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Tidbit #14: "Why the Church?" and "How Can I Bless My Church?"

#1 · October 26, 2003, 10:43 am

Quote from Forum Archives on October 26, 2003, 10:43 am
Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

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THE HOPE CHEST

with Virginia Knowles

Tidbit #14 on October 25, 2003

Why the Church? and How Can I Bless my Church?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Hope Chest is a free e-mail newsletter with encouragement and practical teaching tips. The writer is Virginia Knowles, wife of Thad, mother of nine children, and author of Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade, and The Real Life Home School Mom.

Contact information:

Web site: http://www.thehopechest.net

Resource orders: http://www.thehopechest.net/resourceorders.html

Personal E-mail: [email protected]

Subscription: [email protected]

Unsubscription: [email protected]

To change your subscription, just unsubscribe from your old address, and subscribe from the new one. This will save me a lot of time!

WHY THE CHURCH?

Ive been an active part of the home school movement since 1990, and read more books, magazines, newsletters, web pages than I could count. After a while, I got the picture that home schooling isnt all about academics, but about an optimum lifestyle that fosters spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual and physical growth for each family member. Accordingly, Ive noticed a lot of discussion (and debate) in these circles about the church -- what it is and what is should be like. Unfortunately, I know there are many home school families who are as cynical toward the organized church as they are to the public school system. In light of that, Id love to take a few minutes (okay, so this took hours to write, but only a few minutes for you to read) to celebrate why I so appreciate the church, and then offer a list of eight ways each of us can be a blessing to our own congregations.

In the past 26 years, due to family moves and other providential circumstances, Ive had the privilege of membership in at over a dozen congregations that have slight to moderate variations from one another, and even some that had been wracked with crisis and conflict. Each one was manna to my soul! As an avid student of theology, I care deeply about sound doctrine, but Id rather be in an imperfect church than none at all. In fact, if I ever find the perfect church, I wont attend it! Why? Because I dont want to ruin it!

Really, the most important reason for the church is that Christ himself established it. Further, the apostles daily risked their lives for the priority of planting local church congregations throughout the known world. Yes, we automatically become part of the universal Church when we become part of Christ, since the Church is his Body. But there is also a need for faithful fellowship with other believers in your geographical area. Web boards, e-mail lists, and TV broadcasts may enhance our Christian growth, but they are no substitute for the living, breathing local church. While a family may find the need to pull out of church activities for a short season due to health, moves, or a doctrinal conflict, there should always be the goal of locating a body of believers to fellowship with each week. I often think of how believers in developing countries will walk for hours to gather with others for worship and teaching. If they who have so little are yet so devoted to the church, the least I can do is load my family into the van for a short drive each week!

A local church also offers a diverse mix of backgrounds that broadens and deepens our spiritual lives. What a joy it is to walk into the auditorium each week and see people so different from me! Every color, dark or light, they are precious in his sight! Jesus is Lord, not just of white middle class Americans, but over every nation, every skin tone, every socio-economic status and educational level. This kind of healthy diversity can build respect for others into the lives of our children. There is no sense of us versus them but of being dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. From the newborn babes in their mommies arms, to the squirmy toddlers crawling under the pews, to the teens in jeans, to the senior citizens bent over their canes, each one has a place. I can learn from those who are further along in the Christian journey, while at the same time, helping younger believers along the path.

A local church offers flesh-and-blood accountability. I know how easy it is to drift in the Christian life, even after decades in the faith. Doubts are the devils dastardly darts to attack us in our weak moments. Having people personally looking out for my spiritual life is a vital safeguard for my faith. Im not talking about an invasion of privacy here, just a valid concern that allows certain people to ask, What is the Lord teaching you right now? Is there any way I can help you through your struggles? If there is a disagreement, this is a valuable opportunity to be like iron that sharpens iron to one another. If I get off balance, my brothers and sisters can bring me back to reality again. Most likely, Ill even be prevented from getting to that place because I am hearing the whole counsel of Scripture wherever I turn in the church! I love to hear other people share grateful testimonies of Gods work in their hearts, because it boosts my own faith. I can perhaps follow their example toward success, or avoid a pitfall that they have had to overcome. It is also good for my children to see other families who are attempting to live out their lives in the same way as we are. It lets them know that they arent the only ones to be born into such weird families!

A local church offers in-depth teaching and corporate worship. The pastor invests hours of his time to prepare his message each week. Ideally, he wants to build his flock through the public preaching of Scripture rather than amuse them and make a name for himself. Likewise, the musicians work hard so we can lift our own hearts and voices to in praise to God. Rather than find all the reasons why we didnt like the sermon or the music, do we ever take the time to express our sincere appreciation to those who so faithfully serve us? What a responsibility!

A local church offers a place for adults and children to develop and exercise spiritual gifts and works of service. The preacher cant do everything by himself! Each member must do his or her own part, though mommies with little children must certainly be careful not to overdo. It is especially encouraging to see young people being mentored into church life by serving on the worship team, reading the passage at a home group Bible study, scrubbing the floors, sewing costumes for the Christmas pageant, collecting the offering, tutoring home school students, serving meals, or watching out for the wee ones at a church function. This is such a practical part of their training into maturity.

A local church can choose to offer educational opportunities to round out what we are trying to do at home. One of our previous churches, Northland, has an active home school support group, a legal enrollment option, weekly core classes for middle and high school students, co-ops for younger students, and field trips for all ages. As an extension of this megachurchs policy to be a resource to the entire Christian community, membership is open to families who attend other churches, too. This is a blessing to those whose congregations do not have any organized home school support systems. My second oldest daughter, Julia, is thriving in the high school EXCEL classes there, and I still enjoy attending the meetings as I am able. Our current congregation, Metro Life (www.MetroLife.org), supports families in their home school endeavors by presenting workshops for parents, arranging tutors for certain high school subjects, and facilitating enrichment classes for various ages. Those who sign up in the churchs enrollment option also join one of the small bi-monthly accountability groups. Dads are considered a vital part of the home school ministry, and are just as likely to attend meetings as the moms. My daughter Mary takes Algebra 2 and Philosophy at Metro, and some of our younger children have taken Creative Writing, Basic Science and Team Sports. Unlike Northland, most Metro home school events (with the exception of workshops) are for church member families only. I appreciate this approach just as much as I do the open approach, because each has its place. This gives the church more direct input into the home school ministry, and helps to ensure that members are on the same page theologically.

A local church supports missionaries in other lands. Part of a churchs budget is usually set aside to extend the gospel around the world through financially sponsoring missionaries. Our own church also sends members on short term overseas outreach trips, including whole teams of teens and young adults. They collect items for care packages to be sent to bless others. These are yet more ways that home school students can get involved in missions within the context of the local church.

HOW CAN I BLESS MY CHURCH?

1. Be there -- enthusiastically, regularly, and with an encouraging spirit!

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD.

Hebrews 10:19-23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 3:12-13 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

2. Pray for your leaders and other church members.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 4:2-4 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

3. Seek peace and reconciliation.

Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

John 17:20-23 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Romans 2:14-18 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

4. Give faithfully.

Acts 4:32-35 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

1 Corinthians 9:7-14 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

5. Find a way for your family to serve with the unique gifts God has given you.

Romans 12:3-8 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me `Teacher' and `Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

6. Welcome new folks and those who are different from you.

James 2:1-4 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Acts 9:26-28 When he [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

7. Share your lives with one another.

Romans 12:9-13 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

James 5:13-16 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

8. Submissively evaluate and apply the teachings.

Acts 17:10-11 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

Hebrews 13:7-8, 17 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

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You can read several articles on the theme of You and Your Church: Perfecting the Blend at http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/sgo/v17no6/

Click here to watch C.J. Mahaney preach on the priority of the local pastors:

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/about/ (see bottom right hand of screen)

~*~*~

In this actual world a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid downgrade Church work and church attendance mean the cultivation of the habit of feeling some responsibility for others and the sense of braced moral strength which prevents a relaxation of ones own moral fiber The man who does not in some way, active or not, connect himself with some active, working church misses many opportunities for helping his neighbors, and therefore, incidentally, for helping himself. Teddy Roosevelt, excerpted from a 1917 Ladies Home Journal article, as quoted in Lists to Live By compiled by Alice Grace. (Thanks to my daughter Mary for bringing this to my attention!)

~*~*~

CH__CH is nothing if UR not in it!

~*~*~

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

~*~*~

One final note: I hope this has been an encouragement to you, though it only conveys such a small thimbles worth of my enthusiasm for the church. And that, in turn, is only an atom compared to the spectacular wonder of the triumphant church when we all get to heaven and celebrate the wedding feast of Jesus and his Bride!

