The church is a community of people gathered around Jesus. It is not mainly a building, an organisation or a Sunday event. The New Testament describes the church as Christ’s body: different people with different parts to play, held together by their connection to Jesus.
Church matters because following Jesus was never meant to be a private project. Christians worship, learn, pray, share communion, serve and care for one another. Community can expose our selfishness and differences, but it can also give us friendship, encouragement, correction and practical support.
Going to a service does not earn God’s love or make someone a Christian. You can pray and read the Bible by yourself. Even so, it is difficult to practise Jesus’ commands to love, forgive and carry one another’s burdens without other people. Regular participation gives relationships time to grow beyond being strangers in the same room.
Churches are imperfect and some have caused serious harm. You do not need to remain in an unsafe community or ignore what happened to you. A healthy church should point people towards Jesus, welcome questions, protect vulnerable people and handle power responsibly. At The Lakes Church, we want to keep becoming that kind of community.
If you have questions, you can ask us anything at https://thelakes.org.au/contact-us/