Simple Salvation Church of God
Prayer Request: Why Do We Need to Go to Church?
Subject:
Why Do We Need to Go to Church? (May 17, 2009)
Prayer Request: Why Do We Need to Go to Church? by Code2Life Team A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is an individual experience, but it is far from a private experience! When you become a Christian your faith is not dependent on anyone else—each of us is saved by our own trust in Jesus. However, when a person becomes a believer in Christ he/she becomes part of the family of God—the church. Just as a baby is born into a family and grows and matures, so Christians are born into spiritual families that help believers grow and mature. Although believers can pray and worship on their own, we are also told by Jesus to do these things together too. Do I need to go to church? "And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near" (Heb. 10:24-25, The NetBible). This verse is often given as a proof text requiring Christians to attend weekly meetings at a "church." Churches, in this day and age, are usually referred to as buildings erected for the sole purposes of worshipping God and preaching His Word. However, the word "church" is taken from the Greek word ekklesia, which means the people of God, the collective body of believers, congregation, assembly, and the body of Christ, according to Nave's Topical Bible. Hence, the Church is not an organization; it is an organism. It's a living group of people who have one mind about them; Jesus is Lord. Therefore, one really never goes to church; one goes to be with the Church, or the group of believers. My pastor says there is no such thing as a lone Christian who is left to himself. Proverbs 27:17 clearly states, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Hebrews 3:13 also states, "Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Clearly, we need each other to keep us going. If we separate ourselves from the group of believers who have the same basic beliefs as we do, how long will it be before you start conforming to the world around you? Now, I don't believe you must attend services in a building that is affiliated with a denomination to be considered to be in fellowship with other believers. You could be in something as informal as a neighborhood meeting attended to by one appointed to be its leader. The only thing I would suggest is that you make sure the group you join holds to the essential and basic truths of the Bible before you commit yourself to that group, as with any group or "church." But I do not believe there is anything in the Bible that would condemn that kind of assembly. As a matter of fact, I believe that members of the first-century Church met in each other's homes and nothing in the Bible ever condemned them for doing such.
The Bible says that we should not forsake "our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near," (Heb. 10:25). It is wise to go to church because that is where we can go to hear the word of God preached and to experience the friendship of other believers.
The other very good reason mentioned above for going to church is to experience friendship with other Christians. We need friends in order to be well balanced and healthy. Also, in church we discover opportunities to serve and be served. Therefore, we learn to apply what is taught out of God's word and then we learn to extend it to others outside the church.
Also, in church we share in the successes and failures of others and learn how the Lord has worked in the lives of other people. In this we are encouraged. Remember, God did not make us to be alone. We need the friendship of other believers.
So, you should go to church because that is where you can hear the word of God explained and applied to your life, see how God works in people's lives, and experience the friendship of others.
Start your week right!
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Meeting together is important to our spiritual growth and encouragement. We are to “spur one another on” to those things that will help us grow as believers. We learn, sing praises to God and pray in Christian gatherings.
God Deserves Our Worship!
At church we worship and celebrate God’s grace and love. We also worship God because of who he is. Psalm 73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” The writer of this verse understood that God alone is worthy of praise because of who he is. He is the greatest, utmost and supreme Creator of the universe who displays his love to people everywhere. Nothing or no one greater than God! We have the opportunity and privilege every week when we come together with likeminded believers to worship God.
In the Old Testament the word for “worship” meant to literally “bow down.” As worshipping believers, our hearts, minds and lives “bow down” before the One who created and sustains us by His love. Of course, worship doesn’t just happen in a church building--worshiping God can happen at any time and place. But times of corporate worship are important and significant. God is worthy of our corporate worship also. Together we show God what is most important to us.
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