The Children of GOD Go To Church – Part 1

The first and chief need of our Christian life is fellowship with God; the second is fellowship with each other, and the church is the place where we the children of GOD are able to satisfy these needs together. At church we can fully enjoy and experiences being the family of GOD and the body of CHRIST.

What is the church?

The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia, the English translation is “an assembly” –describing people, not a building. In the Bible, the word “church” describes the body of CHRIST. All people everywhere who have placed their faith in JESUS CHRIST for salvation make up the universal church body, of which CHRIST is the Head.

The local church as we know it today is a gathering of members of the universal church. We, the universal church, meet in a specific location (the church building) to worship GOD, pray and fellowship together.

Why does the church go to church?

We read about the first church in the Bible Book of Acts (2:42-47.) These believers had no designated church building but met in each other’s homes where they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42.) These new Christian believers met wherever they could at that time to pray, and for teaching and fellowship – what we now consider “going to church.” 

It is GOD’s will that His children assemble together regularly, both to fellowship and to do the work of the Kingdom.

The local church is the place where the children of GOD can actually live out being the family of GOD and the body of CHRIST simultaneously.

“…motivate one another to acts of love and good works…not neglect our meeting together,…encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Church life as the Family of GOD 

Scripture teaches us life-affirming ways to relate to each other as children of GOD. We can only learn about and practice these spiritual skills by regularly spending time together – it is how we can nurture and strengthen the spiritual bond and be effective members of GOD’s Family:

Worshiping our Father together with songs of praise –

• “…singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.” Ephesians 5:19. Like any parent would, GOD takes great delight in seeing and hearing His children demonstrate how much we love and appreciate Him. GOD is probably the only Parent who does not object to all His children talking to Him at the same time – it is His joy to have us worship and praise Him together and enjoy doing so with each other, as much as we are enjoying Him. 

Loving one another as our Father loves us –

• “..if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:12; Love each other with genuine affection… Romans 12:10. Healthy families love each another, regardless. The children of GOD ought to be the healthiest of families – genuinely loving even the most difficult members of our spiritual Family. No one who is in CHRIST stops being a part of GOD’s Family. He loves us all and we must choose to love as He does, doing all that we can, with His help, to encourage all in the Family to thrive and be an asset to our community and the Kingdom.

Sharing burdens and being a support in others’ suffering –

• “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality…Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:13 & 15. When one of GOD’s children is in trouble, all of GOD’s other children must rally around in support and provide any and all aid necessary for restoration - money, accommodation, advice, correction, sympathy etc. All that we need is in the Family – our Father is well able to and does provide.

Providing encouragement to sustain holy living and faithfulness to the Father –

• “You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. Hebrews 3:13. We are saved by CHRIST’s atoning blood but we are yet and always will be vulnerable to temptation to sin. As the Family of GOD, we are accountable one to the other – we remain alert to others’ spiritual weariness and other signals of a spiritual malaise. We come alongside with prayer and encouragement and reminders of the Father’s love and faithfulness. We do not lessen our efforts until the danger has passed. We cannot be shy about calling out or warning against back-sliding behavior. We are our brothers’ (and sisters’) keepers.  

Serving and honoring one another –

• “…serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13. “…and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10. Families do for each other sacrificially, putting another relations needs above our own. In the Family of GOD, we give to our own hurt – time talent and resources. We tell our earthly children “don’t be selfish, “share” and “be nice” – our heavenly Father wants His children to do have the same care and concern for each other.

Instructing and receiving instructions from GOD’s WORD –

• “…teach each other.” Romans 15:14. We come together to study and learn GOD’s WORD which the Bible tells us is “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” (2 Tim. 3:16). By knowing His WORD, we know the Father and what He expects of us – GOD Himself speaking to His Family. Individual Bible study is essential, but in Family study all have an opportunity to share different perspectives and insights – this sharing helps to ensure that everyone’s knowledge and understanding is based on Truth, and is especially vital for newer members of the Family.

Showing kindness and compassion to one another –

• “…be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32. If we are honest, we must admit that there are times when we are not liking a family member very much. Human beings, even Christians, get on each other’s nerves. But as Christians, we keep back bitterness and find a way to come together, for the sake of the relationship and peace. We seek to understand each other’s’ weaknesses, acknowledging that we too are flawed. We forgive, reconcile and continue to love. If our earthly fathers and mothers, who are themselves broken, know and expect this – how much more does the Holy GOD desire this for us.

Receiving and giving the blessing of corporate prayer –

• “… pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1-2.  Yes, we can pray at home, but something miraculous happens “where two or more are gathered together” in JESUS’ NAME, JESUS says, “I am there among them" (Mat. 18:30).  When the Family of believers come together to pray for the needs and concerns of each other, our community and the church universal, the SON joins the prayer group so the entire Family of GOD is unified with one purpose – intercession, aid and thanksgiving. And because we are agree as one JESUS says what we ask for “will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Mat. 18:29). That is deserving of a Hallelujah!

Believers in CHRIST are the Family of GOD – a family by nature is an inter-dependent entity. To be a part of a local church means to be inter-dependent with other people in the church.

The Family of GOD is one of only two things that will last for all eternity, the other being the WORD of GOD, which affirms clearly our Interdependence with each other is necessity for all the reasons given above, and more.

As Believers we must trust GOD’s promise that JESUS CHRIST will return for His Church. When He does, one thousand or however many years from now that will be, we, the Family of GOD, are the people who will occupy the New Jerusalem, for all eternity.Until then the Father wants us to get used to being together as His Family.

And as we learn how to live out being GOD’s Family together in the church setting, we learn how to be the Body of Christ.

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, our LORD and our GOD whose love never ends. We thank you that in YOUR great wisdom YOU knew YOUR people in advance, and chose them to become like YOUR SON, who is the firstborn among us, HIS brothers and sisters. Thank YOU for making us who were the lost and damned YOUR Family. Thank YOU for teaching us that we are interdependent on  each other – that we must come together for love and support and above all Family worship and praise to our Father. Open our hearts to understand that if we truly belong to GOD’s Family we will be passionate about meeting together regularly. Forgive us for any neglect of our coming together and continue to draw us with YOUR love.  Remind us that obedience is far better than any sacrifice we bring to YOU and we will reward us according to YOUR WORD – YOU have given us right standing and YOUR glory. To YOU, we give all praise, all honor and all glory, may we do only what is pleasing in YOUR sight. We ask all things in JESUS’ Holy NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile