The Power and Purpose of the Church: Why It Matters More Than Ever.

children's books, Christian-teachers, Little Pot

In a world where technology and social media dominate our daily lives, the power and purpose of the church have never been more critical. During the pandemic, people found that they could watch sermons and church services online instead of attending in person. Is it necessary to go to church, and why is it important? To answer that question, we first must understand what the church is according to the Bible. Then, we must see its specific role in our lives and God’s plan. Is God expecting us to be a part of the local church? We will delve into how the Bible describes the church and let you judge for yourself. Join us as we discover the transformative potential of the church and why it matters more than ever.

Why is church important? Learn a lot from Little Pot.

Little Pot, Tea Pot, Oil Lamp, and Cracked Jar are all vessels created by the Potter. These vessels are the characters in our picture books, and they, in many ways, represent the church. They help us know the Potter. Likewise, they grow and learn by interacting with one another. The vessels form a family because they share a Father who created them. Additionally, they are the vessels the Potter chooses to work through.

The Little Pot shows us how the fruit of the Spirit grows. The Humus, seed, stem, leaves, and flowers lead to strawberries. Comparatively, God cultivates the fruit of the Spirit through humility, God’s Word, integrity, relationships, and knowledge. You can receive details about that process by signing up here:

When Little Pot meets Tea Pot, it discovers its fruit is meant to serve others. Likewise, our creator fills us and expects us to pour into others. Continuing the family relationships, Tea Pot and Little Pot share their stories with an Oil Lamp. Doing so helps this little vessel overcome shyness and fear to shine the light the Potter gives it. Once it shines, the Potter places it on a pedestal. As it sits above the others, its oil runs low and begins to burn out. A cracked jar then helps the oil lamp overcome burnout and is designed to fit in the hole atop the little light.

Why is church important? Because the church is a family. — The church is essential because it is a family.

Why is church important? Church is a family.

Throughout these stories, it is easy to see how each vessel was created to do something different. Yet, their unique roles support each other, and together, they can fulfill a greater purpose for the Potter. They need each other and act as a family, with the Potter being their leader.

Likewise, the people in a church are family. Growing up, my dad used to say, “Blood is thicker than water” to me. The saying helped me understand that spending time with family was more important than with friends. Likewise, a church is a family connected with the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:19 tells us that we are God’s people and members of His household.

Additionally, Romans 12:9-16 describes the practical behaviors we are to have with one another in this family. The family are the people we share life with. If you only attend church occasionally or don’t share your life with them, are you fulfilling Romans 12:9-16? Do you feel like your church is family? What makes it feel that way?

Church people are God’s temple.

I recently read a book called Disappointment with God by Phillip Yancey. I highly recommend it. The book describes God dwelling in three temples throughout the Bible. The first was in Jerusalem, in the temple built by Solomon. See 1 Kings 8:11. Next was Jesus. He was God in the flesh and described himself as the temple. See John 2:19-21. Thirdly, God dwells inside us. The book of Acts explains how the Holy Spirit began to take up residence in people, and together, they make up the church. In 1 Corinthians, Paul describes the church people as the temple of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Knowing that God resides inside me and within other members of a church family helps me understand why the church is important.

The Bride of Christ

Another term used to describe the church is the Bride of Christ. Ephesians 5:22-33 compares the union of Christ to the church as husband and wife. Again, in Revelation 2:12, the church is described as the bride. When I meet a Christian who says they have a close relationship with Christ and do not need to go to church. How close is that relationship? If I refuse to spend time with a friend’s spouse, I can only be so close to them. If we want to be a part of who Christ is and what He is doing, we need to be a part of His church. That is who He loves and chooses to be in a deep, intimate relationship with.

The body of Christ

We have already discussed how God lives inside individual bodies. Likewise, the Bible refers to the collective members of His church as His body. Ephesians 1:23 describes the church as His body. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-18, Paul explains that church members are to function together as a body with Christ being the head. We should know that we are an essential part of that body. Your body has many features, and they all work together. As we age, we sometimes know what it is when a part of our body does not move as we tell it to. Likewise, the church body needs all its members to act as one under Christ.

the church is Christ's body. — The church is Christ’s body.

Conclusion: why is the church important?

Why is the church important? I think the answer lies in if God Himself is vital to you. When asking AI this question, you will find answers that say the church plays a vital role in society and that it can create a support system for its members. However, the church is so much more. It is God’s family, temple, bride, and body. If we expect to know God, we must know and be a part of the church.

The Little Pot and the other vessels in our children’s books demonstrate how we each serve a different purpose but together serve the Potter. Please add your first name and email below. Then, you’ll receive the seven steps to how the Holy Spirit grows His fruit through you. Additionally, Little Pot sends a Fruitful Friday email each week so you can continue to … “Learn a lot from Little Pot!

what is fruit of the spirit — Learn how the Potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Rooted Bible Study

This article is a part of a Bible study called Rooted. The root system inside Little Pot is intertwined and hard to break. Consequently, we’ve been digging it up to answer complex questions about God and life. Here is a list of the questions we are investigating. Feel free to click on the different questions to learn more. A workbook is available for further study.

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