In His Sovereign Grace,

Virginia Knowles

www.thehopechest.net

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

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THE HOPE CHEST

with Virginia Knowles

Tidbit #14 on October 25, 2003

Why the Church? and How Can I Bless my Church?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Hope Chest is a free e-mail newsletter with encouragement and practical teaching tips. The writer is Virginia Knowles, wife of Thad, mother of nine children, and author of Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade, and The Real Life Home School Mom.

Contact information:

Web site: http://www.thehopechest.net

Resource orders: http://www.thehopechest.net/resourceorders.html

Personal E-mail: [email protected]

Subscription: [email protected]

Unsubscription: [email protected]
To change your subscription, just unsubscribe from your old address, and subscribe from the new one. This will save me a lot of time!

WHY THE CHURCH?

Ive been an active part of the home school movement since 1990, and read more books, magazines, newsletters, web pages than I could count. After a while, I got the picture that home schooling isnt all about academics, but about an optimum lifestyle that fosters spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual and physical growth for each family member. Accordingly, Ive noticed a lot of discussion (and debate) in these circles about the church -- what it is and what is should be like. Unfortunately, I know there are many home school families who are as cynical toward the organized church as they are to the public school system. In light of that, Id love to take a few minutes (okay, so this took hours to write, but only a few minutes for you to read) to celebrate why I so appreciate the church, and then offer a list of eight ways each of us can be a blessing to our own congregations.

In the past 26 years, due to family moves and other providential circumstances, Ive had the privilege of membership in at over a dozen congregations that have slight to moderate variations from one another, and even some that had been wracked with crisis and conflict. Each one was manna to my soul! As an avid student of theology, I care deeply about sound doctrine, but Id rather be in an imperfect church than none at all. In fact, if I ever find the perfect church, I wont attend it! Why? Because I dont want to ruin it!

Really, the most important reason for the church is that Christ himself established it. Further, the apostles daily risked their lives for the priority of planting local church congregations throughout the known world. Yes, we automatically become part of the universal Church when we become part of Christ, since the Church is his Body. But there is also a need for faithful fellowship with other believers in your geographical area. Web boards, e-mail lists, and TV broadcasts may enhance our Christian growth, but they are no substitute for the living, breathing local church. While a family may find the need to pull out of church activities for a short season due to health, moves, or a doctrinal conflict, there should always be the goal of locating a body of believers to fellowship with each week. I often think of how believers in developing countries will walk for hours to gather with others for worship and teaching. If they who have so little are yet so devoted to the church, the least I can do is load my family into the van for a short drive each week!
A local church also offers a diverse mix of backgrounds that broadens and deepens our spiritual lives. What a joy it is to walk into the auditorium each week and see people so different from me! Every color, dark or light, they are precious in his sight! Jesus is Lord, not just of white middle class Americans, but over every nation, every skin tone, every socio-economic status and educational level. This kind of healthy diversity can build respect for others into the lives of our children. There is no sense of us versus them but of being dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. From the newborn babes in their mommies arms, to the squirmy toddlers crawling under the pews, to the teens in jeans, to the senior citizens bent over their canes, each one has a place. I can learn from those who are further along in the Christian journey, while at the same time, helping younger believers along the path.
A local church offers flesh-and-blood accountability. I know how easy it is to drift in the Christian life, even after decades in the faith. Doubts are the devils dastardly darts to attack us in our weak moments. Having people personally looking out for my spiritual life is a vital safeguard for my faith. Im not talking about an invasion of privacy here, just a valid concern that allows certain people to ask, What is the Lord teaching you right now? Is there any way I can help you through your struggles? If there is a disagreement, this is a valuable opportunity to be like iron that sharpens iron to one another. If I get off balance, my brothers and sisters can bring me back to reality again. Most likely, Ill even be prevented from getting to that place because I am hearing the whole counsel of Scripture wherever I turn in the church! I love to hear other people share grateful testimonies of Gods work in their hearts, because it boosts my own faith. I can perhaps follow their example toward success, or avoid a pitfall that they have had to overcome. It is also good for my children to see other families who are attempting to live out their lives in the same way as we are. It lets them know that they arent the only ones to be born into such weird families!
A local church offers in-depth teaching and corporate worship. The pastor invests hours of his time to prepare his message each week. Ideally, he wants to build his flock through the public preaching of Scripture rather than amuse them and make a name for himself. Likewise, the musicians work hard so we can lift our own hearts and voices to in praise to God. Rather than find all the reasons why we didnt like the sermon or the music, do we ever take the time to express our sincere appreciation to those who so faithfully serve us? What a responsibility!
A local church offers a place for adults and children to develop and exercise spiritual gifts and works of service. The preacher cant do everything by himself! Each member must do his or her own part, though mommies with little children must certainly be careful not to overdo. It is especially encouraging to see young people being mentored into church life by serving on the worship team, reading the passage at a home group Bible study, scrubbing the floors, sewing costumes for the Christmas pageant, collecting the offering, tutoring home school students, serving meals, or watching out for the wee ones at a church function. This is such a practical part of their training into maturity.
A local church can choose to offer educational opportunities to round out what we are trying to do at home. One of our previous churches, Northland, has an active home school support group, a legal enrollment option, weekly core classes for middle and high school students, co-ops for younger students, and field trips for all ages. As an extension of this megachurchs policy to be a resource to the entire Christian community, membership is open to families who attend other churches, too. This is a blessing to those whose congregations do not have any organized home school support systems. My second oldest daughter, Julia, is thriving in the high school EXCEL classes there, and I still enjoy attending the meetings as I am able. Our current congregation, Metro Life (http://www.MetroLife.org), supports families in their home school endeavors by presenting workshops for parents, arranging tutors for certain high school subjects, and facilitating enrichment classes for various ages. Those who sign up in the churchs enrollment option also join one of the small bi-monthly accountability groups. Dads are considered a vital part of the home school ministry, and are just as likely to attend meetings as the moms. My daughter Mary takes Algebra 2 and Philosophy at Metro, and some of our younger children have taken Creative Writing, Basic Science and Team Sports. Unlike Northland, most Metro home school events (with the exception of workshops) are for church member families only. I appreciate this approach just as much as I do the open approach, because each has its place. This gives the church more direct input into the home school ministry, and helps to ensure that members are on the same page theologically.
A local church supports missionaries in other lands. Part of a churchs budget is usually set aside to extend the gospel around the world through financially sponsoring missionaries. Our own church also sends members on short term overseas outreach trips, including whole teams of teens and young adults. They collect items for care packages to be sent to bless others. These are yet more ways that home school students can get involved in missions within the context of the local church.

