In spite of the fact that many people think the church is important, it is very important indeed. Jesus highly values the church: it belongs to Him (Matt. 16:18); He purchased it with His blood, His life (Acts 20:28); and the church is His beloved bride (Ephesians 5:23,25). If the church is that important to Jesus, it must be important to His disciples, too.

Secondly, the church (when it is doing what God has commanded it to do) glorifies God. Paul tells us, "to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21, NAS95). The church is even called a lampstand (Revelation 1) and the "pillar and support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). And did you know that the church even glorifies God in the spirit world? Check out Ephesians 3:10! Glorifying God is something that we -- by God's choice -- are commanded to do together.

But the church also strengthens us spiritually. When we come together, God is among us in a special way (Matt. 18:19), a greater way than when we are by ourselves. Our "together" prayers have special power and significance with God (Acts 4:31) -- think of how your parents will listen better when all of the kids in your family are asking for the same thing versus when you just ask by yourself. Of course, you will be heard, but the persuasive power of many is greater than the persuasive power of one. And how can you encourage yourself, when you're by yourself ("You go, self!")?

Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us to encourage each other as part of our church assemblies and then commands that we not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as some were in the habit of doing -- even in those days. Getting together, you see, helps us to stay on course through mutual encouragement and accountability.

The church, like a family (1 Tim. 3:15), also provides us with the love, support, and relationships that we need to live (and die) well. The church, like a kingdom (Matt. 16:18ff) gives us strength in numbers against our spiritual enemies -- the greatest being death itself, which Jesus has conquered! The church, like a body (1 Cor. 12) provides all the spiritual assets we need to survive -- a severed body member cannot live apart from the body.