Church Matters

What's so important about belonging to the church? Why bother?

The church is God’s creation. God’s idea. His plan. God has made the church to carry out His purpose and His will. Matthew 16:18 …upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Church means congregation or assembly. It’s about being together, with other believers, participating together, in fellowship in our local church. God’s people are meant to be an active part of the church.

Let’s make church a priority in our personal and family schedules. Set your calendar activities around the church as the first consideration. Make the assembly count as your first consideration when planning your week. It’s more important that we assemble with other believers, as God commands us to, than pretty much anything else.

Assembling together with God’s people is more important than a birthday party or a sports event or a social event. More important than our own convenience or self-interest.

We should be there whenever we are physically able. And bring our family to every event that we possibly can.

The church is God’s way of doing stuff. It’s His design. God is accomplishing His work on earth today through His church, His own assembled people.

The church is important to God. He calls it the household of God, the body of Christ. Christ loved the church as His bride, and He gave Himself to redeem it.

Why should we love the church? We ought to love the Church because our Lord loved the Church. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

The church is also a flock… 1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you… We are meant to be together, as sheep in a flock. That’s where we can be fed together and be comforted together. There’s safety in the fold.

Church is where we study together and worship together. We get together to hear the preaching and teaching ministry. We should want to get to where the Word is being preached because that is God’s will. May God give us the desire for the Word. 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

Psalms 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Something special happens when we get together. We unite our faith together. We raise our prayers and praise together. It’s good for our soul. It’s a joy. It’s pleasant. There God promises blessing.

As believers we should make the church a top priority in our lives. God’s Word instructs us to be involved in the church assembly. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Every believer is called to local church involvement. Be faithful.

The Bible mentions over 30 specific local churches. As Paul describes it: 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The church is where believers are to utilise their God-given spiritual gifts.
We’re a community. We are meant to be together. Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common.

There are close to 60 “one anothers” mentioned in the New Testament. Believers are to love one another (Romans 13:8), comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18), forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32), pray for one another (James 5:16).

As believers gather, we form a community that’s built on faith in Christ. We are meant to be this close-knit community. Let’s encourage one another, and strengthen each other.

The church is God’s outlet for outreach and evangelism. The church is where we launch out in evangelism, and global missions. Outreach in the New Testament was always through the church.

God designed His church to make disciples. God makes this happen through the teaching and accountability of a local church.

As we fellowship we can use our God-given gifts to serve others and lead more people to know the Lord.

The church is the Body of Christ - so it’s an extension of the Lord - He carries out His work - His will - through the church.

We are called to live in community with one another. We cannot fully live out our faith in isolation.

As we fellowship, we grow. We study. We receive Bible teaching, and can learn and grow in God's Word.

As we fellowship we develop relationships with other believers. We can encourage one another, hold one another accountable, and support one another.
Fellowship gives opportunities for prayer, and worship. As believers we work together in service. It helps build unity and purpose. As believers, we need each other.

Let us commit to being the church. A community where we can grow together and serve together - encouraging one another in our faith journey.