My Church Needs Me and I Need My Church

This past Sunday we concluded our sermon series in the book of Hebrews.  The writer’s “brief” word of exhortation (Heb 13:22) has been for us a series that began over two years ago and has included 72 sermons.  I have loved studying and preaching this great section of Scripture, and have these thoughts and prayer points as we move on.   

I pray we are looking on the splendor and beauty of Jesus with the deep gaze of love and worship, and that our devotion to him is much stronger than it was when we began Hebrews two years ago.  There is no one like Him. 

I pray we are living in the assurance and intimacy of the new covenant that has been secured for us by Christ, that our love for him has grown as He has engraved His Word upon our hearts.  

I pray we are paying much closer attention to our own spiritual health and growth in holiness; that we remember the warnings of Hebrews and pay attention to them.  They are for our good.

I pray we are more attentive and committed to the spiritual growth and well-being of each other.  Hebrews calls us to exhort one another, encourage one another, love one another, meet together with one another, to see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God so that we all finish this race of faith together. 

In a recent blog post Tim Challies wrote:  “Sanctification is a community project. There are many reasons that the Lord puts us in Christian community in the form of the local church. We are in community for mutual encouragement, mutual labor, mutual support, and so much else. But we are also in community because holiness is a community project.    I need to grow in holiness not just for my own sake but out of love and concern for those around me. If I love the people in my church, I will grow in holiness for their sake. I am prone to think that holiness is an individual pursuit, but when I see sanctification as a community project, now it is more of a team pursuit. I am growing in holiness so that I can help others grow in holiness, I am putting sin to death so I can help others put sin to death. My church needs me and I need my church, and this is exactly how God has designed it.”

Amen!  My church needs me and I need my church!