Why Join a Local Church?

Why Join a local church?

This page is from the book by John A Bridges "Building a Peaceful Soul" (Following Jesus in Discipleship) Lesson 16

John A Bridges LESSON 16: WHY SHOULD WE BECOME A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH? [1]

1. WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY, "THE LOCAL CHURCH?"
The local Church is: "A group of believers in one locality who are organized into a worshiping and ministering fellowship."[2]

2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOCAL CHURCH AND THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH?
The universal Church is comprised of all believers from all times and places. In contrast, the local Church is God's people who assemble in a specific locality. The Church of God is made up of the "churches" of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you
   also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
Galatians 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the Church that is in their house.

3. SINCE I AM ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH, WHY SHOULD I JOIN THE LOCAL CHURCH?

The biblical example is that when a person becomes a Christian, he is baptized and joins a local church.

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:46-47 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved. Acts 5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Young (and old) Christians become disciples in the local Church. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 14:21-2323 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." 23 So when they had appointed elders in every Church, and prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Encouragement comes from being committed to a local church. Hebrews 10:24-25 And And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 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

Equipped and united Christians are developed in churches. Ephesians 4:11-14 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

4. WHAT ARE THE FIVE PILLARS THAT MAKE THE LOCAL CHURCH STRONG?
The five pillars that make a local church strong are 1) Evangelism, 2) Discipleship, 3) Worship, 4) Fellowship, and 5) Service. Evangelism and discipleship lead us to worship. Vibrant fellowship and active service naturally flow from this kind of local church.
(Exercise: underline each of the five pillars alluded to in Acts 2:41-47)

Acts 2:41-47 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved.

5. WHY CAN'T I JUST PRACTICE MY CHRISTIANITY AT HOME BY WATCHING CHURCH ON TV?
(Some believers are isolated geographically; others have physical reasons for not going to a local congregation meeting.) Otherwise, it is essential to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually established in a local church (as a member) because the local Church is placed in your area, by God the Father for your wellbeing. The local Church provides:

Christian Fellowship:

John 13: 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
1 Corinthians 12: 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Biblical teaching: The primary source of biblical teaching for the Christian is the local church.

Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Spiritual Authority: God has placed qualified spiritual leaders over the Church, who are available to give wise counsel and advice. This guidance protects us from false teachings and rash decision making.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey 13:17 Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Evangelism: It is from the local Church that the gospel is spread both locally and worldwide.

Acts 5:11 So great fear came upon all the Church and upon all who heard these things.
Acts 5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Corporate Worship: Worship is to be done "in spirit and in truth" and is our response to the majestic, holy, personal, loving God. John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Training and Involvement in Service: God has given everyone a gift or ability that we can use for his glory, to serve within his body the local Church.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What do we mean when we say, "The Local Church"?
What is the difference between the local Church and the universal Church?
Since I am already a member of the universal Church, why should I join the local Church?
What are the five pillars that make the local Church strong?
Why can't I just practice my Christianity at home by watching Church on tv and not joining any church?

[1] John A Bridges "Growing A Christian Soul" (Following Jesus in Discipleship) Lesson 16
[2] Erickson Millard J. “Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology” page 32