Join A Local Church

Why Should Believers or anyone Attend Church Services?

What is a Church? A lot of people think that a Church is just a building. We know that this is not true because our Lord Jesus said that he is coming back for his Church. Now, I am sure he is not coming to collect buildings, so what does he (Christ) mean when he says “he is coming back for his Church. The Church is the people of God, not the building. The building is called THE HOUSE OF PRAYER (Where believers come to commune with God corporately). The Church is called the body of Christ. Because all believers in Christ have different gifts of the spirit to use for the advancement of the kingdom of God, believers can get together (the congregation) and fellowship with one another and worship and praise God Corporately together. The Pastor of the church will give an edifying message that will bless you in so much as to give you the wisdom of God through his word, so that you are able to make sound decisions that will change your life. Just like the organs in the body, all believers have been given different functions, but they all work together for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

Ecclesia , the Greek word for church, originally meant an assembly called out by the magistrate, or by legitimate authority. It was in this last sense that the word was adopted and applied by the writers of the New Testament to the Christian congregation. In the one Gospel of St. Matthew the church is spoken of no less than thirty-six times as “the kingdom.” Other descriptions or titles are hardly found in the evangelists. It is Christ’s household, Matt. 10:25; the salt and light of the world, Matt. 5:13, 15; Christ’s flock, Matt. 26:31; John 10:1; its members are the branches growing on Christ the Vine, John 15; but the general description of it, not metaphorical but direct, is that it is a kingdom.

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV 1900)

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.

The Lord would like to see his people meet in the church regularly so that we can help one another with all the different gifts that God has given us to help one another with. Sometime people use this Scripture to put people in condemnation who don’t go to church regularly. But we should be encouraged to attend church so that we can fellowship with people who have the same beliefs that we have. This will draw us closer to each other so that we can be one body together and I believe to help us be one with God is well. Because as the end times comes closer, the persecution of the church will increase, and all of its members is going to be included, and it will not matter the color of your skin or what language we speak or where we are and from. We must stick together. So that we can be a help to one another during those days and those times

It is God who draws people into his sanctuary (the church). A sanctuary is just a room inside of a church building where believers come together (congregate) to worship God. And thus, those people are called the congregation.

Matthew 16:17-18 (KJV)

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Note here that Christ said that he would build his church of those who hear from God ( his holy spirit) and believe on his son. The body of Christ is built upon many people who have put their trust in what Jesus has done at the cross. And they have been given the commission to influence the world ,their communities, their homes, their businesses and anywhere that the gospel is not known (which is the love of God). And using the gifts that God has given each believer when they believed. As a body that is organized with many different functional parts, we as the body of Christ are to work together with God according with our faith and our God given abilities. This is the Church

Ephesians 4:11-12 (AMP)

11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.

12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),

Always keep in mind, that the church and belief in Christ Jesus is essential to obtaining the gift of eternal Life (living forever). I am not talking about the way we all live today, no. I am talking about a life without sickness, old age, liars, cheater, murders, deceiver, rapists, races, hater, greedy for money and death.

It sounds like a fairy tale, right? But without God (Jesus Christ), that is all that it is, a fairy tale in one’s mind. But God can do anything he wants. He is limited by nothing. He created all life on earth (everything that is living) and it he who has this world spinning at 1000 miles per hour and we cannot even feel it. You would think that at that speed, the waters in the sea and the lakes and streams would spill over onto the land, but they cannot because God controls all of them with his words.

It is my belief through my personal experiences, that joining a Church can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. You get to meet all kinds of people with many different gifts and talents and their own personalities. I believe that wherever a Church is located, its members should influence those people who live in its immediate area and beyond. Never say that you have nothing to give to the great commission. All who believe have been given a testimony of God’s goodness by our lord Jesus Christ. Remember that the body of Christ is of many, but everyone has his or her pacific function to perform.

The following lines are nothing more than my personal opinions on choosing a Church home.

Ask the Lord God in Prayer to lead you to a good church.

When you first enter a church building, note how you are treated (hospitality, friendliness, gives you a peaceful feeling). It is important that a church that you come to the first time will have a good lasting effect on you as to rather or not you will return.

