FOUR THINGS THE CHURCH NEEDS FROM US

By Cougan Collins

lgchurchofchrist@cableone.net

The church can only be effective if it consists of men and women who are dedicated to serving God. The strength of the church depends on how willing its members are to participate. There are at least four things the church needs from every member to make it strong:

1. The church needs our loyalty. Being a member of the church is a way of life and not just some worldly membership to a lodge, civic club, or political party. We must be dedicated to serving God and honoring our membership to the church:

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

2. The church needs our dependability. Everyone in the body of Christ is important and needed to make the church function at its best. Whatever abilities we have been given by God cannot be put in a box on a shelf to be used later because those abilities are needed now. We each have a function in the body:

Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:

3. The church needs our presence. The very existence of the church depends on us being present. If anyone has the right to be absent all the time, then all of us do. Granted it is not likely that everyone will be able to participate 52 weeks out of the year because sickness may occur, we may be out of town on vacation, or some other valid reason may prevent us from attending the services. As faithful Christians, we need to make it to every worship service and Bible study that we can:

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

4. The church needs our financial support. Maintaining a convenient worship place, reaching the lost, providing materials for the Bible class teachers, etc. takes money. The less money there is, the less the church can do especially when it comes to benevolence. Every penny counts, so we must keep in mind that the Lord’s church needs us to give of our money and ourselves:

1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper,

As Christians, we must realize that without us the church cannot exist because we are the body of Christ. We should be willing to do all four of these things if we love God so the church will continue to grow – lgchurchofchrist.com.