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Leaders with purpose and
destiny |
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The Importance of Church Can you imagine playing football without a team? You out on the field against 11 other players, you would get creamed…or a soldier without a platoon…a child without a family. God does not want his children growing up in isolation from each other so he created a spiritual family on earth for us. Ephesians 2:19, "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family." You and I will not grow without the church…God intents for us to grow up in a local body of believers…a church family. You need the church, it's your spiritual family; here to support you, provide nourishment by loving you, caring for you, helping you, feeding you, protecting you, etc. A Christian without a church family is an orphan. All of us need a place of connection. We need a place where we are refreshed, loved, understood, and feel like we belong. We need to be a part of a community. More than simply a collection of people coming together, the bible defines our community as the body or the church, the church is not a building. The church is people. A place where we gather and find meaning and purpose, measure our progress, a place of love and understanding, a refuge of refreshment, we are a family and this is where we belong. Romans 12:5 reads, "So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." We belong to each other, we are one body. This speaks of the invisible church, you might go to California and visit with some friends and then join them on Sunday at their local church, you're not a member of this visible body but you do belong because everyone who is in Christ is part of the invisible church. Galatians 6:10, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." The scriptures teach if you're a Christian we're all inter-related and you are a part of God's family. We belong to each other. As Christians we don't only need the bible, don't only need prayer, don't only need to worship but every Christian needs Christians…We need to belong to a local church body and we get together with our family on Sunday. Unfortunately there are so many Christians out there who don't believe they need the church. After all, Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's just Jesus and me, that's all I need…today there, is a widespread belief that one can be a Christian or develop one's own faith apart from the church and never join a local church. I am my own church. Then you have another group of people, millions of Christians are missing out. Today a lot of Christians are just drifting, many Christians in the United States hop from one church to another without any identity, accountability, or commitment. They have not been taught that the Christian life involves more than just believing it also includes belonging. You are not just a believer you belong to the family of Christ. Sadly it is not uncommon for Christians to drift from congregation to congregation, usually where their friends lead them or where the pastor happens to give the most satisfying messages. Many have no sense of roots or responsibility, and some never join a local church. As you read the New Testament it is very clear Christianity is much more than just a private matter with Jesus and it's more than consuming, getting my needs met but it's contributing to a group of believers. Hebrews 10:25, "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." The emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly consuming, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly. Faithfulness in church attendance encourages others and provokes them to love and good works. Martin Luther defined the priority, the importance of church or church membership, he said, "Apart from the church, salvation is impossible." Allow me to explain, not that the church provides salvation; God does. But because the saved one can't fulfill what it means to be a Christian apart from the church, membership becomes the essential mark of salvation. When we become followers of Christ, we become members of his universal church and eventually a local church and our commitment to the church is indistinguishable from our commitment to Him. It's identical. But many Christians who say they are believers but are not members of a local church. By that, many mean they do not need the church, it's not necessary, it's really not important. I don't want to get involved. Jesus is offended when we don't need the body, when we neglect the bride. You and I will not grow without the church; God has not designed it where you grow outside the context of relationships. Christians need relationships to grow. It's through relationships and fellowship that moves us toward maturity in Christ…our faith becomes practical in relationships. Make church a priority, especially over the summer. It's vital you get connected over the summer; the church is a great place to serve, grow, and get the much needed fellowship you might be missing by being away from your friends on campus. Stay Connected, Pastor Alex Garcia Destino Coaching Center See also: www.MyDestino.com |
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Monday Minutes