WANT TO GROW? Go to church!

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24 MSGWant to be spiritually alive in 2016? Essential #1: FEED YOUR HUNGER FOR GOD.

Essential #2: IF YOU WANT TO GROW—GO TO CHURCH!

The early church knew their survival as a community, surrounded by enemies both physical and spiritual, was strongly linked to worshiping together and spurring each other on to live out their faith. Facing persecution, the writer of Hebrews reminded them of the importance of getting together to encourage, love, help, and strengthen one another. It’s a message we need reminding of today.A recent survey on church attendance found that many Christians no longer go to church on a weekly basis but attend when they can fit it in with their other activities.Going to a megachurch can be a rich experience with wonderful, uplifting worship, powerful teaching, inspiring stories and opportunities to serve. But, whether your church is over 1,000 people or less than 100, if you don’t go regularly, or get involved, you’ll miss many of the benefits God intends for you.  What are they? Here are 5 that are modeled by the first gathering of believers (check it out in Acts. 2: 42-46):Benefit #1: Meeting together to worship God took their eyes off themselves and onto the One who is holy, merciful, and all powerful. Worship inspires and produces faith and hope which brought them great blessing and joy. God wants this to be your experience. Gathering as a faith community is HIS idea for your good—and for your family.Benefit #2: Maturity which comes from being taught the Word. Do you listen? Follow in your Bible? Take notes? Pray about what you heard, asking God to show you what needs attention, confession, or change in your own life? A pastor who has studied, absorbed, internalized and been empowered by the Holy Spirit is a channel of God’s blessing to you.Benefit #3: Ministering to the needs of others. Maturity naturally leads to living out the life of Christ within you. He was compassionate, saw needs, met needs, listened, and gave time to the least of people. You benefit spiritually and emotionally when you give others your time, support, interest and prayers. Benefit #4: Modeling what it means to follow Jesus. As a new believer, watching older women model what it meant to serve the Lord has always inspired me. Are you ministering to someone? Be a blessing to others who see your heart by what you do for Him. Offer your life to the Lord and ask Him to use it to model what it means to live as a follower of Jesus. You’ll be blessed as you bless others.Benefit #5:  Motivating Others. It’s hard to motivate or spur others on to love Jesus and do good unless you’re around other believers on a regular basis. Look at your priorities. Do they need adjusting? Is the Lord speaking to your heart about a lack of enthusiasm, a dryness, a critical spirit?  Are you missing the benefit God intends for you by growing and learning from others in a small group, or class, or gathering of Jesus-followers?  As I’ve reflected on 2015, one of the insights God has impressed on me is:

• I need to be more involved, not less, with my local church. I need to receive from them, as well as give
• I need the friendship of other spiritually alive men and women
• I need their example of walking through tough times trusting God’s love and wisdom
• I need their insights on Scripture and the reality of God in their lives
• I need to be where I can encourage fellow believers. If I’m rarely there, I can’t do this

These are the things that enrich my life as a Christ-follower. My life is poorer without them.

How about you? What involvement with fellow believers is enriching yours?

What might you be missing? Is it something God wants you to add in 2016?

GOING TO INDIAMy BIG commitment right now is being part of a team from my church heading to India. I leave in a week to teach at various venues and will be gone for three weeks. It’s such a privilege to go and I’m both excited and sobered by the responsibility. I’m praying that every talk both encourages and expands their grasp of who God is. I’d so appreciate your prayers for safety, travel, and especially that the power of God would be upon me, the others on the team, and the hundreds of women we will be speaking to.  Thank you, my friends.Qu: Out of the five benefits of meeting regularly with other believers, which has blessed and impacted your life? I’d love to know.Hugs and blessings,Poppy[Tweet "WANT TO BE SPIRITUALLY ALIVE IN 2016? Want to grow? Go to #church! #spiritualgrowth"]Photos courtesy of DollarPhoto Club.