Why Do We Need The Local Church?

Euphemia

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WHY DO WE NEED CHURCH?


1. It is good for people not to be alone.
Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone...”

2. The Church is the family of God. Just as a child needs a family for protection and growth, so we too need a spiritual family for the same reasons.
Psalm 68:6
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

3. Being in a local church helps protect us from deception.
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

4. Being in a local church helps protect us from false teaching.
2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

5. The local church is a place for us to discover, develop, and release our gifts and talents to glorify God.
Read Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12.

6. We are encouraged by God to encourage each other in love, spurring on one another in our walk, remembering to meet together regularly.
Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.



Practical Benefits of Church:

1. Every person can function: A word of instruction, an interpretation, a hymn, etc. Someone who is outside of a local body cannot participate as God requires, and one's gifts go unused.
1 Corinthians 14:26
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

2. Each person can be discipled. Jesus commands us TO disciple as well as BE discipled.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

3. Each person can be trained. All through the gospels we see Jesus training twelve men who would later turn the world upside down!

4. Every member can be a minister. We grow into maturity, receiving gifts and using them.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

5. Every believer needs valuable relationships. Jesus is the ultimate friend. We learn about friendship.
John 13:15
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

John 15:15
I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

6. You can reach your friends and family for Christ.
Matthew 28:16-19
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
 
WHY DO WE NEED CHURCH?


1. It is good for people not to be alone.
Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone...”


2. The Church is the family of God. Just as a child needs a family for protection and growth, so we too need a spiritual family for the same reasons.
Psalm 68:6
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.


3. Being in a local church helps protect us from deception.
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.


4. Being in a local church helps protect us from false teaching.
2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.


5. The local church is a place for us to discover, develop, and release our gifts and talents to glorify God.
Read Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12.


6. We are encouraged by God to encourage each other in love, spurring on one another in our walk, remembering to meet together regularly.
Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.




Practical Benefits of Church:

1. Every person can function: A word of instruction, an interpretation, a hymn, etc. Someone who is outside of a local body cannot participate as God requires, and one's gifts go unused.
1 Corinthians 14:26
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.


2. Each person can be discipled. Jesus commands us TO disciple as well as BE discipled.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.


3. Each person can be trained. All through the gospels we see Jesus training twelve men who would later turn the world upside down!

4. Every member can be a minister. We grow into maturity, receiving gifts and using them.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.


5. Every believer needs valuable relationships. Jesus is the ultimate friend. We learn about friendship.
John 13:15
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.


John 15:15
I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.


6. You can reach your friends and family for Christ.
Matthew 28:16-19
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Agreed!
 
WHY DO WE NEED CHURCH?


1. It is good for people not to be alone.
Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone...”


2. The Church is the family of God. Just as a child needs a family for protection and growth, so we too need a spiritual family for the same reasons.
Psalm 68:6
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.


3. Being in a local church helps protect us from deception.
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.


4. Being in a local church helps protect us from false teaching.
2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.


5. The local church is a place for us to discover, develop, and release our gifts and talents to glorify God.
Read Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12.


6. We are encouraged by God to encourage each other in love, spurring on one another in our walk, remembering to meet together regularly.
Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.




Practical Benefits of Church:

1. Every person can function: A word of instruction, an interpretation, a hymn, etc. Someone who is outside of a local body cannot participate as God requires, and one's gifts go unused.
1 Corinthians 14:26
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.


2. Each person can be discipled. Jesus commands us TO disciple as well as BE discipled.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.


3. Each person can be trained. All through the gospels we see Jesus training twelve men who would later turn the world upside down!

4. Every member can be a minister. We grow into maturity, receiving gifts and using them.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.


5. Every believer needs valuable relationships. Jesus is the ultimate friend. We learn about friendship.
John 13:15
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.


John 15:15
I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.


6. You can reach your friends and family for Christ.
Matthew 28:16-19
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Boy, there is not much that can be added to your wonderful thread on the local church. It's very obvious that you have done a lot of study into this subject of which I applaud you.

As a general rule, everyone wants to be loved and needed. The local church is a great place for both to be realized. Over the years of being the pastor of several churches, I've had folk come because they were not loved and needed in the church they left. That's a shame and we should remember not to be that kind of church with cliques.
 
Boy, there is not much that can be added to your wonderful thread on the local church. It's very obvious that you have done a lot of study into this subject of which I applaud you.

As a general rule, everyone wants to be loved and needed. The local church is a great place for both to be realized. Over the years of being the pastor of several churches, I've had folk come because they were not loved and needed in the church they left. That's a shame and we should remember not to be that kind of church with cliques.

I agree with you. I came out of a wonderful church that I grew up in, but alas, it did contain some cliques, but could handle it as a mature person, but when it happens among the youth, it can be spiritually deadly. My children did pay a price for it. When the Lord moved us out of that community to where we are now, He also moved us out of that church and into another, where people grow.Either they grow or they go, as our pastor says!

Thank you for your comments on the opening article. It is one I put together based on a very good teaching that one of our pastors gave a few years ago and so impressed upon me the entire truth of the importance of the local body of Christ as the place for us to be trained in righteousness, and in ministry and from there we can be launched into ministry to the world. We are a family, after all!
 
