BIG IDEA
You are connected to other followers of Jesus.
READING
1 Cor. 12:12–27
THOUGHTS
When you come to faith, you become a child of God. As God’s child, you become part of a worldwide spiritual family called the Church. The Church is not a building, a brand, or an institution. It’s a group of imperfect people committed to Jesus, relationship with each other, and following in the way of Jesus together. The local church is a smaller expression of the worldwide Church, all con- nected because of a relationship with Jesus (1 Cor. 12:12–27; Eph. 2:19–22; 1 Pet. 2:5).
Get Connected
You are designed to get connected to a local church and not simply loosely affiliate with a particular building, attend a service when it’s convenient, or watch an online experience. Getting connected to others gives you the opportunity to love unconditionally, live authentically, give and receive grace, walk in commitment and faithfulness, embrace different perspectives and preferences, and so much more (Matt. 18:20; John 13:35; Rom. 12:10–16; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24–25).
Be devoted to one another. Rom. 12:10
Characteristics of a Healthy Church
There’s no perfect local group of followers of Jesus; however, there are some indications of a local church trending in an appro- priate direction.
Healthy Churches
- They focus on Jesus’s vision of making disciples and loving each other (Matt. 22:36–40, 28:19–20).
- They clearly teach and seek to be guided by the entire Bible (1 Cor. 15:1–8; Gal. 1:8; Phil. 2:1–10; Col. 2:18).
- They are organized and orderly with accountable leadership at every level (Acts 2:40–47, 6:3–4; 1 Cor. 14:26–33, 38–40; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1:5; Rev. 1–3).
- They handle money with integrity (Luke 16:11; Titus 1:7), incur average operating expenses (1 Cor. 16:1–3), pay leaders a fair salary (Gal. 6:6, 1 Tim. 5:17–18), give a hand up to the genuinely needy in the church (Acts 4:35; 1 Tim. 5:9; James 2:15–16), and fund missions (Rom. 5:26; 2 Cor. 11:9).
Q & A
HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE I SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN MY CHURCH?
Just start by serving in an area that interests you. As you begin to serve, you will naturally find what you enjoy and where you best fit. Take a spiritual gifts test; it will also help you narrow down how you can serve.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN GOD IS LEADING ME TO LEAVE THE CHURCH I ATTEND?
While it’s important to be faithful to a local group of believers at the church you attend, on some occasions one should consid- er leaving a local church. All churches are made of imperfect people, so all churches will have challenges. When the challeng- es become insurmountable, it may be good to move on. These challenges may include bad theology, spiritual abuse, or illegal activities.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOW MY CHURCH SPENDS MONEY. WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT?
You could connect with members of your church board who help to oversee the finances and share your thoughts with them. You must differentiate between opinion (such as spending too much on something) and best practices.
SHOULD I BE DONATING MONEY TO MY CHURCH OR ANOTHER MINISTRY LOCALLY/OVERSEAS THAT SEEMS TO ALSO HAVE NEED?
When you join a church, you take on the responsibility of the finances required for the church to operate. Once you are confident you’re doing your part, it’s always good to support others as well.
I WAS HURT IN A CHURCH, SO NOW I DON’T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN ONE.
Many people have been hurt by church leaders and the words and actions of other followers of Jesus. As a result, they’re hes- itant to commit to a group. Other Christians have also shared the truth in a way that others couldn’t digest. As a result of not liking what they were told, they discounted the church altogeth- er. It’s important to see the difference between other-imposed and self-imposed hurt. It’s important to receive the truth, even when it hurts. It’s important not to discount the whole church as a result of rogue members. Yet one should never subject them- selves to spiritual abuse.