Four Reasons Christians Need The Church

3 min read

A few weeks after high school graduation, my dad came home with a 1995 Mitsubishi Galant.

This car was a serious upgrade from the 1982 Mercury Grand Marquis I’d been sharing with my brother. She had leather seats, a radio that worked, a six-disc changer, and a sunroof. While those features were nice, they weren't necessary.

For a long time, I felt the same way about the church as I did about the sunroof in my car. I liked the idea of church. I even enjoyed coming to church. But like many people, I believed the lie that while the church was a nice part of Christianity, it wasn’t necessary to follow Jesus.

Four Reasons Christians Need the Church

1. We need other Christians.

If you want to know what you believe, listen to what your friends say. The more time we spend around people who ridicule God, the more we allow their attitudes to affect our thoughts and attitudes (Psalm 1:1-2). The more time we spend with God’s people and in His presence, the more like Jesus we become.

That’s why the writer of Hebrews encouraged Christians not to give up meeting together. If we want to hold unswervingly to our faith, we need to surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to follow Jesus even when it’s hard, to have faith when everything seems hopeless, and to rely on Jesus even when we think we can do everything on our own (Hebrews 10:23-25).

2.  We need opportunities to discover our spiritual gifts.

Every one of us has a skill God wants to use to help others know Him and follow Him. The Bible calls these skills spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12), and we discover our spiritual gifts the same way we discover any other kind of special talent.

Kobe Bryant realized he was great at basketball when he started playing basketball. Katy Perry discovered she could sing when she started singing. We will never uncover what God has equipped and called us to do if we don’t get involved.

3. We need authority.

We don’t have to believe anything anyone tells us about God. He appointed men and women in the church to lead us and to teach us (Hebrews 13:17). God gave us the Bible and the church so we can know what’s from Him.

Through the church’s authority structure, we can test and see what’s of God and what isn’t when we can’t tell on our own. When we’ve prayed, read the Bible, and still aren’t sure what to do, the church is where we go for advice.

4. We never stop needing grace.

Church people are not perfect people. We are forgiven, but we are still sinners. No matter how long we’ve been following Jesus, we are going to screw up, fall short, and sin. And when we do, we need a place where we can come to be healed, restored, and renewed. That place is the church.

As I made friends, joined a group, and started serving, God changed me. I woke up one day and realized I couldn’t imagine not being involved in church. Church is no longer just nice; it’s necessary.

Other Articles

Three Steps To Defeating Greed And Envy

10/27/2023
Discover the journey of overcoming envy and greed through a personal story of a gymnast's determination and contentment in her achievements. Learn three essential steps to defeating these negative emotions and find personal satisfaction through generosity, embracing your own identity, and resisting comparison with others.

Read more

How To Deal With Depression

2/4/2024
Explore how to cope with depression and anxiety by asking for help, being open to counseling and medication, and remembering that God is always there to provide strength and encouragement. Remember, you are not alone in your struggles and talking to others can be a powerful way to receive Jesus' love.

Read more

Three Tips For Celebrating Easter With Your Kids

3/20/2024
Discover the significance of Easter and learn how to prepare your children's hearts for this important holiday. Read Easter books and Bible verses, make memories celebrating Jesus' resurrection, and spend time reflecting on what Jesus has done for you, sharing your story with your kids.

Read more

See All Articles
Top