I suppose I have addressed this topic previously, but the more we travel and observe the average Christian family, as well as the average church, the more concerned we become about the lackadaisical attitude of Christians toward worship and broader involvement in the local church. Years ago when I was a pastor. There was the “Jesus Movement”. Their mantra was, they had done an end run around the church and gotten back to Jesus. They were wrong. There is no doubt that many churches have weaknesses and sometimes have less to offer than some families want, but dare we ignore the local church? The Church is the body of Christ and while some differ on the full role of the local church, none would deny that it is the visible representation of that body. There is no doubt that the local church plays the primary role in the work of the Lord in this age. The Apostles went everywhere preaching the Gospel. When they saw people get saved they gathered them together to start a local church. Paul sent his epistles to local churches. The Scriptures teach, that God ordained leaders (pastors and deacons) for local churches (I Timothy 3). Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus to discuss order in local churches. Paul himself had been ordained to ministry by the local church in Antioch (Acts 13:1-2), and when his first missionary journey was over, he returned to that church to report on his work (Acts 14:26-28). We live in the Church Age. It started on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 and it will end on the day of the Rapture. We must carefully consider the challenge given in the book of Hebrews.

In Hebrews 10:23-25 we read, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering: (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching.

The reader must ask – as we see what day approaching? To get an answer we must work our way back through the letter to find that day. When we get back to Hebrews 9:28 we read, So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. When we read ahead in Hebrews 10, we find these added words in verses 36-37, For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. The approaching day is the day our Lord Jesus returns at the Rapture. The challenge in verse 25 of Hebrews 10, is that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The assembling is clearly a reference to the worship and activities of the local church.

The local church was not originated by people. It is the primary organizational tool of the Lord for this age. We should be faithful members of our local church. Our spiritual activities should be centered in the ministry of our local church. Our social life and fellowship should be built around our local church. If your church is not all you wish it would be – get involved. Be faithful at all the services. Volunteer when workers are needed. The Lord designed the local church for people to minister to each other. Don’t sit around waiting for someone to reach out to you. Talk to people, invite others over, greet visitors, host guest speakers, serve in the nursery, teach a class, be an usher, serve on committees, mow the grass, go out on visitation, sing in the choir. We should not withdraw from the church, we should make it the best it can be. Attend on Sunday – Sunday School, AM service, PM service. Get there for the mid-week activities. You need your local church and your local church needs you! – Biblical Family Ministries