When we meet together as a Church

"So, brothers and sisters, what should you do?

When you meet together, one person has a song, and another has a teaching.

Another has a new truth from God.

Another speaks in a different language, and another person interprets that language.

The purpose of all these things should be to help the church grow strong."

(1 Corinthians 14: 26)

God’s children, meeting on the day of rest; the Sabbath, is a privilege. It is a reminder that a group of people are gathering together not only to ‘receive’ but also to ‘give.’ To give their hearts in adoration, to give themselves as a holy sacrifice to God and also to share the blessings with the fellow members of the church.

But when we meet in this place of receiving and giving, the mutual love for each other and concern grows week after week. We have to remember that each person matters. Each person is a part of this body of Christ, she/he is expected to play an active role in the growth of the church.

In a lot of circumstances, the church has witnessed the individual growth of each person. The preacher, the singer, the worship leader, the Sunday school expert, the youth advisor, the choir leader, the women’s leader and also the men’s boss. But have they, together, worked for the growth of the church still remains as the biggest question.

Reading through the passage verse we have read above, we find that Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, encourages them to grow as a church instead of their individual abilities to take things forward. All the talents, the projects, the seminars, the outings, the camps, the retreats, the practices, the pastoral committee meetings, all these should encourage each other to grow together as a church. Otherwise the whole purpose is left. Does it look nice to see only few parts of the body growing steadily? Where’s the proportion?

When we meet together as a church, it is essential that we have in our minds the whole growth of our body. The result of every single bible study that’s conducted in the youth fellowship should be reflected in the contribution of the youth at the Sunday services. Each and every lesson that a child learns at the Sunday school should enable her/him to involve in the activities of the church. Every man and woman, husband and wife, father and mother, should be individually encouraged in their own fellowships to take active roles in the church. Every chorister should learn that her/his voice matters at the Sunday service and whenever the church meets together and every preacher should know that the message of Christ she/he would share would change lives. This is what we call “A church that grows together.”

Paul encourages the Corinthians to have the growth of the church in their hearts and minds and not their individual growth when they meet as a church.

It is a joyful thing to realise friends, that we are all blessed with various talents, spiritual gifts and abilities by God. But all of our expressions with these blessings should be useful for the church to grow.

I want to encourage you to work hard with patience, with all the blessings God has given you, for the growth of the parish. Let’s remember that “the purpose of all these things should be to help the church grow strong.”

May God bless you.