You Need a Church Family
Many people only go to church three times in their lives – when they’re dedicated, married, and buried. They only go when they’re hatched, matched, and dispatched! Others may add a few more occasions to the list by attending on Easter and Christmas. According to Statista research, 40% of Americans consider themselves very religious but only 22% of them attend church weekly.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” I think it’s safe to say our world desperately needs encouragement, acts of love, and good works, but the scripture is also clear that we need church just as much. The word “church” is used 117 in the Bible, and 95 times the word used for church refers to a local congregation.
Most people look at the church and see an organization, but God sees organs. Christians make up the body of Christ, so God sees individual organs that serve a specific purpose in the body. God wants you to remain connected to the body for it to run properly.
A person who says, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t attend church” is like a person who says, “I’m a student, but I have no school,” “I’m a soldier, but I have no army,” or “I’m a football player, but I have no team.” It just doesn’t make sense. Church connection is vitally important to fulfilling God’s calling on your life. We all need a church!
Psalm 92:13 says, “They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.” Maybe you find yourself desperately wanting your life to flourish. Maybe it’s your marriage, career, ministry, friendships, or family you want to see flourish. The answer is found in Psalm 92 – those who flourish are “planted in the house of the Lord.” And if you want things to grow and flourish in your life, you need to get planted in a local church. You need to establish roots which only happens when church becomes a priority instead of a possibility.
A church family is vitally important because you need others to walk with you. God said in Genesis 2 that it’s not good for man to be alone; therefore, you were never meant to endure the ups and downs of life on your own. One study found that people with poor eating habits and no exercise but who have strong social ties live longer than those who have great health habits but were isolated. In other words, it’s better to eat twinkies with good friends than eat broccoli alone!
You need a church family because you need others to work with you. You were not only saved from something but for something, and God has a very specific role for you in His kingdom. But one is too small of a number to multiply. Working with other Christians towards a common goal will allow everyone to use their unique talents and God-given gifts to accomplish much more than any one person can on their own.
When you get planted in a local church, you will have people who will watch out for you. Maybe you’re like me when planning to leave for vacation, I go over to the neighbors’ house and ask if they would keep an eye on our stuff while we’re gone. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.” Your temporary belongings aren’t more important than your eternal soul. You need people in your life who care enough to say, “I’ve been missing you at church” or ask, “Are you reading your Bible daily like you should be?”
Getting connected to a local church is vitally important to the spiritual growth of every Christian. Life truly is better together, and we all need a church family!