The Importance of the Local Church
Introduction
Today, we are going learn how significant the church of Jesus to all the believers.
My goal today, is for you to see the important part of the church in your spiritual growth.
Many believers have been caught up with the idea that the local church is unimportant and unnecessary to their Christian growth
Even many who faithfully attend their local church do not understand its significance.
Many Christians think that they can grow away from their church
If you think the biblical foundation is too grade 1 for you, you are in trouble.
Researcher George Barna has recently published a book entitled Revolution. His research has led him to make this prediction:
“Between the years 2000 and 2025, the percentage of Americans for whom a local church is their primary means of spiritual experience and expression will decrease by at least 50%!”
Jim Feeney commented,
“I see a disaster in the making!...
Why do you think the church is so important to God?
…Because His dear Son paid for it with His precious blood.
There are two things I want to share with you today, why the church is important.
1. God’s word endorses the habit of meeting together.
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 book of Hebrews encourages us not to give up the habit of meeting together.
The word "church" or "assembly" (Gr. ecclesia) is a very general term that is defined as a group of "called out ones."
One Pastor said,
“There are those who make concerted effort to attend every possible service…and there are those who do not make any effort to attend more than once per week. These people will find other things to do that just to keep themselves out of the church.”
Do you think that the bible has no reason for saying that? (" Do not give up the habit of meeting together")
In the meeting like this, our soul is being fed by the word of God
And we draw strength from one another.
1 Corinthians 14:26
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
Can’t I just be a “me-and-Jesus” Christian? No! we are a part of the body of Christ!!! Nakakatakot tignan ang isang parte ng katawan na nakahiwalay at gagalaw galaw pa.( it is scary to see a part of the body away from the and it’s still moving)
It is ok when sometimes you have work on Sunday, occasionally; my wife is not here because of the call of duty.
But as much as possible don’t schedule appointments on a Sunday. Maybe after the service would be find.
But if you are not here, because you just wanted to extend your sleep, I don’t think you know the importance of this church.
One time I asked a care group leader, “o bakit wala ka nong Sunday?”
“ Hehehe tinanghali ako ng gising e.” yung iba naman nasa mall lang.
Minsan ang dahilan, “wala pong bantay bahay naming e” Bakit si Gloria ba sya, kailangan laging may bantay?
O kaya, may gulong ba yung bahay nyo? Pag walang bantay baka gumulong mag-isa?
Listen,The church is an alternative culture. Where you can feel loved and accepted.
I don’t know why some Christians don’t grasp the importance of it.
An elder of a certain church who always play golf on a Sunday, confronted by His Pastor, “You know what? “Your golf is more important than your church”
I remember what my Pastor has said,
“It is understandable to an ordinary member to be inconsistent in his/her church attendance but for a leader and elder it is a shame.”
2. As we grow the church grows.
What do you think is the purpose of biblical foundation class? Of course, for us to grow.
Ephesians 4:16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
One of the purposes of the local church is to provide an atmosphere where the Word of God can be learned.
We all want to see this church grow, right?
This will not grow, if we leaders are still spiritually immature. As we grow spiritually this church will grow exponentially.
You know what I realized lately? Masyado akong mabait.
Our service before was 10:AM pero dumarating ang tao 10:30
Sabi ko sa sarli ko, ay kawawa naman sila baka pagod ng Saturday, baka maraming trabahong bahay.
Sabi ko ulit, cge gawin nalang natin 10:30. dumarating naman yung iba 11:00
Yung biblical foundation, gagawin ko sanang 9:00-10:00 para at least meron sana akong 30mins mag rest,kasi mag pi preach pa ko sa service.
Ginawa ko na rin 9:30 para di naman kayo masyadong maagang gumising.
Church, let us bring our commitment to another level. Let’s grow up.
Maybe, we can start with little things. Try coming to church on time.
Next, try attending the prayer meeting. Enrol in biblical foundation.
1 Corinthians 14:20:
Brothers, stop thinking like children...
Ako, ako, pano naman ako, mommy o, daddy o.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
We have to grow continually not only as individual Christians but also as a community of faith.
We have to continually seek out to be better and best Christians through growth in faith.
If we are born again as a new baby in Christ, we must grow up.
This is a mandate, requirement, and assignment for every Christian.
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
This can happen when you are connected in the local church.
Conclusion:
Let me close with this verse.
Eph 4:13-14
Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
I have a long lost friend who added me in face book lately, I asked her, how’s her Christian life, she said, “I went back to Catholic church”
I said why? “Because, my husband fell for a Christian woman”
You know what? I know a lady, her husband fell for a catholic woman, she left the catholic and she’s with us now.
You know that was a joke. But this friend of mind never reaches maturity in Christ. She is like an infant tossed back and fort by the waves.
