And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
You and I were created for community. In Christ, we see that the Church is not actually the building but the people. The Bible uses interesting language to remind us that we are all part of one “body” and that we need each other. Paul writes it this way: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV) As members of the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit has uniquely gifted each of us to play a vital role in the Kingdom mission of Jesus.
Though this list is not exhaustive, the Church, the Gospel community established by, created for, and sustained by Christ, exists to:
- Stir one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
- Encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25)
- Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
- Sing, worship, and encourage one another (Ephesians 5:19)
- Share the Gospel in order to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19)
- Help disciples grow in knowledge and obedience (Matthew 28:20)
In this post-COVID world, church attendance has dropped and never recovered to levels prior to 2020. In Hebrews 10:24-25, the writer of Hebrews tells us that we should be sure we are not neglecting to meet together but that we are meeting and encouraging one another all the more as we see the Day drawing near. The writer of Hebrews tells us that some are in “the habit” of neglecting to meet together – we must not allow this habit to take root in our own lives.
Some of the consequences of the COVID outbreak included people becoming more isolated than ever before. People isolated themselves from family, friends, and even church communities. Many began simply watching church service instead of actively engaging in church services. As the world learns to deal with life with COVID, many have still not returned to regularly attending church service. I believe that this impacts both the Church and their own spiritual development.
In my own observation, I’ve seen how Satan attacks the lives of so many precious brothers and sisters. Often Satan’s first step is to isolate a brother or sister and get them out of church. Once someone has missed a service or two, it becomes easier and easier to stop attending church regularly. Before someone realizes it, they are now isolated and begin neglecting the calls, texts, and even visits with their Christian friends. Though the process is not always in sequence, at some point those who are isolated begin to stop praying and and studying the Bible regularly. Lastly, without accountability and community, the lives of these brothers and sisters becomes a series of spiritual attacks that begin to weigh them down.
Galatians 6:2 reminds us that we are called to bear one another’s burdens. It is this way, bearing those spiritual burdens that would otherwise crush us, that we fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? To love one another as He has loved us. Here are some practical ways you might respond to this reminder:
- Make church a priority in your life – don’t plan church attendance around your schedule. Plan your schedule around your church attendance.
- Join a small group or Sunday School group – meeting others and building a Christ centered community will result in doing life with others who love Jesus and will love you.
- Intentionally encourage others and stir them up to good works – remember, this is a critical reason we meet regularly with other believers.
- Learn from others and share what the Lord has and is doing in your life – no matter how new you are to the faith, in Christ you have a testimony that will encourage and bless others.
- Invite others to come and encourage those who have missed a Sunday or two to get plugged back in – we need each other.
My prayer for you in this moment is that you would know that Shoal Creek Baptist Church is stronger and more vibrant because you are here, plugged in, serving, worshipping, and partnering with us as we seek to know Jesus and make Him known to the world around us.
