The Importance of Good Leadership, Christian Fellowship & Worship

The Apostle Paul showed total leadership for the body of Christ. He set the example for others to follow. Paul warned the elders about false brethren who would rise up within the Church and lead others astray. His warning is for today as well. We need good leaders in the body of Christ to be on guard for the flock. Paul taught the importance of having Pastors, Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, and Teachers in the Church for the equipping of the saints. We are not to be tossed back and forth by the trickery of men who are deceived, but we are to come to unity and maturity in our walk, and edify others in truth. Jesus said in John 8:31-36 that we truly are His disciples if we obey His teachings and the truth will set us free.

Christians worshipped daily & weekly with other believers - Acts 2:42-47, 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2

Christians are to take time to fellowship with other believers. The early Church worshipped daily and weekly, and they set the example for us to follow. The Sabbath was made for man to have rest, and in that we are to rest in the Lord. Taking time to fellowship is resting in the Lord, and setting our minds on things above. (Colossians 3:2) It is important to grow together with other believers so that we can grow together and help each other in times of need.

Church was in people's homes - Acts 2:42-47, Philemon 2, 2 John 1-10

The Church is not a building, or a physical place, though people may go to a certain place. The early Church met in other people's homes and studied the Word and gave time to worship the Lord. The body of Christ is the Church so therefore you cannot go to Church because you are the Church.

Christians are not to be divided, but are to be united together as one - 1 Cor 1:10-13, Eph 4:1-6

It is so important to know that Christ is not to be divided, for that is what the enemy is trying to accomplish. Jesus set the example for the Apostles, but who do we follow? Is it not Jesus who set us free? Jesus is the One whom we follow, and though we may have different denominations we are to be one in Christ. Denominations are simply of man, whereas God wants us to be one in Him. Now there are many denominations, but there is only one body, one faith, one hope, and that is what counts. It is not that I am Baptist, or I am Pentecostal, or Lutheran for that matter, but that I am Christian. We as a Church need to focus more on becoming one as a whole and cling to what the Scriptures teach and fight the good fight in this world of lost sinners.

We are not to forsake fellowshipping - Hebrews 10:24-25

This is very simple, we are to fellowship. Christians who are not fellowshipping somewhere need to seek the Lord, and find a place where they can worship. Now some people say "I can worship at home", or "I do not need Church", or "I get it from the Lord directly". We can worship at home, that is true, but we are not to be "lone ranger" Christians because then we have no accountability. Where there is no accountability there is a greater risk of deception and sin in one's life. We can hear from God directly at home too, but we can also hear from the flesh or demons if we are not in His Word and have brethren to keep us in check. Proverbs 27:17 says, "as one man sharpens iron so does one man to another." We need to be sharpened by other Christians so we do not get "ripped off" by the devil. I have to wonder if those who say that they do not need church are even true Christians. We as believers long for the presence of God in our lives, and grow more and more with other believers by regularly fellowshipping at Church. (to meet with others)

The purpose of Church - Ephesians 4:11-16

Ephesians 4:11-16 "11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

The leaders of the Church are to help equip and build up the body of Christ, so we attain the unity of faith, grow in maturity, and grow in our knowledge of Jesus. The result is that we will not be tossed back and forth by false doctrines, but will be set free and can help others in their walk. Having this unity and leadership in our lives helps us to grow in maturity and love where we can be effective witnesses to others.