Look around to see rather the church building is kept clean and orderly. Look at the people’s faces. Ask yourself, do they look like they are happy to be in church. It does not have to be, but it could mean that you won’t be happy there ether.

Note, are you shown to your seat, or do you just find a seat. In most churches regardless of its size, you may need to seat yourself until the service starts. And then the ushers will seat you. Look at the manner in which the ushers do their jobs.

Pay attention to the message that is being preached or taught. Does it seem as though that the pastor is talking directly to you, if so, this is a good sign. Note also that the message is edifying (beneficial, morally or spiritually uplifting) to you and all those who are there.

You may think with all of this that I said that you are there to evaluate people, no, on the contrary, people will be people any place you go. You will find the same types of people in every church you go to. Remember, you are there to hear the word of God and not to judge the people that are there. When the Holy Spirit is present in the church (congregation), it is sometime easy to see and discern.

People out of order, dusty and dirty unclean building, people frowning instead of smiling, people talking so that you cannot hear the teaching, People not responding in the worship service, are all indications that the Holy Spirit is not having his way in that church.

One last thing, note, there should always be an Alter call to allow those who want to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. In any case, pray that the Lord will direct you to a Church where your gifts and your personality may be greatly used by the Lord in that Church.

I highly recommend that you join a Church that is made up of multiple ethnic groups of people if it is all possible. It is my belief that you will do better in these churches. But if it is not possible, being where you live, just make sure that the Gospel of Grace is being preached and that Jesus Christ is Lord and the only savior of this fallen world. It is absolutely important to you that the true Gospel of Grace is being taught there.

THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS TO REPENT BECAUSE CHRIST HAS DIED AND YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN IF YOU BELIEVE ON HIS DEATH IN HIS RESURRECTION. IF YOU HEAR ANY RACIST TYPE OF TEACHING OR PREACHING, (SOCIAL JUSTICE) OR REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY (GOD HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE).

GET OUT OF THERE AT ONCE

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE DEVIL, IS A LIAR

Enjoy your church home. Serve (service to God and man), meet new friends and family, have fun, and give out of love (pay your tithes), learn about God’s love and the labor of love of which there is no other type of labor like it in the world. It is more rewarding to labor for the love of God rather than the love of money and things. You will find that type labor a most rewarding experience. Some people will tell you that you don’t have to go to church at all or go when you choose. There are three problems that I find with that.

The first problem is, God said to bring the tithes into the store house. The key word here is bring, you bring it and not send it. To bring it (the tithes), you must be present. if you attend faithfully as you can, then there is nothing wrong with sending in your tithes, however those who send in their tithes because they don’t go to church, this not recommended by God. You also may send it in when you cannot be there. God wants you to go to church and hear the message and fellowship with other believers.

The second is the fellowship you have with other believers in corporate prayer and worship and being in the presents of Lord in that church.

And the third God said for us who believe, not the forget about going to church or prayer meeting.

Why Should Christians Attend Church?

By Dr. Dale A. Robbins

For believers, there is no substitute for attending church. Besides something that pleases God, it is necessary for a believer’s spiritual well-being. For shut-ins or invalids who aren’t able to go to church, the ministries on radio or TV might be the only kind of fellowship or spiritual nourishment that they get. God certainly understands the circumstances of these people, and recognizes the sincerity of their hearts. However, it is a different matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness or indifference toward other believers.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO ATTEND CHURCH FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

It Is An Expression Of Our Love For God

Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God. It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and trust in God, something that is required of all Christians (Matt. 10:32-33) — and it is where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to Him. The psalmist wrote, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly, I will praise You” (Psa. 22:22). People are often motivated toward church attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring “service” to the Lord as a blessing to Him (Psa. 134:2). Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to honor Him with our service of devotion. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11).

