We’re so blessed to live full lives with so much opportunity, safety and freedom. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and my weekly e-mail consisting of marriage and family tips, Bible verses, and upcoming blog posts. He gave them power and authority over all demons and power to cure diseases. There are too many weekends where I’d rather stay cuddled up in bed with a favorite book or binge watching my latest Netflix obsession. Here’s Why, 7 Secrets to Finding the Life You Were Created to Live, Keto 101: What it is, How it Works, and How to Get Started, High, Low, and Interesting: A Family Dinner Conversation Game. It reinforces the higher philosophy and purpose behind marriage and family and it allows us a safe space to connect with God and our spouse together. Thank you and God Bless If not, why not? Oh, that God would capture our hearts in a new and fresh way. When my mother passed away, a co-worker (who was also a pastor’s wife) gently encouraged me during that season, “You need a church home, Tiffany. Such a great post! Thank you for sharing. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. Knowing this does give me some sense of peace. And that usually means that I need to reevaluate my schedule and regain some sanity, because at the end of the day, I’ve never once regretted taking the time to attend church. He’d be first to agree the church is made up of people who were not perfect––neither was he for that matter. Part of the reason that we need to be in regular fellowship with other believers is so that we might receive the benefit of their spiritual gifts and, in turn, give our spiritual gifts to the body of Christ. In those somber moments of reflection on God’s word, we were reminded of our own fragility: we will all die, and it could be sooner than we expect. It gives us a space to pray and to express humility and gratitude. On another occasion Jesus sent out seventy of His disciples, again two by two, and He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest … Heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’. That is essentially what our Jewish friend, the Apostle Paul, is saying in 1 Timothy 3:14-16. Most never really had a relationship with Jesus. A church family that is pressing into Jesus’s mission is forced to trust God for his presence, power, and provision (Matthew 28:18–20). Share this page using one of these tools: Email / username or password was incorrect! Yes, waking up and getting every one dressed for church is A LOT of work. Where are they to be used? (See 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12:6). Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. As well as someone you can count on to be there and take your needs in prayer. We are never called to “go it alone” in our faith, and we are never called to “go it alone” in ministry to others. A more peripheral benefit of church attendance is the way it connects us socially. I believe that a loving church family is very important. My pastor used to say that as a kid he really believed that church was on holy ground. Think you don’t have time for church? So they flock to churches that help them muster up those feelings. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Our game-changing Holiday Planner is back and better than ever, and FREE for a limited time. Trask said, “This church (the A/G) has always been a praying church. One of the most important spiritual disciplines you can develop is faithful involvement with other believers. That is what Proverbs 27:17 tells us. The church is important because it reveals Christ, even as Christ reveals God in human flesh. In the summer of 2005, our church covered a 15-block radius around the church by going door-to-door introducing ourselves as the "community church." Close-knit community lovingly urges us toward maturity (Ephesians 4:13–24; John 8:31–32). The Gospels If you want to teach your kids to love God, they need to see that you love God. In my most frustrated and stressed-out moments, I sometimes find myself wondering, “What’s the point?” When we feel despair, sorrow, frustration and stress, it’s easy to lose sight of the greater plan and purpose that’s out there for all of us. Take care and God Bless! GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, The Whole Bible And what spills out of you is what’s in your heart. Galatians 6:2 teaches us to bear each other’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ. Prophets Church helps us revisit the larger narrative of life and the reasons to hold on and keep the faith. Trust me, he knows how threatening a God-centered family can be, and works diligently to convince us not to go. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” I don’t think the writer of Hebrews could make any more clear God’s desire to have you regularly assemble together with His people. For Christians, our best life is yet to come (Psalm 16:11). While connecting with people, helping those in need, fighting injustice, and resting are all necessary things, we should not prioritize them above God himself. But they usually didn’t come themselves. The Bible stresses the importance of going to church. Realize that worshiping God comes as a response to our humble gratitude for His love for us. In a moment everything can change. I will let him know about the benefits of attending church as a family regularly to make a decision. He wants you, and His people, to exhort one another especially as the days grow darker and the time of Christ’s return approaches. Maybe God will use you to be an encouragement to others who are looking for help. While our culture craves entertainment, God never instructed His ministers to entertain the troops. “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13. *Please note if you are physically unable to attend church, watching it on television or online is a wonderful resource. Minor Prophets If you’re on the fence: Will you set an alarm with a purpose to join in worshiping God with a local church this weekend? We have had that experience at times, but there have also been churches who were not very loving which wasn’t good for our kids. It is important for the church to seek the face of God. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Just when things are going great, a phone call, diagnosis, or a host of other mishaps can leave you feeling afraid and alone. The church is made up of every true believer in Jesus, it is not necessarily the same people who walk into a church … How many of us feel more discouraged, more tired, more isolated, and more prone to grumble than ever? Even when things seem dire and awful (say, your husband lost his job, your child is sick, or a loved one passes away), church helps us change our outlook and stop dwelling on empty questions like, “Why is this happening to me?”. Historical Books * They may be listening to good preaching (if they’re discerning), but without living in close fellowship with real people, one can never really experience the help and hope Christ offers His bride through faithful involvement in a local church. Friends, there is nothing like knowing you have a prayer warrior on your side. We are prone to minimize our own faults and focus on others’ (Matthew 7:3–5). Rhonda is the author of six books and appears on numerous radio programs including FamilyTalk, Focus on the Family, Family Life Today and hosts The No Regrets Hour. They’re all hypocrites!” Tara said to Pastor Tim. Prophets -------------------- What roles of the church does Jesus describe in this parable? As soon as they got out of the car his dad was nothing but smiles and hugs. This is not to guilt you into “getting involved” at your church, rather it is to inspire you. Even if it’s hard to see the blessings at the moment, attending church can help us open our hearts and eyes to see the things we have. Dr. Charles F. Stanley has been senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta since 1971. I remember one man from China explaining how they had to sing hymns no louder than a whisper for fear they would be discovered.