TOGETHER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

KEY PASSAGE: Hebrews 10:19-25 SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:13,15-16, 18; 22:37-39; 28:18-20
1 Corinthians 12:7, 27 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:1-4 James 5:16


SUMMARY
PASTOR CHARLES STANLEY

Many Christians think being involved in
church isn’t necessary.

Quite often, believers express the opinion that
commitment to a local body isn’t necessary for a
strong relationship with God. They argue that
fellowships are far from perfect: churches have
conflict with other churches, people in the
same congregation don’t always get along, and
some Christians are hypocritical. I understand
all of these complaints.

But as followers of Christ, we shouldn’t base
our actions on merely an assessment of the
facts; we must follow the counsel of Scripture.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consider how to
stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not
forsaking our own assembling together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another”
(emphasis added). It’s true that some people
can’t attend church due to physical limitations
and others have no Bible-believing congregations
in their area. But aside from those exceptions,
everyone who wants to maintain a vital, growing
relationship with Jesus Christ needs to be
involved in a local body of believers.

SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES:

Who originated the concept of church?

Scripture clearly teaches that the church was
established by our Savior Himself. In Matthew 16,
Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was.
Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of
the living God" (v. 16). Jesus said, “Upon this rock
I will build My church; and the gates of Hades
will not overpower it.” The “rock” Jesus referred
to is the statement of faith Peter made: Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. In other words, He’s the
Savior of the world, humanity’s only hope. This is
the foundation upon which Jesus established the
church, and no evil force can prevail against it.

Throughout history, all kinds of movements
have come and gone. In contrast, the church—
also called the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27)—has
thrived for centuries, and in our generation, is
growing quickly all over the world.Why has the
church survived despite changing times? Because
it belongs to God, not to men and women. Jesus is
the originator and sustainer of the church. Today,
He ministers to both believers and unbelievers
through His body.

When Christians claim they don’t need
church, what does that imply?

If we can walk closely with God without the
fellowship of other believers, then assembling
on Sunday morning is a waste of time. Those
who believe this would say we don’t need other
Christians for support, encouragement, or prayer.
One of the main problems with this perspective
is what it implies. If believers can maintain an
intimate relationship with God apart from church
involvement, then Jesus made a big mistake. After
all, church was His idea.

Of course, our Lord didn’t make a mistake
when He established His church. You and I
need other believers whom God commands us
to love as ourselves—a mandate second only to
loving Him whole-heartedly (Matt. 22:37-39). The
Christian life is all about relationships—with the
Lord and other people. It is in the context of
Pract ical Lessons for Understanding the Word of God
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Together in the Christian Life
community that we exercise our spiritual gifts,
find encouragement to follow God’s will, and learn
how to properly interpret Scripture. Our Father
desires us to be involved in a local fellowship
of believers.

If you aren’t currently committed to a church, I
pray that you will find a body of believers with
whom you can relate—Christians who believe as
you do and teach the truth of God’s Word.

Why should believers assemble
together as a church?


 To worship:When we gather for church, we
usually praise God in song, giving Him thanks for
the good things He’s done.Worshipping Him lifts
our spirits and strengthens our souls. Many of the
songs are full of theological truths that educate
us about the blessings we have in Him.

 To learn the Word of God: In church, we
often have the opportunity to learn from those
with special biblical training or deep spiritual
maturity. Be ready to check any teaching against
the whole counsel of Scripture. Pulling verses
out of context can lead to doctrinal errors.We
are living in the time when many people don’t
want to listen to sound doctrine; they prefer to
have “their ears tickled”—that is, to hear only
what sounds good to them (2 Tim. 4:3).

 To fulfill the Great Commission:Most of us
wouldn’t want to move across the world, learn a
new language and culture, and try to reach the
local people with the gospel. But as the body of
Christ, we can send missionaries to far off places.
We support them through our prayers, letters or
emails, and financial support. Together we fulfill
the command to take the good news to the
nations (Matt. 28:18-20).

 To protect themselves:When someone stops
attending church, it is almost inevitable that he or
she will begin to drift away from God. Hearing
scriptural truth each week helps hold believers
accountable to high moral, ethical, and spiritual
standards. Otherwise, the world’s messages, which
constantly bombard our minds, tend to distract us
from the still, small voice of God.

 To exercise spiritual gifts:
These supernatural blessings, such as administration, organization, and
mercy, are to be used“for the common good” in the
body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:7). For example, my gift
is a mixture of exhortation and prophecy. Unless I
shared that with other people, it would be wasted.

 To develop an atmosphere of support:
The New Testament is full of advice on how to relate—
namely, we are to love, build up, forgive, accept,
encourage, and serve one another.Also, we should
be patient, seeking always to comfort, inspire,
and fellowship with other Christians.And lastly,
we should confess our sins to one another, as
Scripture exhorts us to do (James 5:16). It is
through working together that believers are able
to accomplish God’s will. No pastor is able to
reach everyone.

 To strengthen and broaden the Christian
impact on the world:
When believers are committed
to a local fellowship, the influence of that
church is greatly multiplied. Together we can
raise funds for local ministry and world missions,
and develop effective new ways to reach out to
our community. God works powerfully through
churches where each person sees himself or
herself as making a valuable contribution to the
work of the ministry. In His eyes, no believer is
more important than any other.

CONCLUSION:

God’s purposes for you can be fulfilled only
when you are committed to a local body of
believers. There, you can receive solid instruction
in theWord of God, participate in corporate
worship, and find opportunities to exercise your
spiritual gifts. Look for a church that believes the
Bible and seeks to follow its teachings. Don’t just
attend regularly; find a way to get involved. Your
life will never be the same.

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