NEXT STEPS: AttendSample

BECAUSE WE'RE SHEEP

The number of times that the Bible refers to us as sheep is incredible - and it's not a compliment. Sheep are reckless, and often make dumb decisions. Left unattended, they just tend to get into trouble. Sound familiar?

The Bible calls Jesus the Good Shepherd, because despite how prone we are to making decisions that hurt us, He has a way of guiding us back. The problem is, if we decide that we don't need to get into church and hear truth from someone else, we tend to make the Bible say whatever we want it to say. Suddenly, what was supposed to be used to help guide us back to Him (His Word) is used to defend the very actions that will get us into trouble.

Although Jesus is considered the Good Shepherd, the Bible also compares pastors to shepherds. Their job is to hear from Jesus and to help to guide His sheep (that's all of us Christians in case the metaphor got confusing). When you decide you don't need a shepherd and you're fine on your own, you start wandering off in the night, grazing where the wolves linger. God has created a place where truth is expressed in love and in the company of fellow sinners in need of guidance - we call it 'church.' There's something about being in that atmosphere that's significantly different from being a 'loner Christian" on an island. God created us to help to sharpen each other and grow each other, led by a leader called there by Christ. Not only does attending church shape us into the person God has called us to be, but it helps us keep from wandering away from the purpose He has for our lives.

Why does attending church matter?

BECAUSE WE'RE SHEEP.