What does it mean to be a member of a local church?

(Transcript of the video above, edited for readability)

I do think that the scripture says God "sets the members in the body as it pleases him," and that I think it could probably reference to our physical bodies, but I feel like it has precedent in terms of the local church context.

Ultimately, I think membership is something the Holy Spirit does in people's hearts and he sets them. So whether you have an actual membership in your church or not, I think the point is to recognize that it's real, that God really does. He's for community. He created the concept of community, and he wants people to really be a member in his community ,in terms of does membership assume faith in Christ and all that. There seem to be varying discussions and dialogues around the world on that. I think the point is that people sense they belong, but obviously, our passion is that they would believe and that belief system would completely change the way that they live and their lifestyle.

(First published on Christianity.com as "What does it mean to be a member of a local church?" on July 31, 2013)