The Benefits of Belonging to a Church Family, Part 2
By Rick Warren
“[God] made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock.” Psalm 100:3 (GNT)
Belonging to a church family has many benefits. Yesterday we looked at two of those benefits: Through the church, you learn your true identity and you are supported by others. Today we’ll look at three more benefits.
You discover your unique value. Everyone is unique. Nowhere else on Earth is there anyone like you. That’s why the church needs you—to make the body complete. Romans 12:4-5 says, “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” (TLB). You need other people, and they need you.
You receive protection. Psalm 100:3 says, “[God] made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock” (GNT). What’s the benefit of being part of God’s flock? You are defended and cared for. You have other people looking out for you. And you can enjoy the safety and security that come from belonging to a family who trusts in Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Being connected to God’s church—God’s flock—also makes you more confident and less anxious. When you’re struggling in the business world, you can say, “I’m not on my own.” When your relationships are strained, you can say, “I’m not on my own.” Or when you’re facing a health crisis, you can say, “I’m not on my own.” Why? Because you belong to a church family that loves you.
You become productive. Most people want their life to count. They want to make a difference. How can you best do that? By staying connected to a church family. And that’s the key—you have to stay connected.
Jesus said, “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).
The point is this: You'll never be as productive as God intended for you to be if you're not connected to a church family. Your church teaches you the right questions to ask and the right priorities to set. A cut-off branch cannot bear fruit. But when you're connected to the true vine, Jesus, life-giving energy flows through you to others.
Nothing in the world can give you what the church gives you. Only the church can meet your need for significance, stability, protection, productivity, and being valued.
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