How Important is Church Community?

The writer of Hebrews states, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:24-25)

Church community should not be an option in the Christian life.  We are commanded to assemble together as a body of believers.  Do you view going to church as a chore or task? Or do you get excited to walk into the doors of church and partake in community worship with like-minded believers? Church going should involve worship to our Heavenly Father, prayer among the saints, Bible study through illumination in the Holy Spirit, and collaborative community with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Church going should not be a daunting task, but a desirable luxury to partake in! God wants our full body, soul, and spirit yielded to Him and church community is a sure way to fulfill that! (1 Thess. 5:23)

Three steps in making church a priority are collaborate, communicate, and commitment. Collaborate (simply push yourself to step out in faith), communicate (get involved while at church; seek to learn through participation), and commitment (commit to the process of allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you spiritually). Do it for the Lord!

Ponder these 9 statements below to see if you view church as a job or a ministry? 

(1.) If you are doing it because no one else will, it’s a job. If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it’s a ministry. Mark 10:42-45 – “But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister (servant): And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus is teaching us here the importance of being a servant (whether in the church or one's secular job). Let’s read Colossians 3:17 – “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

(2.) If you are doing it just well enough to get by, it’s a job. If you are doing it to the best of your ability, it’s a ministry. Romans 12:11 – “Not slothful in business; fervent (meaning on fire) in spirit; serving the Lord;” A lazy Christian should not be found at church or in their secular jobs. Christians should be the most diligent workers because they are truly working for the Lord. Our strong work ethic should glorify God in all places. Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Our Christian Testimony should show up in whatever place of duty we find ourselves in. Hard workers at the church have their lights shining brightly. Don’t you think they should also shine up brightly at your secular job?

(3.) If you will do it only so long as it doesn’t interfere with other activities you are involved in, it’s a job. If you are committed to staying with it, even when it means letting go of other things, it’s a ministry. We should all be committed like Joshua was. Joshua 24:15 – “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua served God faithfully and was thoroughly convinced to keep serving the Lord. Are you convinced also to faithfully serve Him? Luke 18:29-30 – “And he (Jesus) said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” God gives us ample more (whether in this life or the life to come) when we serve Him. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered (service) to the saints, and do minister (serve)." (Heb. 6:10) When you give up your time, treasures, and talents to God, you are making a very wise decision.

(4.) If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a job. If you stayed with it, even though no one seems to notice or care, it’s a ministry. Ephesians 6:6-7 – “Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:” Psalms 107:31 – “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” We can’t praise God enough for all the things He has done for us and through us in our lives! Let us take heed on what was required of Israel. Deuteronomy 10:12 – “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,” Are we showing fear of God in our lives? This means respecting, adoring, and honoring the Lord in faithful worship. Are we walking in life in a Godly manner? Are we showing the Lord we love Him through faithfully serving Him with enthusiasm?

(5.) If you do it because someone else said that it needs to be done, it’s a job. If you are doing it because you are convinced it needs to be done, it’s a ministry. 1 Samuel 12:24 – “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” What was the consequences for Israel in not serving the Lord? It is a command to serve the Lord with gladness. It is a command to thank the Lord and serve Him in truth. You can serve the Lord through many methods (monotonous, daunting tasks), or you can serve Him through Godly principles of spiritual life (embrace a Godly manner of life fully yielded to Him in body, soul, and spirit). Methods always change. Principles laid out in the Bible never do. We all need to be geared to the times, but most importantly anchored throughout our lives to the Rock Jesus Christ! Deuteronomy 28:47-48 – “Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.” The Old Testament is for our learning. Know that God is Holy, Righteous, and Just. We should have a healthy fear of Him because of who He is, knowing He has our best interest in life.

(6.) It is hard to get excited about a job. It is impossible not to get excited about a ministry. Romans 14:17-18 – “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.” Does righteousness, joy and peace show up in your life daily? If they do, you are feeling God working in and throughout your life. Conducting physical and spiritual tasks yielded to Him gets God’s approval, and it will also get men’s approval (secular jobs appreciate hard workers)!

(7.) If your concern is success, it is a job. If your concern is faithfulness, it is a ministry. 1 Corinthians 4:2 – “Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.” All of us should want to be found faithful to God in giving Him first place in our lives by faithfully serving Him!

(8.) People may say, “Well done” when you do your job. The Lord will say “Well done thou good and faithful servant” when you fulfil your ministry. If we are faithful over a few things, the Lord will make us ruler over many things. Matthew 25:21 – “His lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Faithfulness to God and to His work will be rewarded in blessings on earth (inner peace, joy, and fulfillment in life) and eternal rewards in Heaven. God is looking to bless the faithful servant (see 2 Chron. 16:9). It is not hard to be found faithful and it is the most rewarding thing in life to do!

(9.) An average church is filled with people doing jobs. A fervent (meaning people who are on fire for the Lord) church is filled with people who are performing a ministry for the Lord faithfully! Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” What is faith? It is totally trusting in the promises of God's Word to us; it's living a Godly lifestyle knowing God's approval is upon your life. If I am diligently seeking the Lord on how to please Him, how to have a better life, how to get closer to Him, how to have an intimate relationship with Him, where will I find these answers? We have all the answers to all life's questions in the Bible; and if we will obey, we will see the presence of God!  Psalms 119:2 – “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” How can we be blessed? By living a Godly lifestyle, obeying the Bible’s teachings, by being in fellowship with the Lord and by serving Him wholeheartedly. Psalms 1:6 – “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” God knows the ways of the righteous and He will be pleased with your life if you serve Him cheerfully and faithfully.