09.21.2025 | Why Church? - Pastor McLean Faw
WHY CHURCH?
Ephesians 2:19-20 (NLT) - So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself.
Ephesians 2:21-22 (NLT) - We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!
WHY CHURCH?
1. IN CHURCH WE CAN EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY TOGETHER
Ephesians 2:19b (NLT) - You are members of God’s family.
Before Christ, Ephesians 2:12b (NLT) declares, “You lived in this world without God and without hope.”
Ephesians 2:13 (NKJV) - But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Romans 5:8 (NLT) - But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
If you believe in Jesus and I believe in Jesus, WE ARE FAMILY!
The blood of Jesus Christ makes us one!
Ephesians 2:14 (NLT) - For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
2. IN CHURCH WE CAN ENCOUNTER HIS MANIFEST PRESENCE TOGETHER
Ephesians 2:22 (NKJV) - In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Exodus 25:8 (NKJV) - And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.
Ephesians 3:17 (NIV) - So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Matthew 18:20 (NKJV) - For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.
3. WE GROW IN CHRIST BETTER TOGETHER
The Church is a gathering of people, and all of us still unfinished works.
If we can walk together to the foot of the cross, we can find healing and restoration.
Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV) - As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV) - But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.
4. WE CAN IMPACT THE WORLD BETTER TOGETHER
As believers, we are the Body of Christ in the earth.
Ephesians 1:22-23 (NLT) – God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all thing everywhere with Himself.
The Risen Lord Jesus works through His people to impact the world for the Glory of the Father.
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) – All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is part of it.
Every believer is a part of the Body of Christ, and every believer has a part in the Body of Christ.
WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Across America, the Lord is calling people back to church and many of them are coming. Why do you think people are coming back to church?
2. Why is church important?
3. When you think of the word church is your first response negative or positive?
4. Why do you think your first response is what it is?
5. If you have deep hurts and wounds from people in church, would you be willing to forgive and bring that hurt to the foot of the cross?
6. If you are not presently serving in the local church, would you be willing to serve?