Have you ever heard someone say that they were going to a certain church because it “meets our needs?” It begs the question: Just what are your needs? My suspicion is that for most people those needs are not what the Bible says they should be. Consider several things that the Scriptures tell us we need.
We need a church that Preaches the Word
“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)
The Apostle Paul’s preaching was so bad that listeners even fell asleep and he was ridiculed for his poor speech. In spite of such human weakness, God has chosen to work through the preaching of His Word to change lives. Since Christ, the preaching of Scripture has been at the center of Christian Worship; not entertainment, not exciting music, but the simple preaching of the Word of God. It is God’s Word that has power, not the preacher, and over the centuries God has delighted in using the feeble means of preaching by weak men to transform sinners into disciples of Christ.
We need a church that Reads the Word
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it.” (Revelation 1:3)
What did Jesus do when He went to the synagogue? The Incarnate Word read the Written Word to those in the congregation. But, how many Christians look for a church where there is the public reading and hearing of God’s Word? And yet, this is what God promises to bless.
Remember that (both believing and sustaining) “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) The personal reading of Scripture is important, but so is congregational reading. Historically, the public reading of the Bible has been an important part of worship by God’s people.
We need a church that Sings the Word
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Mark 14:26)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)
One of the errors of the pre-reformation church was that worshippers didn’t sing, they listened as musicians sang. One of the reforms that Luther insisted upon was that the congregation actually sing. And the reformed/Presbyterian churches have emphasized simple, congregational singing of Psalms as well as Scriptural hymns ever since. Singing in the church is not for entertainment, it is the people’s expression of praise and worship to the Lord.
We need a church that Fellowships in the Word
“and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)
Too many professing Christians have become spectators and perpetual visitors in the church. But it is clear from Scripture that Christians are to be involved in one another’s lives, helping and encouraging one another to walk in obedience to Christ, not as busybodies, but as loving brothers and sisters who want God’s best and His blessing upon others.
We need a church that holds believers Accountable
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.” (Ephesians 5:11–12)
Because Christians still have a fallen nature, we tend to not want accountability and we are drawn to churches where there is little to none.Yet, we need a church that holds us accountable to God’s standards and that will help us to be obedient to the Lord and help us resist the pull of our old, sinful nature. We need a church as God designed it, with membership, responsibilities, and yes, biblical human authority that will help us be faithful and to prod us to live to the glory of God.
We need a church that is Sound in doctrine
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:” (Titus 1:9), “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” (Titus 2:1)
In spite of the importance that Scripture puts upon doctrine, many Christians have a negative attitude toward doctrine. Some have a spirit of Christian minimalism that sounds spiritual, “Let’s just all get along and agree on the necessity of salvation by faith through Christ, and ignore all those divisive doctrinal issues.” Yet, that would mean ignoring most of the Scriptures that God has given to us that are full of doctrinal instruction.
Contrary to this popular thinking, God says that we actually need doctrine and that doctrine is good for our spiritual well-being. Hebrews 5:12 even warns, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Churches need to preach sound doctrine so that believers might grow and become mature disciples of Jesus Christ.
If you have not found such a church, you should give Bethel a try. We endeavor to be the church that God would have us to be and to meet the real needs that every Christian has in a church. We warmly invite you to come and be a part of what God is doing in central North Dakota.
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