Sermon #2 - "Why are WE here?"

What is the church's purpose? Why do we meet regularly? How do we bear witness to Christ?

The sermon suggested two ways, but our pastor said she was stumped for a third and asked that we come up with some ideas. But first, the two reasons for being the church she had thought of.

First and foremost, the church is here to worship God. By worshipping corporately, we are declaring our love for and adoration of God. God is worthy of all our praise and doing that together gives it strength.
Secondly, we are here to empower each other to use our God-given gifts both within the church and beyond. We call each other to serve and then we help each other in that role.

But what would I put as another reason? The church to me has always been my family. As we have lived away from our extended family for most of our married lives, the church has become the village that raises our children. We could not have done it on our own. For a number of years, my husband's job took him away from the family every other weekend. Who did I go to for support? The church. Where did I go for adult conversation? The church. Where did I go to for childcare, play dates, preschool? Yep, the church. And now I still need the church. I need the church to encourage me, I need it to remind me that life is more than just me, I need the church to hold me up to God in prayer when I go through tough times. I need the church, just as everyone needs a family.

But beyond the selfish, I think that the church family is called to live in unity. When we live together in love, not always agreeing, but always united, we are a testament to the living Christ.
Philippians 2:1-4 talks about how we are to live together with others because of our unity with Christ.  It is the antithesis of the "I" mentality so prevalent now, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others," (v.4). Colossians 2 talks about how being united in  love helps people to understand the mystery if Christ. (v. 2) Being united in Christ brings glory to God. (Romans 15:5-6)