An ever increasing number of people have been trying to grow in their Christian faith apart from a local body of the church. I’ve heard many people complain that church is boring, doesn’t meet their needs and ultimately isn’t necessary for growth in the Christian faith. While the church on this side of heaven is imperfect, it is still the representation of Christ to the world.

The key verse for this discussion, “is answered definitively in Hebrews 10:25. “Let us not… [forsake] the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but [exhort] one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” This verse requires more than regularly attending worship services, but it doesn’t require less. Believers go to church. The writer says that church attendance is more important today than it was yesterday!”

I have always encourages those people I’ve talked to to get plugged in to a local church body. When I miss a week I am so very desperate for the fellowship of the body, and if I wasn’t involved in a local body I wouldn’t have a complete picture of the church. God made us to be in community with each other, to hold each other accountable and to encourage growth and support within the body.

I have many more thoughts on this, which I’m sure will come up at some point, but what started this thinking today was a blog found here. Don’t neglect Jesus’ bride.