Why Should I Belong to a Church? // Richard Welsh
What does it mean to be planted in the church? And why is it important? This week we look into why God wants us to be planted in a local church and how putting down roots can help us and the church grow!
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WHY SHOULD I BELONG TO A CHURCH?
GOD’S DESIGN IS FOR US TO FLOURISH IN HIS HOUSE
(Psalm 92:13 NIV) Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PLANTED IN GOD’S HOUSE?
(Acts 8:29-31 NLT) The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." (30) Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (31) The man replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
(Acts 8:34-35 NLT) The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?" (35) So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
BE IN THE SOIL: KEEP SHOWING UP TO YOUR CHURCH
PUT YOUR ROOTS DOWN: INVEST YOUR HEART IN YOUR CHURCH
(Hebrews 10:24 NLT) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
(Luke 5:33 NIV) They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”
COMMIT TO A LOCAL CHURCH
(Hebrews 10:25 AMPC) Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
(Acts 8:36-38 NLT) As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" (38) He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
(Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT) Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. (12) Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (13) This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
CLOSER TO JESUS
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Connect Group Questions
- What does it mean to be "planted" in a church? (Psalms 92:12-15 ERV)
- Why is being part of a church community important? (Ecclesiastes 4:12 ERV)
- How can we help each other understand the Bible better? (Acts 8:29-31, 34-35 NLT)
- What can we do to grow stronger in our faith together?
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