When you begin following Jesus, you may wonder: Do I really need to go to church? Can’t I just pray, read the Bible, and follow Jesus on my own? While a personal faith and walk with God are essential, being part of a church community is just as vital. In fact, the Bible doesn’t imagine a follower of Jesus who isn’t also part of a church. Faith is always meant to be lived out in community.

What is Church?

The Bible speaks of the Church in two main ways:

The Universal Church

This is the Church with a capital C—the global family of believers throughout history and around the world. This is what Paul means when he says Jesus is the head of the Church, that it’s his body, and his bride (Ephesians 5:23–27). It’s what Jesus referred to when he said he would build his Church, and nothing could overcome it (Matthew 16:18).

The universal Church includes all true followers of Jesus, fully known only to God

Local churches

The other way the Bible talks about church is in its local expression—a gathered community of believers in a specific place. It might be a church in a city (1 Corinthians 1:2), or a group meeting in someone’s home (Romans 16:5).

A local church is a visible, lived-out expression of the universal Church. It’s a community where believers worship God together, support one another, and share God’s love through word and action.

When you become a Christian, you become part of the universal Church. But it’s just as important to be rooted in a local church community.

Why Is It Important To Be Part of a Local Church?

Growing in Faith

Following Jesus is a journey—and we grow best when we grow together. A local church is a place to learn, ask questions, and explore the Bible in community. Hearing teaching, engaging in discussion, and seeing how others live out their faith deepens our own walk with God.

Encouragement and Support

Life isn’t easy, but we’re not meant to face it alone. In church, we find friendship, prayer, and encouragement—people who walk with us through both joy and struggle. The Bible reminds us not to give up meeting together, but to keep encouraging one another, especially when life gets hard. (Hebrews 10:25).

Worship and Connection with God

Of course we can worship and pray on our own—and we should. But there is something powerful about gathering with others to worship God. It lifts our hearts, refocuses us on Jesus, and reminds us that we are part of something far bigger than ourselves.

Belonging to God’s Family
Church isn’t just about attending meetings. It’s about belonging. The Bible describes us as brothers and sisters in Christ, members of one body (Romans 12:5). In a healthy church, you are known, loved, and valued—a vital part of God’s family.

Growing Through Relationships

Like any family, church life can be messy. Relationships take work. But it’s often through these challenges that we grow the most—learning to forgive, to listen, to have honest and loving conversations (Ephesians 4:14–15). If we run at the first sign of difficulty, we risk staying spiritual infants. Growth takes time, honesty, and commitment.

Serving and Making a Difference

Jesus said the greatest among us is the one who serves (Matthew 23:11). In the church, we discover and use our gifts—whether that’s teaching, helping, praying, cooking, welcoming, or caring, etc. Serving others is one of the most powerful ways we grow, both personally and together (Ephesians 4:16).

From the Bible

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another,…” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

For Reflection and Discussion

1. What have you learned so far on your journey about the value of being involved in a local church?
2. What do you expect to be some of the benefits of belonging to a local church?
3. What do you expect to be some of the challenges in belonging to a local church?

Steps To Take

1. Find A Local Church

Every church is different. It is important that you don’t just find one that suits you or makes you comfortable. You want to be part of a church where you feel loved and accepted but also one that is going to challenge you to grow as a Christian. Make sure that it is a church that teaches the Bible, genuinely loves Jesus, cares for people and encourages one another to be followers of Jesus. Consider visiting a few churches and asking God to guide you to the one that he wants to join you to.

2. Get Involved

Whichever local church you join, don’t just attend meetings and events. Get involved. Help out. Find a way to serve. Be committed. Give of your time and resources. It’s a commitment but it is one of the best things you can do for your faith. It’s in the community of believers that we experience God’s love in action, find encouragement, and grow stronger in our walk with Jesus.

So take the step. Find a church. Get involved. You are not meant to follow Jesus alone. You are called into a family where you can belong and grow in faith together.

Remember This:

“To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.” (Martin Luther)

Recommended Resources

Sam Alberry, Why Bother With Church?

Sim Dendy, Simply Church