiled some frequently asked questions and their answers below.  As you consider joining our community please use this resource and feel free to reach out to us personally with any questions you might have.  

Pastor John Rasmussen—Lead Pastor
Pastor Tim Barone—Discipleship Pastor

The Head, Heart, and Habits of Holy Cross 
The Path Toward Discipleship at Holy Cross
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact

What does it mean to be a member of a church? 
More specifically, what does it mean to be a member of Holy Cross?

The word “member” is a Bible word.  One of the authors of the New Testament, the Apostle Paul, uses the word “member” to describe the relationships of the Christians within the new churches that he had started. 

So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:5).

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27.)

At one level, the word “member” applies to all Christians of all places and times. Anyone who believes and is baptized is a member of the Church (capitalized here to mean the entire Church of all places and times) and the whole Body of Christ.

However, as we read the Apostle Paul’s letters in the New Testament, we also see that he applies the word “member” to individual gatherings of Christians as well. So, Paul writes letters “to the church of God that is in Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2) or “to the church of the Thessalonians” (1 Thessalonians 1:1). In these letters, he often speaks of Christians as “members” of a specific fellowship. This is where we get the concept of church membership. A church member is one who is committed to a group of other Christians and under the spiritual care of a specific pastor or pastors.

Even though “member” is a biblical word, it’s also a word that carries some cultural baggage. For example, one can be a member of the gym, but rarely or never attend. Someone can be a member of a country club, and only go when convenient. We may be card-carrying members of wholesale stores—a membership we easily trade in if a cheaper, more convenient store comes to town.

Our wider understanding of the word “member” often impacts the way we treat church membership. In many churches, one can be a church member but only attend on Christmas, Easter, or just when convenient. We may hold membership loosely, waiting to see if a better church experience comes along. And still, we may even avoid the question of membership altogether—content to attend, but not persuaded to cross the line of formal commitment.

While the word “member” carries baggage, we’re not suggesting that we do away with the words “member” or “membership.” We believe these are biblical words and concepts that reflect God’s plan for all Christians. In other words, it is God’s plan that every Christian would be a committed member of a local church. However, we do believe Scripture provides us with a word that invites less opportunity for misunderstanding: the word disciple and the related word discipleship. By understanding church membership through this word, we’ll avoid some of the pitfalls and potential misunderstandings associated with the word “member.”

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. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus did not command his church to go and make church members in the contemporary sense—people who take a few classes, sign on the dotted line, and then only attend and participate as they find comfortable and convenient. Instead, Jesus has called his church to make disciples.

The word “disciple” is an active word. It carries the idea of a student learning from a teacher. It has the idea of following and learning by experience. The word implies growth and vibrancy. In other words, while churches often have inactive member lists, it’s hard to imagine having an “inactive discipleship list.” The word “inactive” and “disciple” are mutually exclusive.

For this reason, we believe that a member of Holy Cross is a disciple—one whose entire life is being actively shaped by Jesus Christ.

If being a member of Holy Cross means being a disciple of Jesus Christ, this means that being a member also means a shift in our thinking (head), our affections (heart), and our life rhythms (habits). To embrace this shift means we are members. To sidestep, neglect, or excuse ourselves from any of these three shifts means we are expecting something different from Jesus than what he intends to work in us. It means we are expecting something different from our church than what God intends this community to foster in us. But when we embrace this shift, we are entering into the purpose for which God created us!

With the word “disciple” at the center, we affirm the following about membership at Holy Cross:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Our love for someone is rooted in what we know about them. And if we love someone, we want to know more about them. The same is true for God. We can’t know God apart from knowing the story of creation, our fall into sin, and God’s work of redemption in Jesus Christ. Our knowledge of these truths leads us to love and trust God. And when we love and trust God, we naturally want to know more about his character and his works. God calls us into a community where our thinking is shaped by the great story of his love for us in Jesus Christ.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Knowing things about God is not the same as knowing God. Even the demons believe there is a God (James 2:19). There is such a thing as a dead faith that exists in our intellect but not our hearts. This kind of faith does not save. To be a disciple and member of Christ’s body means we have experienced a heart change. Through the Holy Spirit, we have experienced the conviction of our sins and our great need for a savior. God has created in us a personal, saving faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our hearts have been captivated by God’s love, which has created genuine love for him and others.

Our habits reflect our deepest held beliefs. What we do on a daily or weekly basis flows from our head and our heart. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we remain in him and bear witness to the world through three regular rhythms: worship with our congregation, growth in community with other Christians, and service to the world in our vocations.

We experience God’s love as we regularly gather for worship. It’s here that we hear his Word, receive his gifts, and respond with prayer and praise. We also grow in God’s love by gathering in community. We spend time with other disciples, growing together in his Word and bearing each other’s burdens. And finally, we share the love of God with others through service. Just as Jesus has served us, we serve others in our vocations, all the while bearing witness to the Good News of the Gospel.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 12:24-25

Membership at Holy Cross means we are committed to having our head, heart, and habits shaped by Jesus Christ. It means that we are putting down deep roots in Christ through worship, growth, and service. To encourage one another in this commitment, Holy Cross members joyfully commit to a covenant with God and one another—a sacred promise that we will remain rooted in our church and support one another in our journey together. 