It Builds Up Our Spiritual Strength

Receiving the preaching and teaching of the Word of God increases our faith and builds us up spiritually. Every believer knows what it is to face spiritual conflicts to their faith and must realize the importance of being fed spiritually so that they can overcome the challenges. Paul states that Christians face a wrestling match with the Devil and his evil spiritual forces and warns that the church must put on spiritual armor for protection, as it will take everything at our disposal to stand (Eph. 6:10-18). How important that we take every opportunity available to receive ministry and strength from God’s Word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

It Brings A Special Visitation Of The Lord’s Presence

There is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord’s presence whenever two or more gather specifically in the name of Jesus. By implication, this means whenever “Jesus” is the object of gathered prayer, worship, praise, preaching, etc. Even though Jesus resides within the heart of every believer, he honors a gathering in his name by coming in the “midst,” with his power, awareness, and anointing. In such a gathering, Christ is able to do things in hearts that he may not at any other time. The scripture says that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa. 22:3), and in such an atmosphere the Holy Spirit will often manifest spiritual gifts that minister to the body of Christ. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).

It Provides Fellowship With Other Christians

Gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship of the Christian brethren. The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship with God requires a “vertical” and “horizontal” alignment — that is, we must have a vertical fellowship with God and a horizontal fellowship with other believers. It is not possible to love God and refuse to love the brethren. If you have a problem loving other Christians, you have a problem in your relationship with God. Scripture warns us that unforgiveness toward others will void God’s forgiveness of our own sins (Matt. 6:15). John wrote, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:9-10).

One of the most important reasons that we go to church is to practice love toward the brethren in the form of fellowship. The Bible clearly shows that if we have a right relationship with God, we have fellowship with others believers. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with other believers keeps us humble before God so that Christ’s blood can continue to cleanse us from our sins.

It Is An Act Of Obedience To God

Not to be forgotten, going to church is also a matter of obeying God’s Word. The writer of the Hebrew epistle tells us not to forsake assembling together, implying that continued absence can lead to willful sin. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Heb. 10:24-26).

Once again, we are reminded that a great part of the purpose of the gathering is for the consideration of our brethren, coming together to help motivate and encourage one another. This is a responsibility charged to every believer. To reject church attendance, is a rejection of one of the sacred duties of the believer. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

It Provides Accountability To Spiritual Leadership

More strong evidence that proves that we’re to be a part of a church fellowship, is that we’re told to submit to the authority of spiritual leaders (within the boundaries of God’s Word). “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). God designed this system of accountability for the progress and protection of His flock. Obviously, this really isn’t possible unless we are a part of an organized fellowship which has identified elders, pastors, or leaders. It is easy to see that one cannot genuinely be under submission to a TV pastor who has never met you. Nor is it possible to be under submission by visiting a different church each week. The Bible tells us to know them that are over us in the Lord (1 Thes. 5:12). Submission necessitates a commitment and relationship to a local body of believers and to their spiritual leaders.

It Combines Our Spiritual Strength In Prayer

The Bible indicates that agreement in prayer with other believers has special favor with God. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19). There is multiplied strength in the combined faith of God’s people, and it is clear that greater spiritual gains can be realized through corporate prayer and worship. This agrees with how God has historically blessed the union of His people in battle against their enemies. “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you” (Lev. 26:8).

It Honors the Lord’s Day

The fourth commandment of the law that God gave Moses was to set aside the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a holy day to the Lord. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). This was, and will always remain, the official Sabbath. However, after Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday, the early Christians began meeting together on this day as well as with the Jewish community in the synagogues on the Sabbath. History indicates that due to the enmity of the orthodox Jews toward the Christian Jews in their midst, the Jewish Christians were eventually ostracized.

And although they were no longer bound to a rigid code of laws (Gal. 3:10-11, Col. 2:16), it is believed that they came to view Sunday as a combined observance of the Sabbath and the resurrection day of Jesus (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2). This day of Christian worship came to be called the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10), a day to fellowship in celebration of the resurrection, to worship, pray and study the Word together.

Today, the Christian Jew or gentile, is free from the bondage of the old law. The indwelling of God’s spirit has brought a new way for Christians to fulfill the desires of God through His love (Gal. 5:18, Rom. 13:8-10). However, the new covenant does not invalidate the relevance of the ten commandments as they pertained to God’s wishes for His people. As much as it remains God’s desire for man not to kill, steal or commit adultery, God is still very much pleased for believers to honor Him on a day reserved for Him, out of their love for Him and His people.

By Dr. Dale A. Robbins