Your Local Church is a Big Deal

Have you ever stopped to think about how important your local church is? Take a moment and read through this list carefully:

• Jerusalem
• Judea
• Galilee
• Samaria
• Caesarea
• Antioch
• Babylon
• Ephesus
• Smyrna
• Pergamos
• Thyatira
• Sardis
• Philadelphia
• Laodicea
• Cen-Chrea
• Corinth
• Thessalonica
• Damascus
• Cyprus
• Perga
• Iconium
• Lystra
• Derbe
• Troas
• Philippi
• Berea
• Athens
• Miletus
• Tyre
• Sidon
• Melita
• Syracuse
• Rome
• Colosse

These are local churches mentioned in the New Testament! But why are they so significant? There are a great number of reasons. I will give you just a few:

1. Because God’s plan is for local churches to become the hands and feet of Jesus to their (your) local community. WHY…
2. Because God desires a local house of worship where the people (you) connect to God and others. WHY…
3. Because people (you) need people, not programs. WHY…
4. Because programs won’t be doing a person’s (your) shopping when they (you) are sick, counseling their (your) teens when they are lost, won’t be dedicating your children before the Lord, won’t be visiting you when you’re in the hospital, won’t be doing your wedding, won’t be doing your life celebration, won’t be sitting with you in times of hurt or dancing with you in times of celebration. WHY…
5. Because God’s plan is for people (you) to have people not programs so that the lost in the community can be found and grow in Christ. HOW…
6. Acts 2 says – through meeting together in the church, house to house, studying the Bible, praying together, sharing with those in need, and celebrating the Lord’s table.

I’m incredibly grateful for Granite United Church and all our New England network churches!

So, whether you attend Granite or another local church, here are some important reminders:

• Stay connected to your church.
• Stay committed to your church.
• Stay focused on your church (don’t flirt with other churches…danger, danger, danger).
• Be generous to your church.
• Be engaged in your church.
• Be excited about your church.
• Bring people to your church.
• Join a group in your church.
• Support the ministries of your church.
• Support the mission of your church.
• Stand with the pastor of your church.

Remember, the church isn’t about content consumption. It’s about commitment to Christ, engagement in the mission, and spreading the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Your local church matters. YOUR local church matters. Let’s celebrate and cherish it together!