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I made it to church today for the first time since I broke my ankle. I was only able to sit through Sunday school before my ankle began acting up, causing me to leave. Even though I was only able to stay for a little more than an hour, what a refreshing hour it was. There are very few joys in life that compare to spending good fellowship with your church family. As a christian, fellowship is not only needed it is biblical. The act of fellowship and communion was a regular practice in the early church.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
-Acts 2:42 (NASB)
Sadly though my Brothers and Sisters, it seem that our pews are becoming a bit empty. Many Christians are of the mind that they don't need church to worship God. And in a way they are right, personal worship is just that, personal. But there are more and more "lone Christians", as I like to call them, coming onto the scene. The "lone christian" is made up many different types of believers. Some of them are long time Christians who have decided for whatever reason to stop going to church. They believe in God and that Jesus died, they've accepted him as their savior but somewhere down the line they were soured on church. Others are Christians who get saved and for whatever reason won't find a fellowship. They are content to take their "ticket to heaven" put it in their pocket and be done with the whole "christian thing".
No matter the background, the fact remains that these brothers and sisters in Christ are not actively involved with a body of believers. This is a dangerous place for any of us to be, friends. Without a body of believers a christian is vulnerable to attack. 1 Peter 5:8 says that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And like a lion, the devil isn't as likely to go for the christian surrounded by a body of believers, as he is to attack one on his or her own. We, as Christians are must constantly be aware of the battle continually raging around us. Make no mistake about it christian, WE ARE AT WAR, and the only way we can stand is as one unified body... the body of Christ.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places.}
-Ephesians 6:12
One of the primary misconceptions I hear from these "lone Christians" is that "church is just a building, I can have church in my living room." And their right. Church can be held in living rooms and is fairly regularly around the world. The point is, the church is not just a building. The church is the unity of the Body of Christ. It is the way we as Christians live one another and hold one another accountable. Church is family; we help each other in times of need, cry with one another in times of sadness, laugh together in times of joy, and most importantly, love one another all the time.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another;} and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
-Hebrews 10:23-25
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
-Acts 2:42 (NASB)
Sadly though my Brothers and Sisters, it seem that our pews are becoming a bit empty. Many Christians are of the mind that they don't need church to worship God. And in a way they are right, personal worship is just that, personal. But there are more and more "lone Christians", as I like to call them, coming onto the scene. The "lone christian" is made up many different types of believers. Some of them are long time Christians who have decided for whatever reason to stop going to church. They believe in God and that Jesus died, they've accepted him as their savior but somewhere down the line they were soured on church. Others are Christians who get saved and for whatever reason won't find a fellowship. They are content to take their "ticket to heaven" put it in their pocket and be done with the whole "christian thing".
No matter the background, the fact remains that these brothers and sisters in Christ are not actively involved with a body of believers. This is a dangerous place for any of us to be, friends. Without a body of believers a christian is vulnerable to attack. 1 Peter 5:8 says that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And like a lion, the devil isn't as likely to go for the christian surrounded by a body of believers, as he is to attack one on his or her own. We, as Christians are must constantly be aware of the battle continually raging around us. Make no mistake about it christian, WE ARE AT WAR, and the only way we can stand is as one unified body... the body of Christ.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places.}
-Ephesians 6:12
One of the primary misconceptions I hear from these "lone Christians" is that "church is just a building, I can have church in my living room." And their right. Church can be held in living rooms and is fairly regularly around the world. The point is, the church is not just a building. The church is the unity of the Body of Christ. It is the way we as Christians live one another and hold one another accountable. Church is family; we help each other in times of need, cry with one another in times of sadness, laugh together in times of joy, and most importantly, love one another all the time.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another;} and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
-Hebrews 10:23-25