If you desire to be a part of the covenant community at Holy Cross, we invite you to take the next steps toward membership:

1. Complete the “New Member Information” and “My Faith” Questionnaires. These questionnaires are an opportunity for you to share with us your faith and how you hope to grow as a disciple of Jesus. There are no wrong answers and we value your openness with us. This information will help us to find the best way to serve you in the membership process. 

2. Meet with one of our pastors to discuss membership. This allows us to get to know you better and respond to any questions you may have. 

3. Join one of our ESSENTIALS groups. If you desire to move ahead with the membership process, join one of our upcoming ESSENTIALS groups. These are typically offered quarterly. If your schedule prohibits attendance we will work with you to form a learning plan. 

4. Complete the ESSENTIALS group. These small groups cover the essentials of the Christian faith: a brief overview of the Bible’s main message, the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sacraments, and a final session to address any questions. 

5. Schedule a concluding conversation with the pastor. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may still have and prepare for your public entrance into our church family.

6. Pray over and commit to the “Profession of Faith” This is a verbal covenant that outlines our commitment to worship, grow, and serve together as members of Holy Cross.

7. Public reception. At one of the Sunday services, we will receive you into membership publicly. Don’t worry! You won’t have to give a speech!  You’ll have the opportunity to confess that you believe the faith that you have walked through in this process.  The church will joyfully welcome you as brothers and sisters into our community.

Joyfully enter into Holy Communion at Holy Cross.  Holy Communion is how we display the unity of our faith and community together. As one united body of believers, we together receive the forgiveness of our sins in the body and blood of Jesus and in turn work to turn toward each other in forgiveness and mercy. This renews our faith toward God and love toward one another as we together look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of His promises to us and all believers when Jesus returns.

CAN I ATTEND HOLY CROSS IF I AM NOT YET A MEMBER?
Certainly! We warmly invite everyone to attend, especially if they are still exploring Christianity or what it means to be a Christian in the Lutheran confession. We invite you to listen, grow, pray and sing with us, and ask as many questions as you would like.

CAN I TAKE HOLY COMMUNION AT HOLY CROSS IF I AM NOT A MEMBER?
Since Holy Communion reflects our unity in faith, we respectfully ask that those who do not yet share our full confession of faith would refrain from communion until they have had the opportunity to examine what we believe. We eagerly desire that you would share in the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood with us, but since doing so is a holy and intimate act, we don’t want to rush into Holy Communion without preparation.

For those who are not yet baptized, or those who are from a different church background (ELCA, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, etc.), or who are not yet sure about what Holy Cross teaches, we kindly ask that you’d explore membership if you desire to commune with us. We are convinced from the Holy Scriptures that God desires his Church to be in unity together as they participate in this sacred gift and so we diligently seek to obey God in this matter. For those who are from an LCMS church background, please refer to the question below.

CAN I TAKE HOLY COMMUNION AT HOLY CROSS IF I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFERRING FROM ANOTHER LCMS CHURCH?
If you are a member in good standing at another LCMS church, you are welcome to share Holy Communion with us during the membership process. However, we would be grateful if you spoke with the pastors about your participation. As always, we invite all those who commune to approach the Lord’s Table with repentance, faith in Christ, and a desire to live a holy life.

WHAT IF I MISS A CLASS?
We hope you will make every effort to make each class. However, we know that life happens. If you miss a class, we will work with you to engage the material we covered outside of class.

WHAT IF I HAVEN’T BEEN BAPTIZED?
If you have not been baptized, after classes we typically baptize and welcome into membership and communion on the same day. This is a truly joyful day!

DO I NEED TO BE REBAPTIZED?
Those who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit in a Christian church do not need to be rebaptized. God never breaks his promise to us in Holy Baptism, even if we have wandered from his promise. Part of your reception into membership is the public acknowledgement of your baptism.

DO I NEED TO TAKE THE NEW MEMBER CLASS IF I’M TRANSFERRING MY MEMBERSHIP FROM ANOTHER LCMS CHURCH?
Even if you have been a member of another LCMS church, we believe that taking these classes is an excellent opportunity to renew your understanding of the essentials of the Christian faith. And the pastors welcome the time to get to know you personally. We invite you to discuss this question further with the pastors.

WHAT ARE CLASSES LIKE?
Classes are informal and conversational, allowing us to build relationships with one another while we learn the essentials of the Christian faith. They typically last an hour and a half. We use a variety of teaching methods, including in class videos and discussion, as well as some light at-home reading and reflection questions.

We also take time to introduce key leaders at Holy Cross and help you understand how our church functions and what ministries are available for you to grow and serve in.