Who needs the church!

On the question of why join a local church? A pastor said, "because it gives us a purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on." There is not quite any place on earth where you can find all these benefits in one place except for the body of Christ.

People often ask "Why should i join a church anyway? After all, it makes no difference, i can still go to church and participate in all the activities without feeling tied down or committed."

The last word in that is very key to why you should be a part of a local body- commitment. Joining or membership in a church is a step of commitment which the dedicated christian expresses through their words and their deeds that Christ is Savior and they will follow Him. This commitment involves many areas of our lives such as commitment to God, our family, personal growth, and our ministry that God has called us to. Proverbs 12:7, Philippians 3:14, Ephesians 4:11-12. (Side note YES! God has given you a ministry to serve Him in, something He has given you the gifts talents and ability to do.)

A main part in a persons commitment  lies in accountability to the church and its leadership (Hebrews 13:17, Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). Without this it can be easy to falter and fail but your local group of leaders can be there to help and encourage you along the way. With love, support, encouragement, and a little bit of challenge from the leadership and the congregation each person can not only maintain, but grow in their walk with God.

Another reason to join a local church is- relationships. There are no one man shows in Christianity.     "Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God" 1 Peter 2:5 We are being built together to do amazing thing for Christ.

We are all part of the body of Christ, He has given all of us something to take part in.
"The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body,". Romans 12:5 

Remember your church needs you for strength, unity, growth, ministry, and direction. You also need the church for the same thing.

"Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. 11 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 12 cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. " Romans 12:10-12

All Scripture quoted was from The Message translation.
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Give it all up. What?

Jesus asked His followers in Mark 8:36 "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Many think that, that is the correct way to think. But many do not think about how hard that can really be. Look a few chapters ahead in Mark at the one we call the rich young ruler. He came to Jesus like so many others and fell on his knees and asked "Good teacher...what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17-22) But Jesus being Jesus could tell this man's heart just like the Holy Spirit can today. The man thought it would be easier to gain eternal life, Jesus knew it would cost him but just how much was he willing to pay. They talked about how he had keep the commandments, he knew the word but he needed to act of faith. "Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Mark 10:21-22)


The man seeing the savior's love for him could not let go, and that held him back from serving Christ. In our society today we all like to have things our way, we like to make it all about me. Jesus is not looking for followers who will be about themselves but about Him.For some it may be money, for other it may be their time, for some maybe a relationship your in and you should not be.  As you read this ask the Holy Spirit if you are holding on to anything that might be setting you back from truly following Christ and being in God's perfect will.


Matthew 16:24-25 The Message
"Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. 25 Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self." 



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The Creasters don't stay, why?

Definition of Creaster: A person or family who only come to church on Christmas, Easter, for weddings, and funerals.


Just a few weeks ago was Easter Sunday our church like most others seen a dramatic increase in attendance. We all know them they are the ones who only come to church on Christmas, Easter, for weddings, and funerals. The real question every year is, how do we reach these people so they find Christ and say in church to learn more about Him? We have all most likely tried different programs of dramas, choir specials, special kid presentations, and other similar types of ideas but still most have a vary minimal success in most places. We as the church seem to be unable to show most the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Maybe we the church, the whole church, need to put the same time and attention we do to get people to church on Easter and Christmas the rest of the year. Christians are not known for being the most constant people, and i know others will always see us when we mess up. But as the body of Christ i know He has given us the ability to change the would if we would only follow Him and seek after His will for us.

1 Peter 1:22 "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart"

After Christ comes to live inside us we purify ourselves why? So we can love others. i pray that the Lord helps me and you to love others with more passion than ever before and to point them to Christ.

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Superman vs. Jesus

This week i had the opportunity to speak to the students at Lighthouse Christian School and the message i talked about with them was simple but yet applies to all of us (at least i think). We all have seen the super hero movies whether it is spider man, batman, the hulk, or superman. i noticed something about super heroes, for the most part they all had something happen to them like an accident or maybe in the case of the x-men they were born that way to make them super. But i spoke to the students and talked about superman, he was different he was an alien (not the little green type) but he was from a different planet. That's where he got his super powers from, he was different from most of the other super heroes.

Most people never think of themselves as special, they think that they are just like everyone else but if you follow Christ your not! You are different God has created you something special.Lets look at what most would call great men of faith.

 First at Abraham out of all the people in the world God chose him to be a father of nations (Gen 18:18) and said that nations of the earth will be blessed by him. It is my true belief that if not for Abraham there might not be a United States of America, some of the most important people in the world mite not have been the success they were if not for him. He had faith not fear to step out and follow God into the unknown. Abraham was no superhero but did some amazing things

Then look at Moses, he should have been killed twice before he ever led anyone but God chose him to be the deliverer of a nation. When Moses had led the people out of Egypt they were trapped between a sea and a army, Moses had faith and trusted in God held out his staff and what a sight he saw. He was not a super hero just a man following the will of God.

Jesus called us to be a peculiar people that means we are to be different they others. 1 Peter 2:9 says "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" NIV

Not only are we different but we following Gods will have been given power through the Holy Spirit to do amazing things. John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" NIV

And remember Superman can fly and leap over buildings but only Jesus lived then died was raised and ascended to heaven. Superman can't touch that!

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