"We don't go to a church right now..." We hear it frequently from counselees. On our online intake form, we ask potential clients to tell us what church they are attending. Partly it's to know their denominational background but what we really want to know is if they are plugged into a healthy and thriving local body of believers. Some are in transition- new to an area, or left one but actively seeking another. For a variety of reasons, many are not looking at all. While some express a tinge of guilt, few people voice an urgency to remedy the situation. Why is this important?

1. https://AandBCounseling.com

2. "We dont go to a church right
now..."

3. We hear it frequently from
counselees

4. Some are in transition but
many are not looking at all

5. Lots of messed up people
are in church. Why is it
important?

6. Many
have been
wounded
in church

7. Some
contend
they have
church at
home on
TV

8. They profess to
love Jesus but lost
the desire to be in a
church

9. The importance of being in a healthy church is
more than just for social interaction

10. Hebrews 10:25: "Let us not giving
up meeting together, as some are
in the habit of doing, but
encouraging one another—and all
the more as you see the Day
approaching." (NIV)

11. There is no specific
commandment from
Jesus to be in a
church but..

12. Scripture references to its
importance abound: Mark 1:21, Mark
6:2 Luke 4:16, Luke 6:6, Luke 13:10

13. Paul made it a point to preach
in synagogues when he
entered new towns

14. Husbands, love your wives, just as
Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her (Hebrews 5:25
NIV)

15. Jesus loved the church
and gave himself up for her

16. In healthy churches, there is
biblical teaching, accountability,
opportunities to mature in spiritual
gifts and allow the grit of human
relationships to refine our hard
edges

17. Proverbs 17:17 - As iron
sharpens iron, so one person
sharpens another

18. Our
experience is
that those out
of church for
extended
periods are
not healthy

19. They
stray off
the
narrow
road to
life (Matt
7:13-14)

20. The voice of demons is harder to
discern with no accountability and
minimal sound teaching

21. If youve been
spiritually
abused or
disappointed,
that's not been
God's will for
you

22. We are sheep; He wants
you part of a healthy herd

23. Seek out competent Christian
counseling and/or deliverance to
deal with the pain and get plugged
back in