YOUR LOCAL CHURCH…
(Hebr. 10: 24 - 25)
"And let us CONSIDER one another in order to STIR up LOVE and good WORKS, not forsaking the ASSEMBLING of ourselves TOGETHER, as is the manner of some, but EXHORTING one another…"
The above Scripture teaches that we as followers of Jesus Christ should be part of an active local church. The key words seem to be, "togetherness, love, works and encouragement"… But what are the deeper meanings of these?
WORSHIP
The community of believers is the environment where we may praise and proclaim the goodness of our Father... Here we may testify, pray, sing, shout glory, clap our hands, dance, rejoice and worship in His presence!
KOINONIA
The gathering of believers is the place where our Father has fellowship with us… Koinonia is "spiritual fellowship" of divine glory and majesty as we can see from 1 John 1:3, "…that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." The gathering of saints is the place where Jesus meets with us. This is where he ministers to us about redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness, deliverance, healing, renewal and true peace… This is also the place where the Holy Spirit builds and blesses the body of Christ… It is the place where members are equipped for ministry (Eph 4). It is also the environment where the Spiritual Gifts should operate in an orderly way… (1 Cor 12: 7 - 11) The calling and the mission of the church should be an extension of what Jesus Christ came to show is many years ago…
SACRAMENTS
The gathering of believers is also the place where the two New Covenant Sacraments are administered. After salvation took place, baptism is the first sign of obedience to God and also a public declaration that you are now part of the body of Christ. Then follows regular Holy Communion (Lord's Supper) which strengthens our faith and reminds us of the crucifixion, resurrection and the second coming of Jesus our Messiah…
PREACHING
It is the environment for preaching… It is where the Word of God is clearly and powerfully expounded. Believers are build up in their most holy faith (Jude 1:20). This is the place where members of the church are corrected, rebuked and encouraged in love, with great patience and careful instruction, "Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Tim 4:2). This is the place where the assembly has the opportunity to answer to God's Words coming to us via the proclamation of the Gospel…
LOVE
The gathering of saints is the place where the family of Christ may support, encourage, care and serve one another in love of our Lord Jesus. Our unity and togetherness present a blessed spiritual, emotional and therapeutical enrichment.
TREASURY
The community of believers is the environment where we deposit our funds as good stewards…The bringing of our tithes and offerings forms part of our liturgy of praise and worship and thanksgiving… On the first day of the week, the day of the Lord, we set aside a sum of money in keeping with our income, bringing it to the place of worship, that there may be food in the house of the Lord (Mal 3:10). Give what you have decided in your heart, for God loves a cheerful giver! (1 Cor 9:7)
The benefits of belonging to an active visible church may hardly be underestimated… It is the Lord's will for the members of His mystical body to belong to and have fellowship with the visible community of the saints… This is the only way we could fulfil our ministry calling in a proper way and contribute toward the expansion of His Kingdom…
Let's not stay away!
In Christ,
Rick Grobler