Summary: - How do you raise a Christian without going to church? - Top 4 reasons for leaving the church: 1. Change in life situations (moving, work, divorce) 59% 2. Became disenchnaged with the pastor/church 37% 3. Church not fulfilling needs 26% 4. Change in beliefs/interests/attitudes toward church 22% - Jesus is pretty serious about the church. We are on this earth to be the church. (Eph. 1:20-23,2:19-22) - What's the big deal? 1. we get to play our part in God's plan - we are citizens of heaven (Rom. 12:1-2) 2. we get to be apart of a new family - God is building a home (1 John 3:1, Eph. 2:18, Prov. 27:17) - the church is a place where we can develop deep, intimate relationships that are stronger than any we might have otherwise. Our common bond is the Lord Jesus. He is the cause that we live for. - God doesn't create spiritual orphans. It is never His intent that His children be estranged from family. 3. We get to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16) - wherever we go, the church goes (Heb. 10:24-25 NIV) - the church is a very big deal - it's God's plan A...there's no plan B - this is not an event we attend, it's a life that we live (Ps. 92:13)
