The Bible and the church are both essential to our Christian walk. They are not in competition but they are complementary with each other to help us in our walk with God.
The word church comes from the original Greek ekklesia which means a gathering, or assembly of believers. The church is where God’s presence dwells.
In the book of Genesis, God dwells in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.
They enjoyed God’s presence until they disobeyed and were evicted from the garden. Their fellowship with God was broken yet God desires to have his dwelling place again among his people. He instructed Moses to build the tabernacle to represent his presence. Later the magnificent temple of God was built by King Solomon, where his glorious presence dwells.
Today the temple of God is not a building, but God’s people. The church is not a place, but the people of God. The Holy Spirit dwells in God’s people who carry his outpost Eden glory wherever they go.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV
Why is The Church Important in Our Walk with God?
The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ is the head of the church. As one body, we are connected to each other and to Christ as the head. We need to be in a relationship with the community of believers.
Do Not Neglect to Meet Together
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
“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.”
The church is not only present in our formal gatherings. God instructs his people not to give up meeting together even through different seasons and places. We worship God together, and we eat and play together as well. In doing so, we allow God to mature us through our fellowship as we share life together.
We Can Stir Up and Encourage One Another
When we gather together, we are called to show hospitality, compassion, and humility toward one another. Though the church is not yet perfect, it is in the process of perfection and is definitely a better place for encouragement and edification. We are not designed to be lone ranger Christians, we need each other.
“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 ESV
Believers Can Utilize Their Spiritual Gifts
As much as every person is unique, diversity in the church is a given. The body needs many parts with various and unique functions. No one is less important. Each of us can offer something to serve others.
”Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV
The Church is Sent Out to Do The Great Commission
God’s people are commanded by God to gather together, study the Bible and pray together but they are also called to go and make disciples of all nations, sharing the Good News of the Gospel with people living in darkness.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19 ESV
Why is the Bible Important in our Walk with God?
We cannot over-magnify the importance of the Bible. The word of God is the self-expression of God and his glory. It has a limitless scope of God’s work from the day of creation until now to the coming age.
The Bible Reveals Who God Is
Every scripture is God’s breathing. It reveals God’s character and nature, his sovereignty and power. Despite being penned by different authors over 15 centuries, the Bible does not contradict itself and does not contain any errors because it is the all-knowing God who inspired all its authors. These authors present different perspectives, but they all proclaim the same true God, and the same one way of salvation—Jesus Christ.
The Bible Reveals Who We Are
In this time and age when many people get their identity from social media, education, affiliation, and other things in this world, the Bible gives us our true identity. The One who breathes life to every Word in the Bible is the same God who created us. God must know who we really are. There is a vast reference in the Bible that speaks our true identity in Christ. From the beginning, the Bible says, we are created in the image of God, we are loved, forgiven, redeemed, and seen. We are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.
The Bible is God’s Love Letter To Us
The Bible is composed of narratives, letters, poems, songs, and other literature that all point to Jesus. The greatest expression of God’s love is Jesus who is sent to us in order to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin.
Through reading the Bible, we will discover and experience God’s everlasting love, how he has been pursuing us from the beginning and wooing us to ourselves despite our mess. We see his untiring devotion to redeem and restore us to be with him in eternity.
The Bible is our Weapon Against Our Adversary
God’s Word equips and empowers us against the assault of the enemy. As we read, believe, and declare God’s word, it can sanctify us from the corruption of sin. It is our greatest weapon against the power of darkness. Take up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, and stand victoriously in Jesus.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV
The Bible is a Life Manual to Guide Us
When we buy equipment, we need to read and follow the manufacturer’s manual in order to operate it properly.
God created us and gave us a life manual on how to operate our life, the Bible. God knows us in full, he knows what is best for his people. As we abide in His word we will be like a tree planted by the streams of water. Even in the dry season, we will not wither, we will nourish, thrive, and bear fruit. Let’s read the Manual, do what it says, and live a fruitful life.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). ESV
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105 ESV
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