Growth 05: Church is Important

Orientate

Hebrews was a letter written primarily to Jewish Christians, so it has lots of references to the Old Testament. This may make today’s reading a little difficult to understand if you don’t know much about the Old Testament. Sorry. But I have chosen a reading from Hebrews because the letter addresses people who have stopped growing in their faith and are beginning to give up. The writer of Hebrews has some really helpful things to say about the dangers of slacking off and the ways to keep growing. Here is a taste.

Explore: Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.

Journal

Journal for a few minutes on the following questions:

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What do I want to discuss/explore further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. How has involvement in your church family helped you so far?

Reflect

Church was very different back in the times the New Testament was written. To start with, people had no weekend, so meetings of the church were probably at night after work. The churches were small because they usually met in homes and what happened in a meeting of the church was very flexible. Our structured, well-resourced church services in a special building were a later development. When you picture a New Testament church service think more of a small group meeting during the week for a meal in a home with some flexible activities (like singing or prayer or preaching or prophetic words) around the meal.

But some Christians were abandoning these meetings. Maybe they didn’t find them helpful. Maybe they felt that they could pursue Christian faith better by themselves. Maybe they were just too busy to go out at night. Maybe they weren’t getting on with others in the church. You’ve probably heard much the same reasons for Christians not going to church these days.

However, the New Testament never tolerates the idea of a Christian without a church family. It’s together that Christians are forged into the likeness of Jesus. It’s together that Christians impact their world. It’s together that Christians are able to use their gifts collaboratively. If you want a picture of this - Christians are meant to be like a choir, they are not soloists.

You may not always like the church services or get on well with every church member or agree with everything that goes on. But you are the church and apart from this group of God’s people, you are destined for the spiritual scrapheap. So give your church your support and let your Christian family encourage you and forge you and challenge you. And you do the same for them. You need them and they need you. “Let us not give up meeting together."

Pray

Thanks for my church Lord. They’re ordinary people like me, but you are working on and through us together and we desperately need each other. Help me to throw myself into loving and serving this special group of people in which you have planted me.

Respond

List three ways in which your church is helping you grow in Jesus.