I don’t need church; I can stay home and read my Bible right?

Sunday mornings are great for sleeping in. Nobody will talk to me when I visit a new church. Someone at church said something that offended me. The church board will not listen to me. Going to church doesn’t make me more spiritual. Do I really need to go to church?

Yes, you need a community of fellow believers to help you grow in your faith. You need a church. Some Christians are still weak in their faith and say and do things that hurt people, but they need a church. Some Christians are self-righteous and proud; some are going through great difficulties but all Christians need a church. The church was never meant to be a place serving only those who are well-disciplined perfect believers. The church is meant for imperfect, hurting Christians who need each other for encouragement, caring and love. We need to worship as a body of Christ and learn from God’s Word. God set-up the church, as imperfect as it is, to help Christians grow in their faith and as an outsource for ministry.

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 5:9,11,14-15