The Importance of Belonging To A Local Church
2 Corinthians 8:5 “…but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” The church offers you something you cannot get anywhere else.
Why Have strong relationships.
- We were created for connections.
- Connections balance our lives. By yourself you will leave an unbalanced life. The Bible has 58 “one another” in the New Testament.
- Connections give us strength, emotional, spiritual, and physical.
The relationships that will last forever are those built in the family of God - the Church. The one thing that will last after this world is over is the church. (Romans 12:2). Church is not an event you attend, but a group you are a part of. We are connected to each other.
What a Church is like in metaphors (pictures)., a brick in a temple, a family member in a family, a vine to a branch.
- It connects me to God’s eternal temple. I Corinthians 3: 16 “ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Ephesians 2:21 -22 “in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” The word together is key.
Lessons from building - you cannot build it with one part. all the parts have to fit together, a part is useless until it is connected. By yourself you cannot be used. a part for the house needs to be inside the house not outside the house. We are connected to hold each other up.1 Timothy 3:15 “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground (foundation) of the truth.” The Benefit : I get support and stability. Small groups are a way to get this support.
2. Second Benefit: I get life and growth. It Connects me to Christ body. Ephesians 1:22-23 “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.” Romans 12: 4-5 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.” The church has many parts, God loves diversity. every part of the body is needed to make the body complete. we each have a different work to do, we need each other. I cannot fulfill God’s purpose for my life by myself.
People say I need Jesus but not the church. Colossians 2:19 “ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” Just as your body is connected, we must be connected in the church. You only grow by being connected to the church. You can make temporary change but you need people to make long lasting change.
Second Benefit: I get life and growth.
3. It connects me to the power of Jesus. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” This is our organic connection. One wire can keep your car from moving. John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” Connections makes us productive. Your life impact will be determine by the connections you make. The fruit comes from the root. This is the kind of fruit you will produce if you are connected:
Galatians 5:22-23 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Third Benefit: I get God’s power to Change. There are some problems you will never get rid of along, only in community being connected. Having others praying for you, holding you accountable and supporting you.
4. Fourth Picture: It connects me to God’s Family. A Christian without a church family is an orphan. Somebody chose you to be apart of their family when you left the hospital. You need a church family. Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” “1Timothy 3:15 “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church (family) of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Your number one priority in the family of God is to love the other members. 1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Colossians 3:14 “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (Most important love each other). Love is what holds the family together.
Fourth Benefit: I am loved and accepted. People need to hear your story and they need for you to hear their story.
2 Corinthians 8:5 “…but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”
A church family helps you to connect to God, to others, to the truth, with yourself to use your gifts and abilities , fulfill your life mission. The church will outlast every kingdom and business.
*Sermon Notes From Pastor Rick Warren.
