Christian Foundations 3 - Growthಮಾದರಿ

CHURCH IS IMPORTANT

Hebrews was a letter written primarily to Jewish Christians, so it has lots of references to the Old Testament. This may make today’s reading a little difficult to understand if you don’t know much about the Old Testament. Sorry. But I have chosen a reading from Hebrews because the letter addresses people who have stopped growing in their faith and are beginning to give up. The writer of Hebrews has some really helpful things to say about the dangers of slacking off and the ways to keep growing. Here is a taste.

Read: Hebrews 10:19-25

Journal

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What do I want to discuss/read further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. How has involvement in your church family helped you so far?

Reflect

Church was very different back in the time when the New Testament was written. To start with, people had no weekends, so meetings of the church were probably at night after work. The churches were small and usually met in homes, and the meetings of the church were very flexible. Our structured, well-resourced church services, held in a special building on Sundays, were a later development. When you picture a New Testament church "service," think more of a small group meeting during the week for a meal in a home with some flexible activities (like singing or prayer or preaching or prophetic words) around the meal.

But some Christians were abandoning these meetings. Maybe they didn’t find them helpful. Perhaps they felt that they could pursue the Christian faith more effectively on their own. Maybe they were just too busy to go out at night. Maybe they weren’t getting on with others in the church. You’ve probably heard much the same reasons for Christians not going to church these days.

However, the New Testament never tolerates the idea of a Christian without a church family. It’s together that Christians are forged into the likeness of Jesus. It’s together that Christians impact their world. It’s together that Christians are able to use their gifts collaboratively. Christians are meant to function like a choir, not as soloists.

You may not always like the church services or get on well with every church member or agree with everything that goes on. But you are part of the church and without this group of God’s people, you are not likely to grow. So give your church your support and let your Christian family encourage you and forge you and challenge you as you do the same for them. You need your church and they need you. As Hebrews says, “Let us not give up meeting together."

Pray

Thanks for my church, Lord. They’re ordinary people like me, but You are working on and through us together and we really do need each other. Help me to throw myself into loving and serving the special group of people in which you have planted me.

Respond

List three ways in which your church is helping you grow in Jesus.

Written by John Sweetman