I Samuel 12:23
“…And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”
This is Samuel the prophet speaking to the people. This is the job of the pastor. The church is the main place where we receive teaching. In today’s world, it can be gotten on the radio, tv or computer. However, being connected to a church is important and God’s plan.
It’s possible to be a christian and not go to church. Yet, there is much that will be lost by being separate. The bible speaks of strength in numbers. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” One may ask, “What’s this referring to? What’s the danger?”
Jesus answered this in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). He spoke of how God’s word is planted in our hearts. There were four heart attitudes and only one was a suitable environment for reception; three of them were hostile. The devil was active in one of the attitudes as he snatched the message from us.
How does being in the company of other believers help? Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” It’s similar to being part of a team; we encourage others and they encourage us.
While the previous Hebrews passage spoke of how to keep one another away from sin, 10:24 tells us how to live the life. “And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.” Young people join one another in going to church and volunteer in serving others. Young families meet in home groups and plan activities with their kids. Singles meet and do social things and serve. Being with other believers keeps us from sin and encourages us to good works.
If we aren’t in church hearing the bible and not associating with other believers, our spiritual growth will be stunted. Hebrews 5:12 says, “For even by the time you ought to be teachers, you have need of one to teach you again what is the beginning of the principles of the oracles of God; and you have become those having need of milk, and not of solid food.”
Lord, thank You for the church. Thank You for the good teaching we receive and the fellowship that matures us. Help us take advantage of all that’s offered.