The church. Is it necessary? And should that be part of it? That's what I want to discuss today.
Welcome everyone to today's word of encouragement. While I can't answer all of the questions about church membership in one podcast, I can't try to clear up the reason that fellowship in the church is important and why we should continue to gather together as the church even after this quarantine is over. So let's start by focusing on the reason that the church is important. I think one of the main reasons that the church is important is because it helps to be around other believers.
I know that may sound simple, but let me break it down. One of the most important spiritual disciplines that you can develop apart from reading your Bible and prayer is to develop faithful involvement with other believers. Being around other people strengthens your faith. And while this quarantine comes to an end, you can continue to stay at home and listen to Christian music, but you know what?
That'll never be a replacement for the atmosphere that's created when God's people come together to sing praises. When this quarantine is over, you can stay home and continue to watch Christian television or online streams from the comfort of your bed and your PJs, but it doesn't offer the same opportunity for fellowship to have people praying for you and all around you. You don't get the full experience of what church can provide. You miss the smiles, the tears and the words of encouragement is just really not the same experience.
And while I'm obviously in favor of Christian television and radio and podcasts and other online ministries, I also know that they're no substitute for your regular attendance and your involvement in the worship services, your involvement in ministry and outreaches and educational programs. Listen, the writer of the Hebrew says in chapter 10 verse 25, And let us not neglect our meeting together as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is trying near. So why is it necessary for other Christians to be involved in my spiritual growth? Well, we just are part of it right there.
But what role does the church really play in my growth? According to the according to this verse in other verses that we're going to read, no Christian has ever been called to live out his or her faith alone. We need one another. The church was designed from the very beginning to function as the living body of Christ on earth.
Look at the Apostle Paul writes in Romans chapter 12 verse 4 through 8. He says, For as we have many members in one body, but all of the members do not have the same function. So we being many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.
In other words, let us use those grip gifts and he continues on and he says, If it's prophecy, let us prophesy and proportion to our faith. If it's a ministry, is that your gift, let us use it in our ministry is teaching your gift. Let us use it in teaching. He who exhorts, let him use it in exhortation.
He who gives, let him give liberally, he who leads, let him lead with diligence and he who shows mercy, which earfulness. I think this is key right here. He's talking about how we should develop the gifts inside of the church for the benefit of other believers. Part of the reason that we need to be in regular fellowship with other believers so that we might receive the benefit of their spiritual gifts and in return, give our spiritual gifts to the body of Christ.
As individuals, we are made stronger as we both give and receive. In other words, the gifts and the talents that God gave you were meant to be used to minister to and to encourage others while simultaneously being ministered to and being encouraged yourself. The church to which we belong is made stronger and more effective as a whole by its community of talented and gifted believers. So what do we do?
Jesus made it very clear that our greatest ministry to other people is very simple. It's to love them. It's to show up and it's to love on people. He said to his disciples shortly before he was crucified in John chapter 15 verse 12.
He says, this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. The apostle Paul said pretty much the same thing in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 1 and 2. He says, the imitators of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us. The members of the church need you and you need them.
We're not created to live out our faith without the support in the community that the local church provides. Until next time, thanks for listening.