We Are the ChurchSample

We Are the Church, and We Gather Regularly

After reading the first four days of this Bible Plan, you may be wondering, Do I even need to go to church? It’s a fair question. So today, let’s explore why gathering is so valuable to followers of Jesus.

Early Jesus followers met in people’s homes—eating meals, singing songs, and sharing what God was doing in their lives. They read from the Hebrew Bible and reflected on Jesus’ words.

Over two thousand years, the church has expanded, adapted, and diversified. But almost every Christian tradition still shares the value of gathering regularly. Why?

Over the past four days, we’ve discovered some of what it means to be the Church. We imitate Jesus’ others-focused way of life and tell people the good news of God’s forgiveness. It’s an inspiring and life-giving mission, and it’s even better when we share the journey with others.

Here are a few reasons why gathering as a church is so important:

1. We need encouragement.

The way of Jesus isn’t always easy. We face daily temptation to quit, compromise, or take a break from our calling. But when we gather, we get to spend time with Jesus followers who can help us find comfort and strength as we make Earth more like heaven.

2. We need alignment.

We’re called to live like Jesus, but have you noticed that Jesus is perfect, and we’re not? Fortunately, God lavishes grace all over us in Christ, but our shortcomings do mean we all have room to grow. Meeting with other Jesus followers can reveal areas we need to develop. And when we share how we want to grow, we can support each other in those stretching goals.

3. We need different perspectives.

Everyone has a unique background and perspective. That means we all experience God in different ways. For example, someone celebrating a major life event might see a Bible verse about God’s goodness differently than someone who has recently gone through a loss. Both perspectives are meaningful—and both can inform how we understand God. But if we don’t gather, we miss discovering more about God from the perspective of others.

As you read the passages today, see if you can add a few more reasons to the list. The Church isn’t a building, but the Church does regularly gather. How we gather, when we meet, and what we do can look different, but consistency in getting together to love, serve, and grow is key.

The Church isn’t a building—it’s people following Jesus together. So if you’ve decided to follow Jesus, you’re a part of the Church. This means you can have confidence and boldness as you show the world the way of Jesus.

Challenge: Be the Church by spending a few extra minutes at your local church this weekend. Get to know someone better, or spend time in prayer for your community. For more on how to be the Church, check out this article.