How Having a Church Home Can Change Your Life

For most of us, going home feels good. The sights, the sounds, and even the smells of home bring back great memories of childhood. Home is a place to belong. Home is a safe place where we can truly be who we are. But there are others of us that either didn’t have a good home, or the home we grew up in is gone along with all of its virtues. In any case, home should be a place where love dwells.

Through the years, having a church home has also lost a bit of its promise. Many of us grew up going to church and enjoying its joy, its reverence, its relevance, and its community. We remember the wonderful stories of the Bible applied to our human experience and thrilled during the symphony of praise in worship each Sunday. We loved our teachers and preachers and were proud of our church family. Perhaps we long for a day when church was as important to us as any other thing in life.

While so many have drifted far from church life, there are a great many more coming back to it. But why? How can having a church home make a real difference in my life?

Church is important because it is a rock of stability in an ever-changing world. At church we become something bigger than ourselves. God loves His church and wants each of us to be a part of it. The Bible teaches us that God reveals Himself in a special way in His church like nowhere else on earth: “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:21).

Church is important because it is a consistent source of positive, uplifting, encouragement. The first churches we read about in the Bible were very careful never to miss such a great opportunity to become the best version of themselves. The writer of one book of the Bible (Hebrews) says this about church: “Do not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (10:25).

Church is important because it gives the Christian meaning and purpose in life. Church provides an opportunity to worship God. King David wrote this about worship, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you” (Psalm 22:22). In church we can learn how best to be a follower of Jesus. Paul, one of Jesus’ Apostles, reminded Timothy that “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). In church we can figure out God’s plan for our lives. When the good news of the gospel is taught and preached we are challenged, and we grow in our faith. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).

Being a member of a church can change your life for the better. Right along side other fellow-travelers of faith, you can belong, be comforted when you are discouraged, be uplifted when you are down, be taught when you desire growth, and learn how to do better, be better, and make a real difference in the world! I am proud to be a member of the First Christian Church of Christopher! With great enthusiasm I join with others in creating a bridge to faith in Christ, to meaningful relationships, and develop a greater sense of purpose in my life, and the lives of others.


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