“Why Do I Need the Church?”
This is an adapted excerpt from Square One, Session 11. Check out the full Square One series here.
Imagine packing up the car for the ultimate cross-country road trip. You’ve got the perfect playlist, a full tank of gas, and a map pointing toward incredible destinations. But who are your travelling companions? As much as we all need our “alone time,” we’re wired for companionship. The best parts of any adventure are the people we share them with. That’s why it’s no surprise that for the most important journey of all — our walk with Christ — our Lord never intended for us to go it alone.
When the New Testament talks about the “church,” it never means a building. The Greek word, ekklesia, literally means an assembly or gathering of people. The church is Jesus’ followers. But how do we walk together without stepping all over each other? From the beginning, God’s design was for us to live out our faith in unity. Jesus himself confirmed this in a prayer to God, pleading for a “oneness” among his followers that perfectly mirrors his own relationship with the Father. He prayed, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us ...” (John 17:21-23). This wasn’t just a nice idea; he explained this radical collaboration can lead the world to believe he’s God’s Son.
This is where our worldly distinctions and divisions become irrelevant. In Christ, there are — "neither Jew nor Greek ... slave nor free ... male nor female” — as he brings a diverse people together as one (Gal. 3:28).
The Big Idea
Our Lord never intended us to make this journey alone. We’re told to "stir up one another to love and good works" (Heb. 10:24) and to encourage each other. We’re meant to be actively invested in each other's spiritual growth, speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), caring for the needy among us (James 1:27), and holding each other to a higher standard. We are the "pillar and support of the truth," (1 Tim. 3:15), holding up God's message for everyone to see. This interdependent, all-hands-on-deck community is God’s brilliant design.
The New Testament paints a picture that’s far richer than a building with a steeple. It uses powerful metaphors to describe what the church truly is.
First, the church is a family. We become members not by birth, but by being adopted as “children of God” through Jesus (Gal. 4:4-7). This spiritual family, with God as our Father, is called to care for one another and bear each other’s burdens in relationships that will outlast all others (Gal. 6:2,10). This family is also a flock, with elders serving as shepherds who lead, feed, and protect the members from harm (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3).
Another powerful image is the church as the body of Christ. In this picture, Christ is the head — the sole authority — and we are all the different parts (Eph. 1:22-23). Just like a physical body, every single member is vital. Whether you’re a hand, a foot, or an eye, you have a unique and necessary role to play in building up the whole body in love (Eph. 4:16). Membership isn’t an optional extra; when we’re saved in baptism, the Lord himself adds us to his church (Acts 2:41,47).
Building on that, the church is God’s temple. This isn’t a temple of brick and mortar; it’s a spiritual house made of “living stones” — and that’s us (1 Peter 2:5)! God’s Spirit dwells in his people, turning every Christian into a walking, talking temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19).
Finally, think of the church as God’s field (1 Cor. 3:9). This simple picture emphasizes our mission. Like farmers, every member has a role in planting the seed of the gospel and watering it through teaching and fellowship. Paul reminds us, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6-7). The work is ours, but the results belong to God.
A family, a flock, a body, a temple, a field — these images show us that the church is a living, breathing community. It’s not a place we go to, but a reality we’re part of. It’s God’s answer to the loneliest traveler, a set of companions for the most important journey you’ll ever take.
The Big Question
Do you see how being part of a local church can help in your walk with Christ? May the Lord's people all be one, loving and supporting one another as we follow Christ.