1. I NEED CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S A FAMILY REUNION
During Christmas, Thanksgiving (Chusok) and New Years families work hard to get together. It is very sad to see someone who does not want to get together with his family. Jesus said, "Who is My family? Those who do My will?" (Mark 3:33,35). We are a family of believers. When someone in the family has good news, we rejoice together. When someone in the family has bad news, we are sad and cry together. We help each other. Don't leave the family of believers. We need each other.
2. I NEED CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S A CLASSROOM
You and I have been hand-picked for a mission. God has told me to make disciples, students in the school of Jesus Christ and then to teach them all that Jesus wants them to learn (Matthew 28:18-20). I can't begin to do this unless I'm first a student in this course of Christian discipleship. The church is God's classroom and I need to be in attendance. I should not skip class.
3. I NEED CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S A RETREAT
The church is a place to get away from the worries, cares and busyness of the world and to come and focus on God. It's a mini-retreat. It's a refuge. It is where I come to be refreshed, to have my batteries recharged and to go back encouraged and ready to face the world again.
Have you ever made a campfire outside. First, you gather the little pine needles and small sticks. Then you get some sticks that are a little larger. Finally you get bigger and bigger sticks. Maybe you form your sticks into the shape of a teepee. And you light it with a match. After the fire get's going you put on the larger sticks and logs and you have a nice campfire. But if in the middle of the camp fire you take out one of the logs and set it by itself it will not stay on fire. The fire on that one log will go out. The same is true if you stop going to church. If you take yourself away from church you will soon grow cold toward God, God's people and the things of God. To stay hot for God you need to be with other Christians who are hot for God. You need to be in church.
4. I NEED CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S A BILLBOARD
When my family, friends, and neighbors see and know that every Sunday I leave my house and go to that building where the church meets, that will see that this is important in my life. This lets everyone know that God is important to us. If my life is a good example this should attract them to want to know my God, to want to know what happens at church. My faithful church attendance is an advertisement, a billboard, a placard to all those around me. And if I do not attend it will show that it is not very important to me.
5. I NEED CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S A MEMORIAL SERVICE
Imagine that I was in a war, and the enemy threw a grenade that was going to explode. But one of my friends threw himself on that grenade to save me - and it killed him. Then suppose that I heard that there was a memorial service for him in my hometown. Would I be there? Of course! And since Jesus died for me, it's to honor Him that I attend His memorial service. It's to honor Him that I remember His death and take communion.
6. I NEED CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S A VICTORY CELEBRATION
It was on a Sunday morning that Jesus arose from the dead, defeating death and left an empty tomb. From that time on, every Sunday has pointed back to that greatest day in history. It is greater than any sports team winning a World Series or Super Bowl. It is greater than any country winning any war in all of history. Every Sunday is an opportunity the celebrate the greatest event that ever took place. At least one day a week do not let the opportunity pass by to celebrate that Jesus lives and reigns today.
7. I NEED CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S AN APPOINTMENT WITH GOD
If the president of our country asked us to meet Him for an appointment we would be there. We would not miss it. We would not forget it. We would make sure we were not late. An appointment with the president is too important. But is not God higher than the president. In fact, the Bible says that God is the one who puts rulers up in their positions and takes them down from their positions. God wants me to meet with Him personally every day. But He also wants me to get together regularly, every week with other believers. He has told me to not miss this appointment,
Hebrews
10:25 |
"Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as some are in the habit of doing but encourage each other. And do this even more frequently as the return of Christ gets nearer and nearer." |
In other words, God tells us, Don't skip church.
Why do I need church? I need it because it is a family reunion, because it is a classroom, because it is a retreat, because it's a billboard, because it's a memorial service, because it's a victory celebration and because it is an appointment with God.
Even Jesus went to church. Luke 4:16 says , "And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read." Jesus went to church and notice that it says, "As His custom was." Jesus had the custom, the habit of going to church.
Before this remember when Jesus was 12 years old and He went down with His parents to Jerusalem. After a while they npoticed He was gpone and went looking for Him. Where did they find Him? In the Temple (Luke 2:43). After Jesus fed the 5000 the people went looking for Him. Where did they find Him? In the synagogue (John 6:59). It was the custom, the habit of Jesus to go to church.
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by Steve Nicholes
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