I agree with you. I came out of a wonderful church that I grew up in, but alas, it did contain some cliques, but could handle it as a mature person, but when it happens among the youth, it can be spiritually deadly. My children did pay a price for it. When the Lord moved us out of that community to where we are now, He also moved us out of that church and into another, where people grow.Either they grow or they go, as our pastor says!

Thank you for your comments on the opening article. It is one I put together based on a very good teaching that one of our pastors gave a few years ago and so impressed upon me the entire truth of the importance of the local body of Christ as the place for us to be trained in righteousness, and in ministry and from there we can be launched into ministry to the world. We are a family, after all!

Very good. In viewing some of your posts and threads, I must say that IMO you are an amazing woman of God. I look forward to what you have to say. Your instructions and comments are so valuable to us all, thank you for being you! Love You Sister.(y)
 
Very good. In viewing some of your posts and threads, I must say that IMO you are an amazing woman of God. I look forward to what you have to say. Your instructions and comments are so valuable to us all, thank you for being you! Love You Sister.(y)

I am verklempt! Having to wade through all sorts of nasty nonsense from unbelievers and believers alike, almost daily (elsewhere, not here at CFS), I come away with a bit of a defeated sense of who I must be, sometimes! The Lord quickly speaks encouragement to me, but my spirit is bruised and sore. Then I open up this post from you, and there's oil in it! Oily with blessing that brings me joy. Thank you, dear brother. The fellowship that Christians can have even online is profound and rewarding after all!

Thank you is very unsatisfactory, but that's all that is there to say! Love you too, brother in Christ!
 
I am verklempt! Having to wade through all sorts of nasty nonsense from unbelievers and believers alike, almost daily (elsewhere, not here at CFS), I come away with a bit of a defeated sense of who I must be, sometimes! The Lord quickly speaks encouragement to me, but my spirit is bruised and sore. Then I open up this post from you, and there's oil in it! Oily with blessing that brings me joy. Thank you, dear brother. The fellowship that Christians can have even online is profound and rewarding after all!

Thank you is very unsatisfactory, but that's all that is there to say! Love you too, brother in Christ!

My Dear Sister. I believe that I can identify with your experiences. At one time in my serving Jesus as the pastor of the second Baptist Church that He led me to, oh boy, what a snake pit! The Elder Board of that church had dominated to pastor for many years. Two previous pastors in fact. I knew that the Lord had sent me there, so I dug in and did battle with this Board.

It wasn't until a past deacon came to me and confirmed that the Lord had indeed sent me there. This bunch of Elders, if the Pastor didn't agree with them, several of them would even swear at the Pastor! After meeting with this Deacon, the Lord refreshed my spirit and heart. Eventually, I led the Church to discipline and remove these men from the membership.

I say all of that because my heart goes out to you because you have been abused by Satan's henchmen. So, beloved Sister of the Lord, be encouraged and blessed because you have been on the firing line, been wounded but not killed. As the result of your past experiences, God has placed a wonderful anointing on your life and ministry. You have been tested in the furnace of adversity and come out with only a few burn marks of which Jesus will reward you, a jewel in your crown for each abrasion.

It's an honor for me to have met you, a fellow warrior for the Christ of God, Jesus. Stay the course, be alert to the deceptions of the evil one, love the Lord with all your heart because the time is very short until His coming. Lets you and I meet in Glory, sit by the crystal sea and rejoice that Jesus led us to be over comers. Until then, may God bless you with Grace and Peace.
 
Oh, CHOPPER! What can I say, now?? I receive your encouragement with joy, as a confirmation that I am right where I am because Jesus has placed me there. Slings and arrows? Yes sir! But the joy of knowing that I am being led by God to be that which He has called me to be, which is my goal in life, is immense! The days are extremely short, and I want to go out of this temporal life having received all that God has for me and given all that is required of me.

It will be one huge reunion in the Kingdom, meeting old familiars, and greeting new kin...and I will certainly enjoy meeting you there!
 

The main purpose of the local assembly, however, is for the saints, not for sinners. The local assembly, according to God’s pattern, is to be primarily an edification center as told to us in 1 Cor. 14:26, not an evangelistic center; a soul-building station as seen in Acts 20:28,32, not a soul-winning station.

Of course, if the whole counsel of God is preached and if the Bible is faithfully taught then the cross of Christ, the grace of God, justification and God’s so-great salvation would be themes heard repeatedly. How can you preach the Word and not preach the gospel? On the other hand, it is possible to preach the gospel in such a way that fails to provide proper nourishment for the saints.

IMO, Believers need more than a steady diet of "John 3:16 messages."

Interestingly enough, the cults do not establish evangelistic centers. Rather they establish edificational centers to train their people to go out and do the work of the ministry. The people are immersed in a program of total indoctrination. The average Jehovah’s Witness, for example, is ready always to give an answer to every man that asks him a reason of the false hope that is within him. The average Bible believer is horribly ignorant of God’s truth. The devil knows which system really works. The cults do not lack for converts.
 
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