HOW CAN I BLESS MY CHURCH?

1. Be there -- enthusiastically, regularly, and with an encouraging spirit!

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD.

Hebrews 10:19-23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 3:12-13 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

2. Pray for your leaders and other church members.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 4:2-4 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

3. Seek peace and reconciliation.

Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

John 17:20-23 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Romans 2:14-18 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

4. Give faithfully.

Acts 4:32-35 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

1 Corinthians 9:7-14 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

5. Find a way for your family to serve with the unique gifts God has given you.

Romans 12:3-8 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me `Teacher' and `Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

6. Welcome new folks and those who are different from you.

James 2:1-4 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Acts 9:26-28 When he [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

7. Share your lives with one another.

Romans 12:9-13 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

James 5:13-16 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

8. Submissively evaluate and apply the teachings.

Acts 17:10-11 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

Hebrews 13:7-8, 17 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

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You can read several articles on the theme of You and Your Church: Perfecting the Blend at http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/sgo/v17no6/

Click here to watch C.J. Mahaney preach on the priority of the local pastors:

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/about/ (see bottom right hand of screen)

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In this actual world a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid downgrade Church work and church attendance mean the cultivation of the habit of feeling some responsibility for others and the sense of braced moral strength which prevents a relaxation of ones own moral fiber The man who does not in some way, active or not, connect himself with some active, working church misses many opportunities for helping his neighbors, and therefore, incidentally, for helping himself. Teddy Roosevelt, excerpted from a 1917 Ladies Home Journal article, as quoted in Lists to Live By compiled by Alice Grace. (Thanks to my daughter Mary for bringing this to my attention!)

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CH__CH is nothing if UR not in it!

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Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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One final note: I hope this has been an encouragement to you, though it only conveys such a small thimbles worth of my enthusiasm for the church. And that, in turn, is only an atom compared to the spectacular wonder of the triumphant church when we all get to heaven and celebrate the wedding feast of Jesus and his Bride!

In His Sovereign Grace,

Virginia Knowles

http://www.thehopechest.net