For the Christian person who wants to grow in their personal relationship with God and become effective in their Christian influence, the importance of belonging to a local church body cannot be overstated. There are many analogies for a Christian who attempts to live disconnected from a church body - a baseball player without a team; a tuba player without an orchestra; a sheep without a flock; a child without a family. Ephesians 2:19 says we are "...members of God's household."

By virtue of our personal faith in Christ, we are automatically part of a larger family, which is made up of believers in Jesus from all over the world. Christianity was never meant to be a "Lone Ranger" religion.

"...in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." - Romans 12:5

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts." - Acts 2:46

It is Christ's desire that each of his individual followers belong to a local gathering ("church") of people who know and love Jesus. It is about commitment to Christ and His Body.

• What is a Church & What is a Baptist Church
• The Benefits of Belonging to a Church
• How Can I Get More Involved?