Relationships Within the Church

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” Romans 1:12 (NLT)

What does the church have to offer? You get five benefits when you belong to a church family!

1.) Your Identity

- When you belong to Jesus, He gives you a whole new identity. It’s who you really are and who He meant you to be, and, to Him you are perfect.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

“You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God” Ephesians 2:19 (CEV)

1.) A Support System

"In Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” - Ephesians 2:21-22 (NIV)

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours” - Romans 1:12 (NLT)

“[God] made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock." - Psalm 100:3

3.) You Discover Your Unique Value

“Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others” - Romans 12:4-5 (TLB)

"God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." - Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)

"Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." - Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)

4.) You Receive Protection

“God made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock” - Psalm 100:3 (GNT)

5.) You Become Productive

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener . . . you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:1, 5 NIV)

- You’ll never be as productive as God intended for you to be if you’re not connected to a church family.