There are five (5) main reasons it's important that Christians attend church:
(1) The church is a place to belong
-The moment a person becomes a follower of Jesus, God's spirit makes him or her a member of God's family, and also a member of the worldwide fellowship, the "universal church."
Some passages that illustrate why the church is a place to belong:
Romans 12:5- true unity of the church is spiritually based
I Corinthians 12:12- spiritual gifts are diverse and meant to build up the church
2 Corinthians 5:17- Through Christ, they are redeemed and restored, and made into a new creation
(2) The church is a place to serve
-When someone becomes part of this spiritual body called the church, they are given special gifts and important tasks
-Christians need to be involved in local churches so they can discover their functions and practice their gifts
-In a world of selfcenteredness, Christ's example and command to serve others still applies
Some passages on service within the church:
Romans 12:6
I Corinthians 14:26
(3) The church is a place to be served
-As Christians serve within the church, they will find God meeting many of their needs through others
Passages that illustrate the importance of serving others within the church:
I Corinthians 12:14, James 5:13-15
(4) The church is a place to grow
-The spiritual food includes worship, instruction, and counsel. We can only receive these when we are actively involved in a local church. Also growth will occur.
passages illustrating why growth is relevant to local churches:
Acts 20:7
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 10:25
And finally,
(5) The church is a place to obey
-The Christian faith is personal, but not private. For a Christian, the local church is a place to practice both a new and growing faith and a mature and wise faith.
An illustration of how people in a local church should fit together is seen in Ephesians 2:19-22.
The church family is also referenced to as an extended family.
A final thought: the church is where the Spirit dwells.
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