Have you been to church lately? Is that important? Well, to begin with, the Apostle Paul writes in Hebrews 10:24-25:

…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

But why is the church important? Did you realize that Jesus bought the church with His own blood? Yes! Paul told the elders of the church in Ephesus in Acts 20:28, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Peter makes the point that we are redeemed (from slavery to sin) by the blood of Christ. He writes in 1 Peter 1:18-19:

…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Yes, the church is very important!

There are other good reasons for regularly attending church services. First, we attend services to worship God. Jesus told a Samaritan woman in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Vine, the Greek word translated “worship,” “to make obeisance, do reverence to" (from pros, "towards," and kuneo, "to kiss"), is the most frequent word rendered "to worship." It is used of an act of homage or reverence.”

In worship, we learn from and are encouraged by others, and teach and encourage others. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1-20:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

Paul makes a similar statement in Colossians 3:16:

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

The church is the body of Christ, over which He is head. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:22-23, “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, ²³which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Is it important to you that you be a part of the Lord’s body, the church which He bought with His own blood when He died for you on the cross? Why not?

The members of the Strasburg church of Christ urge you to visit with us at our services this Sunday. The church meets at 467 Aileen Avenue in Strasburg, VA. Bible Study is at 9:30, and worship is at 10:30. We would love to have you!

Strasburg church of Christ

1 John 4:7

MR

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