Why You Need to Join a Church

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES 40 Days of Love   Why You Need to Join a Church By Rick Warren — Jul 10, 2015 “First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God’s will they gave themselves to us as well.” (2 Corinthians 8:5b TEV) Whenever a child is born, he or she automatically becomes a part of the universal family of human beings. But that child also needs to become a member of a specific family to receive nurture and care and grow up healthy and strong. The same is true spiritually. When you were born again, you automatically became a part of God’s universal family. But you also need to become a member of a local expression of God’s family. The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. Attenders are spectators from the sidelines; members get involved in the ministry. Attenders are consumers; members are contributors. Attenders want the benefits of a church without sharing the responsibility. They are like couples that want to live together without committing to marriage. Why is it important to join a local church family? Because it proves you are committed to your spiritual brothers and sisters in reality, not just in theory. God wants you to love real people, not ideal people. You can spend a lifetime searching for the perfect church, but you will never find it. You are called to love imperfect sinners, just as God does. In Acts, the Christians in Jerusalem were very specific in their commitment to each other. They were devoted to fellowship. The Bible says, “They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers” (Acts 2:42 MSG). God expects you to commit to the same things today. Joining the membership of a local church is the natural next step once you’ve become a child of God. You become a Christian by committing yourself to Christ, but you become a church member by committing yourself to a specific group of believers. The first decision brings salvation; the second brings fellowship. “First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God’s will they gave themselves to us as well” (2 Corinthians 8:5b TEV). PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What fears have kept you from joining a local church? What kind of testimony is church membership to people outside the Body of Christ? How can you commit yourself to the things mentioned in Acts 2:42 in your church?

 

Today’s Scripture “But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God...” (1 John 2:5, AMP) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Treasure the Word When you treasure something, it’s valuable to you. You handle it carefully and protect it. When you treasure a person or relationship, you give attention to them and think about them constantly. The question is, how much do you treasure the Word of God? When you treasure the Word of God, you are expressing your love for God. You treasure the Word by meditating on it or thinking about it all throughout the day. Remember, your life will go in the direction of your most dominant thoughts. When your dominant thoughts are the Word of God, you will be empowered to overcome in every area of life! Make God’s Word a priority in your life today and allow it to shape your thinking. Choose to treasure the Word so you can move forward in the abundant life He has for you! A Prayer for Today “Father, today I choose to focus my thoughts on You. I choose to treasure Your Word so that my actions will show how much I love You in Jesus’ name. Amen.” ​PS ​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wN-fspKg1Q