The idea of fellowship is that people are joined together in an effort. Whether the membership is formal or informal, it is essential to share in the works of our church. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). With fellowship, withdrawal from the church congregation would be unlikely to happen. "For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (I Corinthians 5:3-8).

We always ask if a person wants to be considered a member here at Sherman Church of Christ. It means they want to be a part of the group, accept responsibility for the work going on here, and agree with our statement of beliefs. It means the church accepts responsibility for them, making sure they do not just disappear and can hold each other accountable.