Connecting and being involved with a local body of believers is about more than just filling a slot in our schedule with some spiritual time or checking Sunday attendance off our spiritual to do list for the week. Connecting and being involved is God’s desire for all believers. The writer of Hebrews states:
“…not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:25 NET
The early church had some issues with believers getting into the bad habit of not meeting with other believers. They literally abandoned them. From the cautionary words we read here, it obviously was not beneficial to those that left nor to the church itself. Each of us needs the encouragement found in meeting with other believers.
All our times together, not just being at the physical location of the building, give us the chance to practice the one anothers with each other—love one another (1 Jn 4:12), encourage one another (Heb 3:13), “spur” one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24), serve one another (Gal 5:13), instruct one another (Rom 15:14), honor one another (Rom 12:10), be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph 4:32). Through connecting and being involved, we are invested in and receive spiritual nourishment and we have the chance to invest in the lives of others around us as well.
All believers need to be involved and functioning parts of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12) in order for the church to fulfill the purpose and design given her by God. Connecting and being involved is not just about Sunday morning attendance. The Apostle Peter wrote to the believers in his epistle of 1 Peter:
“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” – 1 Peter 4:10 NET
God’s will is that we all be involved in some type of ministry using the spiritual gifts (Eph 4:11-13) and talents He has granted and gifted us. True spiritual maturity involves putting these spiritual gifts into practice with one another and receiving the assistance we all need from each other.
So, we welcome you to attend one of our services, yes. Come to GBC and find a place to get plugged in where others can invest into your life and you in turn can invest yourself in others. Our desire and goal is that through this we will become spiritual maturity, and our ultimate purpose behind it all is the greater glory of God.