Why everybody needs to be in church

 Two thousand-plus years ago according to Matthew 16:18 Jesus Christ built HIS church. Acts 20:7 says that on the first day of the week the disciples (called Christians first at Antioch) came together as the church to break bread as the Lord`s Supper and Paul preached until midnight. They also drank the fruit of the vine. I Corinthians 16:2 on the first day of the week to lay by him in store or give money as they have been prospered by God. The Bible says that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church. Therefore, everybody in the church and faithful will never go to hell. Matthew 23:33 asks Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how shall ye escape the damnation of hell? The answer is getting in the church and build your faith with works, because faith without works is dead. Galatians 3:26,27 says for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. When you are baptized into Christ you are in the church that Christ built and saved and in the narrow way to heaven. So everybody in the church is pure, godly, holy, and saints of God. People get into the church to be made pure and holy. The greatest place to be is in the church and attending all the services of the church. The greatest person on earth is a Christian. What do people prove to the lost by being a Christian? Romans 12:1,2 says present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service or duty as a Christian. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. That ye (Christians) may prove what is that good, acceptable. And perfect will of God. God gives his children (Christians) an answer to their prayers John 9:31 if we worship him and do his will. Philippians 4:4,6,7 says rejoice in the Lord always again I say rejoice. Be careful for nothing (do not worry) but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. All Christians receive the blessings of God. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

Being in Church brings great joy. Luke 2:10 Angel said I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. Luke 1:19 I am Gabriel that stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and show thee these glad tidings. Verse 14 says and thou shalt have joy and gladness and many shall rejoice at his birth. People that want to have joy and gladness need to be in Christ where all joy and gladness can be found. To understand the true concept of love man must have God as their father and Jesus as their savior. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. To know love is to know God. John 3:16 says for God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believe in him (the bible) shall have everlasting life. I John 3:14-16 says We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abided in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Matthew 22:36-39. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. I Timothy 2:1, 8. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Church is where God and Jesus Christ and all Christians abide with the greatest amount of joy and contentment, with the greatest amount of love and shown to all men. Everybody should give a lot of thought to please God and be a Christian.

Please visit us at Piney Church of Christ, Rhinehart Parkway, Spencer, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning worship and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. We are studying II Kings.