Church – God’s Plan for You by Suresh Joel

We need to ask ourselves if we really believe that church is part of God’s plan for us. Do you like big families? They are fun…right?

Church is your family and provides safety, protection, help when you require it, and a sense of belonging (loving and feeling loved).

Just like God had a covenant relation with Abraham, your relationship with church is an eternal covenant and cannot be broken like a contract.

Church is important because Christianity is not meant to be practiced alone. The preacher shared a C. S. Lewis quote where Lewis thought he can be alone and didn’t like visiting church. Then he was out of his solitary conceit and realized that you will never understand humility unless you are in a larger community (church).

The preacher shared the following verses about the purposes of going to church:

Luke 4:8, John 4:23, Rev 4:10
Worship God literally; sing praises and adore Him.

1 Cor 4:6, 2 Tim 3:15
Study the Word

Acts 2: 42 to 45
Prayer

John 13:35
Love one another

Phil 4:1 to 4
Gal 6:2

Luke 22:19 to 20
Communion

Titus 2:11 to 12
Living a godly life

Eph 4:12
Equip church to evangelize

Acts 2:42
Apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread.

Heb 10:24
Encourage each other to do good work.

This is what we believe and do as a church:

• Sunday is culmination of family relationship and interactions that happens during the week. It’s a place where people ask directly what your spiritual walk is. As a family, one another’s spiritual growth is our responsibility.
• Interactions during the week could be sharing meals, going to each others’ home, restaurants, and so on. As a church it’s important that we eat and gather together. NLF HSR has weekly prayer for a 24-hour duration and the entire family takes up different slots to prayer together.
• The early church sold their houses and possessions and gave all to the church. As a church, we share our resources. If someone lacks something, we go and give but also ensure the person is going in the right direction spiritually and guide them to change direction of required.
• We are the body of Christ and as one body, we all suffer together if someone is hurt.
• We need to get close to God to get closer to each other.
• Each person has a role in church. If one family or person is missing in the church, the church becomes weak.
• You don’t go to church when everything is OK. It’s not for entertainment. Church is your family and you belong to this family.
• We spur each other to good works. Church will come and prod you, ask you questions. Church will not be passive. They will admonish you if you do wrong and hold you when you fall.

Reflection by Shubha Jha