The soloist faced an awkward situation one recent Sunday at Jet Blue Park in Ft. Myers, where the Boston Red Sox hosted the Atlanta Braves in a Spring training game. About halfway through the national anthem, she went blank, paused, and started over.
Again, the words left her. After a tense moment, the fans jumped in, sang the song, and carried her to the finish.
A similar misfortune happened two decades ago before the NBA Western Conference finals game. Thirteen-year-old Natalie Gilbert started strong but mixed up the anthem’s words. Embarrassed and near tears, she stopped. Then Portland Trailblazers head coach Maurice Cheeks slipped beside her and quietly started singing with her. With his help, she finished strong.
In a sense, these instances present a snapshot of why belonging to a caring, healthy church fellowship is so vital. Life is tough, and often we need our church members to come alongside us and to help bear our burdens. And we need to come alongside others and help them shoulder theirs.
How often have we heard someone facing hardship remark, “I don’t know how people going through something like this make it without the Lord and without a church family”?
That’s one picture of the church. We’re family, God’s people committed to God and to one another in a local setting. God never intended for us to do life alone. He wired us for a relationship with Him and other believers. God intends for us to belong to and participate in His church.
What are the benefits of belonging and plugging in?
First, we worship together. Personal worship and Bible reading are important to our spiritual wellbeing, yet we also need corporate worship. Gathering with other believers on the Lord’s Day recharges our spiritual batteries. When we gather, we obey God’s command to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).
Second, we exhort one another (Hebrews 10:25). Exhorting means we journey together, encouraging one another in our faith and prompting each other to mature spiritually. Often, that prompting happens in a small group where we learn from each other as we examine scripture and challenge each other to apply it.
Third, we connect with one another to help the church grow stronger (Ephesians 2:21-22). As Jesus builds His church, He uses believers who exercise their gifts and serve. My grandsons love to play with LEGOS. They take a container of LEGOS and build just about anything. They are quite creative.
Interestingly, one LEGO by itself is not effective until it connects with others. When the pieces fasten together, they can make a great structure. When believers connect and strive together, the church is stronger.
Fourth, we pray for one another (James 5:16). When I was battling cancer, my church family consistently prayed for me, as did my home church and another hometown church. I often received encouraging notes from my home church’s prayer ministry intercessors. The other church presented me a prayer quilt, a tangible reminder they were covering me in prayer. Their prayers and the prayers of many others meant so much.
Fifth, we receive timely practical and emotional support (Galatians 6:2). Recently, another grandson became sick with the flu, eventually requiring an overnight hospitalization. My daughter’s and son-in-law’s church stepped up in a big way. At least seven families brought or offered meals over several days. Another gave a gift card, while two of these families put together a care package for my grandson. Their gifts expressed loving support at a very stressful time.
Sixth, we partner with other churches to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth (Philippians 1:5). Paul thanked God for the Philippian believers’ fellowship in the gospel. Paul speaks specifically of the Philippians’ generous contribution to assist Jerusalem believers in need and their support of his missionary work. We can accomplish more for the Lord when we work together, joyfully giving and obediently sharing a Gospel witness.
Seventh, we often see God’s transforming work. When we are present, prayed up, plugged in, and sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we can see indications of God’s Spirit touching people’s lives. Maybe there’s a “next step” in someone’s spiritual journey. Possibly someone gets radically saved. Maybe someone follows Christ in believer’s baptism. Or someone hears God’s call to fulltime Christian service.
God works powerfully around us, in us, and through us, and it’s a joy to see lives changed.
