Benefits of Belonging

Benefits of Belonging

We are continuing our Series on Building a Spiritual Life and so far, we’ve talked about the Church’s Identity, Our New Life in the Church, How to Connect with the Church, and tonight we will look at the Benefits of Belonging to the Church.

Genesis 2:18
¹⁸ And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone […]

From the beginning of time, God intended for us to build and maintain relationships. It is obvious here in Scripture that the Creator did not want us to be alone, but would rather have us “belong”, and it is important to understand that what we belong to matters.

The Importance of Community

An essential element of building a spiritual life is being part of a church community. Community is defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. This is exactly what Church is all about.

Acts 4:32
³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: […] but they had all things common.

The Apostles devoted themselves to the mission of the early church, and we should be no different. We are to go into “all the world” and “preach the Gospel” [Matthew 24:14].

Some members of the church may only be able to see their individual needs, sometimes they are able to see the needs around their town, city or county, but we need to understand that each church member and every individual church are to fulfil a specific role and need within the body of Christ. While it is true that we are a church community here, we also belong to a much larger community out there and we play are to play a part in the global body of Christ.

The Privileges of Joining

1 Corinthians 12:12-13
¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

When Jesus redeems us from our sins, He does not leave us in isolation, we are baptized into the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compares the church body to that of a human body. Just as the body has many parts, each designed to carry out a specific function, the church is no different [1 Corinthians 12:14-27]. Just as the body can’t function without its parts, the same can be said about the church. We need each member present, and ready to perform their role.

God designed the church to be a family. The relationships formed in the church should be woven together. We are called to love, support, and care for one another through the highs and lows of life [Romans 12:15]. God has joined us together down here (earth), so that we can help each other make it there (heaven). The only way to accomplish this is to be present in the church.

Hebrews 10:25
²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The Bible promotes regular and faithful church attendance. When a person is new to a community of believers, making church a priority over other commitments can be a challenge. At first, but as one matures in Christ, faithful attendance to church, not just activities, or socials, or special functions, but faithful attendance to church should be the norm, not the exception.

Going back to Paul’s analogy of the body, what would happen if your eyes decided to just not show up one morning when you woke up? What if your legs chose to take the day off? What about your esophagus? Your brain? You get the picture. We need each part of our body to be in working order to be able to do the things we desire to do day by day. It’s no different here in the church. We need everyone to be present, we need you to be available, we need each one every time the doors are open. No one is “non-essential” in the kingdom of God.

Using Our Individual Gifts

Romans 12:4-8
⁴ For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁵ So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; ⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; ⁸ Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Here Paul outlines a series of spiritual gifts. Another list can be found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and 1 Corinthians 12:28-31. The list is not exhaustive but gives the church a good place to start. Everyone has giftings and talents that can be used in the church.

Colossians 3:23
²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Whatever gifts, talents, or skills you possess, you should seek a way to use them within the body of Christ, not for your glory, but for the glory of God. God created you with a purpose, God has a plan for your life. God loves you, the church does too!

You Belong Here!