Church
In the Bible the word translated church means a
group of people called together for some purpose.
Church is not a building,
church is a group of Christians.
(In English we do also use the same word to
mean the building that Christians usually meet in. But for now, let’s stick to
the Biblical meaning of the actual people.)
There is nothing in the Bible about how often
you have to gather with other members of your church.
So you can go as often as you like! Even every day if you want. In the beginning of the book of
Acts (which is the story of the first years of the church), they met together
in each others’ houses every day. Read it, it was
amazing. It would have been great to have been there.
Also in Acts, we see that when they met they
had some teaching, some fellowship with each other, some food, and lots of
prayer. Quite a different focus than you would find in
many modern churches. But there is no rule about what we do when we gather.
It’s just important that we get together.
The most important thing about church is that
if you are a Christian, then you are part of it. Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12
both talk about the church being like a body. One person is the arm, one is a leg, or an eye, an ear… And then Jesus is the
head, coordinating the whole thing. It’s amazing, we
literally are Jesus body on Earth, his hands, his feet.
God made you unique to fit exactly into his
church. So you need to find out which bit you are. Ask older Christians or your
church leader to help you if you don’t know. And then focus on being the best
one of those bits you can be.
If you’re really good at doing practical
things, then focus on that. If you are really good at leading people, focus on
that. If you are really good at praying, focus on that.
Think about what you love doing. Find a way to
do that as part of a church.
And if you’re really not sure, just ask if you
can try lots of different things in church and keep going until you find one
that fits you. It will be there somewhere.
The role of the church is to show the world
what Jesus is like by living it out. And telling them about
him so that they can become part of the church too.
Jesus said, “love one
another the way I have loved you and the world will know you are my disciples”.
Get to know your church. Get to love them. It will take effort, but you’ll find
a way. God will help you.
So, get together with your church as
often as you can. Spend time, not just in “meetings” but eating and praying
together and just hanging out with them.
Love them. Love your church. The rest
will flow from there.
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