The term “gather” does not only include a Sunday morning worship service, but may also include life groups, small groups, socials, discipleship groups, etc. The following are some of the many advantages to gathering faithfully with other believers in the context of a local church. 

1. You receive help and support in time of need.

In our walk with Jesus, we all struggle at times. We all have needs. We get discouraged. We are prone to drift. Our faith gets weak. We grow weary in well-doing. When such times arise, should we merely “strive harder” in our flesh? No. Instead, we should lean into the power of the Holy Spirit and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and honest with trusted friends. God wants our fellowship with others to be real, honest, and transparent. We should be able to say to others, “I am really struggling. Would you please pray for me? Do you have any advice from your experience?” Sometimes we might even need physical or financial help from the body of Christ. “And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:45). 

2. You encourage and bless others.

No matter how long you have been in relationship with Jesus, you have something to offer others. You can bless someone today. You can be the hands and feet of Jesus. You can see someone who looks down and depressed and offer to pray for them. You can bring a tangible gift to another. You can offer encouragement to someone God puts on your heart. “Consider how to stir up one another … encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

3. You use your gifts in service for the kingdom.

You have gifts and abilities that can benefit others and help them grow. You have the Spirit of God in you, and His divine light can help illuminate a dark world. We are each called to help fulfill part of the Lord’s Prayer – “Your kingdom come; Your will be done; on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). You can help expand God’s kingdom on earth by stewarding your gifts, abilities, and personality. We are to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:23). If something needs to be stirred up from time to time, it means parts of it can easily “settle to the bottom of the cup.” 

4. You benefit from the diversity of the body.

One of the most unique aspects of the local church is its diversity of age, ethnicity, maturity, and experience. The young, middle-aged, and old come together to worship their God. People from different social backgrounds, economic strata, and life experiences come together to serve and build Christ’s kingdom. This diversity reflects the glory of the gospel and the beauty of Christ. Each person is a unique testimony to the grace of God. Each one shines the Light of Christ, which shines even brighter when we gather!

5. You grow from the wisdom of older believers.

We should love seeing gray hair in church. Proverbs says it is a sign of wisdom (16:31)! With age comes experience and wisdom about life and God. Someone once said we all need a Paul (older in the Lord we learn from), a Timothy (younger in the Lord we pour into), and a Barnabas (equal in the Lord we mutually encourage). Sometimes we even need people to rebuke us or call us out if we are living in a manner displeasing to God. True fellowship is not just saying the easy things to hear, but also involves the hard things that we need to heed.

6. You worship the Lord and hear God’s Word.

In the Old Testament, God’s people came to the Temple to worship and hear the Word of the Lord. In the New Testament, God’s people gather to worship the Lord and hear God’s Word proclaimed. We need to be taught sound doctrine from God’s Word. Paul told Timothy, “Preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). The early church “devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching…” (Acts 2:42). If the opportunity is available, and we are able to take it, we need to be in a church where Jesus is worshiped and the Word of God is proclaimed. Worship and preaching develop and grow our souls!

7. You celebrate baptisms.

Baptism is one of the ordinances of the church that proclaims the beauty of what Christ has done for us. When someone gets baptized, the church gets to visibly celebrate and welcome the person into the body of Christ. Baptism is also a physical reminder to the church that we have been buried and raised with Christ (in a spiritual sense), but will one day be physically resurrected with Him!

8. You partake of the Lord’s Supper. 

Another important ingredient in our fellowship with others is the partaking of the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion. The “breaking of bread” in Acts 2:41-47 likely references both a meal and the celebration of communion shared among believers. 

9. You bring your tithes and offerings.

God calls us to return the first 10% of our income to Him (see Malachi 3:6-12). I believe this should come to our local church. I love tithing because it is a tangible way I can obey and show God how much I love Him and trust Him.  Furthermore, it is an eternal investment – “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). So much of what we do with our money and possessions will eventually perish, but giving to our church and other ministries is an investment in eternity.

10.  You pray together.

Praying with others is a powerful experience.  We need to have our private times of prayer, but we also need to pray with others. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).  As we pray together, we pray for each other’s needs, our church, our community, government leaders, people in need, and the world. Your personal prayer life will grow as you experience praying with others. It might be awkward at first, but it will come easier the more you do it.