Wayne's House 偉恩的家

Why go to church?
Many people today find “church” to be simply irrelevant.

Pastor Jim Kallam, Jr. (Risking Church) shared a conversation with a twenty-something. “I'm always inviting friends to come to church with me, but people my age don't want to go to church.” Pastor Kallam asked Why? “They just don't think it's important.” Doctors are important. Working to get a paycheck is important.

The weekly appointment with a therapist is important. Feeling good about ourselves is important. Having fun is important. But involvement in church just isn't that important. Church is taking hits from all directions. People outside the church see it as full of hypocrites, irrelevant to real life. People inside criticize because something wasn't done that should be or was done that shouldn't be. We hear of books and interviews from disillusioned people who either slip out the back or make a huge commotion stomping out the front, slamming the door behind them never to return.

However, for sincere followers of Jesus there is no denying his intention is for us to walk this journey together. His teaching on “church,” though brief, is clear. We need to walk in a community of believers looking out for one another lest we should fall and stumble into sin. (Hebrews 10:24) So, what about the next step. Why should I join a church? Why make a public commitment to fellowship together in a group called “church?” Let's take a look...

Thinking it over . . .

What are the characteristics of new believers in the early New Testament church? How do these characteristics compare with your experience in your church?

What is the definition of ecclesia and why is that important to our understanding of “church” today?

Though the word “membership” is nowhere found in the bible, what is our association with fellow believers to be like? Name and discuss a couple biblical metaphors.

Why do you think being part of a group of believers in an organism called “church” is frowned on by some fellow Christians?

What is your association with this church? What would you like your relationship to be like? Why?

What can you do to improve your relationship?


Scripture Reading
Acts 2:37-47