Ridgell's Originals

 I have three different people over the last week engage with me about finding a church home.  One did not have a community of faith, one could not get connected where they were going, and one had a major life crisis and no one in their church helped.  

And I want to be clear about something.  Your community of faith is probably much bigger than where you go to church.  Ours is.  But if you really want to live your best Jesus life, you need to be part of a local church community.  Being in worship with your church family matters.

Here are a few reasons why.

You need to know you are not doing the Jesus life by yourself.  There are people just like you trying to be like Jesus.  

Sometime these people need help. And sometimes you need help.  A church community gives you access to resources.  Spiritual leaders.  Healthy families.  Role models.

You need to be inspired.  Get a shot in the arm.  So you can go out in the world the rest of the week inspired to love and do good works.  Yes, I took that right out of Hebrews so I know it is true.

You can worship God by yourself.  But you need collective worship.  Five or 5000 people.  Just the connection of people praying together, singing together, studying Scripture together.

You need to do communion with other members of the body of Christ.  That is when we collectively affirm our conviction that Jesus died for us and that he will come back for us.  Check out I Corinthinans.  The best sermon when we assemble is the one we preach when we take communion together.

You need to pray over and be prayed over.  I can always tell a healthy church by how they pray.  Not just the public prayers, but the small group prayers.  Bible class prayers after taking prayer requests.  Seeing the preacher and other worship leaders in prayer before the assembly.  I love to see prayers in the foyer, prayers in the pew, prayers in the aisle.  

You need more follow Jesus encouragement.  

You need to hear more Bible.

You need a bigger family.

You need to praise God in your life of service, by living forgiven, and by coming together with other believers to praise our God.

And as we convert new Christians, we need them to worship with others.  You help that.  Just by being there.  And maybe you can walk with them in their new life.  Encourage them.  Mentor them in Jesus.

So show up.

Your life -- and my life -- may depend on it.    

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM