Thursday, 7/4/19 – Discipleship: Fellowship

Fellowship

“Why should I go to church? I can worship God right here as I do my gardening Sunday morning.” Or, “I can worship God just by going for a walk in nature. Why should I waste a morning in church? I’ve only got the weekend for my chores… the family… to go shopping…”

I’m sure you’ve heard statements like these, but how do you respond? Do you retort with a list of reasons? Or, are you a bit shaken, thinking that possibly the speaker may be correct?

A few years ago Rich Langton published a list of “99 Reasons You Should go to Church This Weekend” on the Hillsong.com website. See below for the complete link, but here’s the first 25 to get you started…

1. The Bible indicates it’s what we should do. (Hebrews 10:25)
2. You will have the opportunity to worship God.
3. You will likely have some of life big questions answered.
4. The preaching of the Bible will help set direction for your life.
5. You will probably make some new friends.
6. You’ll probably see some old friends.
7. Being there is a sign of your discipleship.
8. Being there will encourage your pastors and leaders.
9. You’ll be encouraged in your walk with God.
10. You’ll likely encourage other people in their walk with God.
11. If you’re single, you may meet someone.
12. It will help you define what you believe.
13. It will help you understand the Bible.
14. If you have kids, it will teach them to value God and His Church.
15. People who attend church usually live longer (I didn’t make this one up… google it!)
16. It will give you an outlet for service and ministry.
17. It can help you develop personal leadership.
18. You’ll sing inspirational songs that will carry you during the week.
19. It will encourage you that God is good (if it doesn’t, it should).
20. It will help you to look outside yourself.
21. It will provide an opportunity to give financially to those in need.
22. You’ll receive love from other people.
23. You’ll be able to show love toward others.
24. You’ll hear about the great things God is doing in His Church locally and throughout the earth.
25. You’ll be prayed for.

Fellowship is necessary if you want to grow as a Christian – it is part of the plan of God, not an option. Other believers need you too in order to grow in their walk with Christ. Jesus created the Church, His Body, to function as a Body: interdependently, as one whole thing! A hand or a foot, or even an eyelash cannot survive severed from the body… and leaves the whole body diminished and suffering by its absence.

Thinking you can forego church is one problem, but even desiring to forego gathering with other believers indicates a cause for concern. In fact, scripture warns it is a sign of the last days,

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:24-25)

Church is where you nourish your soul, and a soul should be hungry for nourishment! We live currently as “strangers and foreigners” in a sin-filled world. The opportunity to get away from it, to scrub up our souls, and feast on spiritual food, should send us running to the church, to Christian fellowship, encouragement, challenge worship and service whenever it is available.

Don’t neglect meeting together… encouraging one another… and all the more… Don’t neglect Christian fellowship!

Press on…

Link to Rich Langton’s “99 Reasons…” post here: https://hillsong.com/collected/blog/2014/09/99-reasons-you-should-go-to-church-this-weekend/#.XRSiUGiVmf0

Are you interested in being discipled one-on-one in the fundamentals of new life in Christ? Or, perhaps you would you like to know how to begin this journey and take the very first of the First Steps by turning from your current path and committing your path to Christ? — Use the Contact page and we’ll get you started.