The Discipline of Church

The author in this chapter addresses the modern-day phenomenon of the

“churchless Christians”, and “church hitchhikers” who never settle down and commit to a specific body of believers.

And never in history has it been easier to be a “churchless Christian” with all of our modern-day technology. Most churches now stream their services online and have various other tools and online programs for spiritual growth that make it possible for someone to never have to physically step foot in a church building if they don’t want to.

Now, these online options aren’t a bad thing, they’re very good and useful in many ways (Like for those that may be homebound for physical reasons, people traveling out of town, etc) and it enables us to stay connected to the community to a certain extent.

However, when a person chooses it as their primary or sole way to “engage” in church, it has the potential to lead to isolation from other believers and results in their relationship with God suffering. I believe this is what the author of Hebrews was warning us about when he wrote:

“And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Let’s look again at what we’re being encouraged/instructed to do here for each other:

• We’re to consider each other

• Give attentive and continuous care to one another,

• To watch over one another,

• Stir up each other to love, good deeds, and works,

• Regularly getting together in the community,

• Admonishing (warning, urging, encouraging) one another.

And we’re to walk in this more and more faithfully as we see the world grow darker and the day of The Lord’s return grows closer.

So it seems like he’s saying here that we’re going to need each other to a greater extent as the times get increasingly difficult and the world around us becomes more hostile to true followers of Jesus, which has been happening for centuries elsewhere around the globe, and now has been on a steep increase here in America.

That’s the way it was with the early church when this was written and it’s just as relevant for us today.

Now, we’re all prone to wander, get lazy, get tired of the struggle or just lose heart, and we need the mutual encouragement that comes from gathering together to stay the course and run the race God has called us to.

As Charles Stanley states:

“No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in their walk of faith”.

I couldn’t agree more, and can certainly testify to the importance of regular in personal relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ being instrumental in my personal walk of faith and spiritual growth.

Whether it’s a church on Sunday, attending small groups, men’s groups, prayer meetings or worship nights, or just getting together and hanging out with a few of the guys God has brought into our lives, these are all places that we can live out these verses in Hebrews.

As Jesus said, “By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].”

‭‭John‬ ‭1t3‬:‭35‬ ‭AMPC‬.

So, as we’re living this out, not only is it beneficial for us, it’s beneficial for those in the world around us who are lost, who may see and be attracted to the love of Christ we share and want in on it!

And isn’t that really what we The Church are about and desire to see, the lost come to Christ and become part of His Church as well?

Yes, the church is a place of worship, discipleship, ministry, teaching, etc. for the spiritual growth of the already saved, but it’s also about those yet to come. We have a mission and Jesus gives us our marching orders in Matthew 28:

“Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

And lastly, never think that you don’t have anything to offer others. As the apostle Paul lays out for us in Romans, we all have gifts God has given us to use to bless the body of Christ.

“For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭AMPC

So we see by this that just as the different parts of our ‬physical body rely on each other to function, each of us within the church is “mutually dependent on one another”, and functions best when we’re all showing up and contributing our gifts. So it’s not so much about us, it’s about others and how we can serve them. Jesus modeled this servant heart throughout His ministry here on earth, and we should follow.

So if you’ve been kind of hit and miss this past year with attending church, Upward men, small group, whatever…I want to encourage you that your presence is wanted and needed, and we’re not complete without you and without what God desires to do through you.

So as men of God, let’s take the lead and commit to the “Discipline of Church”, and walk this year with a higher level of commitment to the community God has placed around us and however He’s calling us to serve within that community. As we “seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matt.6:33) and He becomes the “One Thing” (Psalm 27:4) that we desire above all else, He will reveal Himself to us in greater ways and empower us by the Holy Spirit to do what He’s called us to do and see His will carried out on this earth.