If you are a Christian and are in fellowship with God, you will want to learn more about how to grow closer to Him. The Bible calls this growing "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).
There are several areas that are important for the growing Christian. Certainly prayer and daily bible reading are a key to growth. But so is being a part of a local church family and actually going to that church as often as you can. The Bible calls us to go to church: Heb 10:23-25 "23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. "
If you are a Christian you are not in the secret service. Your life should show it by belonging to a Bible-believing local church and supporting it with attendance, prayers, service and substance. If you are not doing that you are apt to fall into destructive situations. At the very least you are not being a good Christian witness in your life. Christians go to church. They lift each other up!
The proven experience of the past 2000 years shows us that gathering with other beleivers is extremely important to the Christian life. Those that say they do not need to go to church are deluded by the devil, because even if they feel they do not need church, the church (other people) needs them to be the church. We were born to be a blessing, not just to be blessed!
Attend Church Regularly! Find a Bible-believing church and support it with all your heart. When you received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you began a relationship not only with Him but also with all other Christians. Whatever it meant to you in the past, going to church can now become a rich and rewarding experience:
You will grow in understanding by hearing God's Word preached and taught. As your hear the Word, your faith grows (Romans 10:17) and as the Word seeps into you, God's leading increases. Selfishness will begin to fade away and caring and compassion will abound. You can ask questions and discuss Scripture with others. The Word changes you from the inside out. Others can pray for you and encourage you, and you can do the same for them.
You will learn to worship God, which means praising Him for all that He is and thanking Him for all that He has done for you. And the Spirit will give you gifts to build up others, and the Spirit will grow fruit in you that will enhance your life. He will teach you to walk in love!
As you worship, learn and serve with other Christians, you will find individuals with whom you can form lasting friendships (friendships that will last for all eternity!).
Remember -- your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do not attend church and stay under his or her Holy Spirit guided teaching. Your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do not participate in the life of the church. Your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do talk to him or her and let him or her know waht to be praying for in your life. A shepherd must have sheep in the flock, together and not our by themselves under attack of the devil. So a pastor needs his parishioners in church on a weekly basis.
And do not let the devil's old trick of saying that everyone in church is a hypocrite keep you away from church. As a retired minister friend of mine is fond of saying, "I had a guy tell me he was not going to come to our church because of all the hypocrites there. I told him not to worry -- there is always room for one more!"
The biggest hypocrite is one who wants us to think he is trying to avoid others who he calls hypocrites but are just like he is.
According to the Webster's dictionary, A hypocrite is "a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives ."
So, going by the defintion, I would grant that it is true, the church does have its share of hypocrites. But I beleive the reality is it has a whole lot less than anywhere else. Overall, they are at least honest about their shortcomings and admit they are sinners, while others won’t. They are at least open and trying to reform. The only step one can make from their own hypocrisy is to admit, they like everyone else are not perfect and need the forgiveness the Christ offers. Then they can have the assurance of heaven instead of hell.
The fact is there are hypocrites in all walks of life not just in religion, and we all may be guilty of at least a bit of hypocrisy from time to time. But that is where repentance comes in, and that is why we need the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ. And you find that in abundance in the local church.
If you let a few hypocrites stop you from becoming a Christian and going to church, you may well end up spending all eternity with them. In hell. Not because of Jesus, but because of your own selfish pride and your own stubborn will. You must humble yourself and forgive others and seek God's love.
The Church never claimed to be perfect and if you find the perfect church you may not want to join it, because you may ruin it by your hypocrisy. At least be consistent and honest in assessing yourself as you do others. Remember, when you point a finger, three are pointing back at you!
There are several areas that are important for the growing Christian. Certainly prayer and daily bible reading are a key to growth. But so is being a part of a local church family and actually going to that church as often as you can. The Bible calls us to go to church: Heb 10:23-25 "23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. "
If you are a Christian you are not in the secret service. Your life should show it by belonging to a Bible-believing local church and supporting it with attendance, prayers, service and substance. If you are not doing that you are apt to fall into destructive situations. At the very least you are not being a good Christian witness in your life. Christians go to church. They lift each other up!
The proven experience of the past 2000 years shows us that gathering with other beleivers is extremely important to the Christian life. Those that say they do not need to go to church are deluded by the devil, because even if they feel they do not need church, the church (other people) needs them to be the church. We were born to be a blessing, not just to be blessed!
Attend Church Regularly! Find a Bible-believing church and support it with all your heart. When you received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you began a relationship not only with Him but also with all other Christians. Whatever it meant to you in the past, going to church can now become a rich and rewarding experience:
You will grow in understanding by hearing God's Word preached and taught. As your hear the Word, your faith grows (Romans 10:17) and as the Word seeps into you, God's leading increases. Selfishness will begin to fade away and caring and compassion will abound. You can ask questions and discuss Scripture with others. The Word changes you from the inside out. Others can pray for you and encourage you, and you can do the same for them.
You will learn to worship God, which means praising Him for all that He is and thanking Him for all that He has done for you. And the Spirit will give you gifts to build up others, and the Spirit will grow fruit in you that will enhance your life. He will teach you to walk in love!
As you worship, learn and serve with other Christians, you will find individuals with whom you can form lasting friendships (friendships that will last for all eternity!).
Remember -- your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do not attend church and stay under his or her Holy Spirit guided teaching. Your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do not participate in the life of the church. Your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do talk to him or her and let him or her know waht to be praying for in your life. A shepherd must have sheep in the flock, together and not our by themselves under attack of the devil. So a pastor needs his parishioners in church on a weekly basis.
And do not let the devil's old trick of saying that everyone in church is a hypocrite keep you away from church. As a retired minister friend of mine is fond of saying, "I had a guy tell me he was not going to come to our church because of all the hypocrites there. I told him not to worry -- there is always room for one more!"
The biggest hypocrite is one who wants us to think he is trying to avoid others who he calls hypocrites but are just like he is.
According to the Webster's dictionary, A hypocrite is "a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives ."
So, going by the defintion, I would grant that it is true, the church does have its share of hypocrites. But I beleive the reality is it has a whole lot less than anywhere else. Overall, they are at least honest about their shortcomings and admit they are sinners, while others won’t. They are at least open and trying to reform. The only step one can make from their own hypocrisy is to admit, they like everyone else are not perfect and need the forgiveness the Christ offers. Then they can have the assurance of heaven instead of hell.
The fact is there are hypocrites in all walks of life not just in religion, and we all may be guilty of at least a bit of hypocrisy from time to time. But that is where repentance comes in, and that is why we need the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ. And you find that in abundance in the local church.
If you let a few hypocrites stop you from becoming a Christian and going to church, you may well end up spending all eternity with them. In hell. Not because of Jesus, but because of your own selfish pride and your own stubborn will. You must humble yourself and forgive others and seek God's love.
The Church never claimed to be perfect and if you find the perfect church you may not want to join it, because you may ruin it by your hypocrisy. At least be consistent and honest in assessing yourself as you do others. Remember, when you point a finger, three are pointing back at you!
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Another similar article on how to get the most out of church >> http://www.davidhousholder.com/10-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-church-0256-life-liberty/
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