At the conference I attended last week (see last post), Ted Kluck gave several reasons why he loved the church. Since I insisted in the last post that we must love the church, I thought I might make my own list of why I love the church. Granted the church has its share of problems (it is made up of people like us!), but there are many reasons to love the church:
- Preaching of the Word – There is something wonderful about gathering together on a regular basis to focus on the Word of God. And there is great value in having another person speak the Word to us. Presumably this person has studied the passage and can bring out things we would have completely missed – both in interpretation and application. In a sermon we hear the Word proclaimed with the clear expectation of a response. One thing I miss about being a pastor is not hearing the Word preached regularly every Sunday by someone else.
- Corporate Worship – There is something wonderful about gathering with the same people every week to worship God. This is not something you can duplicate on your own, with a praise CD, or by hopping from church to church.
- Corporate Prayer – There is nothing like knowing you have a church family praying for you in difficult times. Better yet is to have someone pray for you while you are gathered with your church family in prayer.
- Relationships – People who are often very different gather together in the name of Jesus. Sure, this can create untold conflicts, but it can also enrich our lives in many ways. And how much I have learned from older more experienced saints!
- Accountability – If I start to stray in life or doctrine, I know at least one person in my church will confront me. I need this!
- Humility – The church reminds me that it is not about me. How often things don’t happen as I may want them to happen, but that is okay, because it is not about me. I may not always like this, but I do need this!
- Gospel – In the preaching of the Word and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and the singing of many hymns, I am regularly confronted with the good news of Jesus Christ. Most of all, I need this!
These are just a few things I love about the church. I’m sure we could add to this list. What would you add?
Brian J. Mikul 
*. co-operation. We can accomplish more as a group than we can as individuals. From reaching out to a community to reaching out to an individual, group effort is effective, and pleasing to our God.
willoh, by co-operation do you mean synergy? and are they the same thing to you?
I would add, because all the good ones were already mentioned, Regularity. (Maybe there is a better word so people don’t think that I’m talking about Muselix.) We’re not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. There is something about having a regular place and time to meet with God and our fellow believers.
Synergy occurs as we energize each other with our presence, no i mean 2 people working together for one hour accomplishes much more than one person working for 2 hours. One person buying a car, or insurance, or clothes for a person starting over in life , might find that a financial struggle, whereas 20 people contributing a bit a piece can accomplish this with ease.
Imagine the synergy if every body in the pew was engaged in a project.