The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. Church is not about buildings but about people: people who are followers of Christ who join together to represent Christ in each locality. When the church began and grew rapidly in the first century, the newborn Christians immediately became part of a church family (Acts 2:41 ,46-47). 

Something that we see in theses verse is that church was part of their daily lives and that the church community grew daily. Church was about constantly living together as a family rather than just pitching up for an event on one day a week. Church is God’s great idea, not just for individuals to be saved in isolation, but to bring every believer into a united body that reflects His character and carries out His mission on earth. Church is what Jesus loved so much that He died that the church may live. Church is what Jesus promised to build through all generations and despite all forms of opposition and persecution (Matthew 16:18 ). We see some important points on why everybody needs to be an active member of a local church: 

1. Being committed to the church is obeying the commands of scripture (Hebrews 10:25 ; John 13:35 ; Galatians 5:13 ; 1 Peter 1:22 ; Ephesians 5:21 ; 1 Peter 5:5; Romans 12:10 ; Romans 14:13 ; James 4:11 ; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:32 ; Hebrews 3:13 ) 

2. Being committed to being part the church shows that there is power in unity (Acts 2:1; Acts 4:32 ; 1 Corinthians 1:10 ; Psalm 133:1) 

3. Being committed to the church will help you grow in your faith (Ephesians 4:12-13; 1 Corinthians 12:27 ; Romans 12:4-8) 

4. Being committed to the church will bring great conquest (Ephesians 3:10-11; Ephesians 5:27 ; Revelation 7:9; Ephesians 3:20-21) 

Apply  

1. Being committed to the church is obeying the commands of scripture (Hebrews 10:25 ). This isn’t just about attending services, it’s about belonging and participating in a community where we encourage, serve, and grow together. The New Testament has many commands about how to treat one , another as fellow members of the church, i.e. “Love one another” (John 13:35 ); “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13 ); “Love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22 ); “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21 ); Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5); “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10 ); “Stop passing judgment on one another” (Romans 14:13 ); “Do not slander one another” (James 4:11 ); “Be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2); “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 ); “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13 ). If you asked ChatGPT “If you were the devil what would you do to keep people away from Church?” it says:  

- Encourage a constant “too busy” culture — work, kids’ activities, side-projects — so skipping worship is normalised and feels responsible.  

- Emphasise “I can pray/read at home — I don’t need church” until community atrophy is normal.  

- Amplify stories of hypocrisy, hurt, or abuse so people assume church always harms.  

- Allow services to become routine, bland, or like an obligation—no discipleship, no engagement, just “attendance.”  

- Promote entertainment, friendship networks, or causes that substitute for church belonging.  

- Spread half-truths or relativism that dilute core gospel truths so church seems unnecessary or irrelevant.  

- Make faith seem like a rules game — either you’re perfect or you don’t belong — causing people to avoid church rather than confess.  

- Encourage small compromises that add up — one missed Sunday, then two, then a season — until leaving is easy 

So, then we all need to obey the many commands of Scripture about being part of the church.  

2. Being committed to being part the church shows that there is power in unity. The Holy Spirit was poured out with great power on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were all in one place (Acts 2:1; Acts 4:32 ). All this was an answer to the prayer of Jesus (John 17:20-23). We all have our part to play in keeping unity in the church at all levels and between all individuals and groups (1 Corinthians 1:10 ). When we each take responsibility to be part of the answer and not a creator of divisions, we will discover the power of unity (Psalm 133:1). 

3. Being committed to the church will help you grow in your faith. We need to be built up in our faith and developed to be a fruitful disciple. The apostle Paul makes clear the work of God-called leaders (Ephesians 4:12-13). There are so many benefits of belonging to a church family as it helps you to: focus on God; face life problems with support; strength your faith; find your place to make a difference; fulfil your life mission; build the church. Every Christian has something to give to the church to help others (1 Corinthians 12:27 ; Romans 12:4-8). Each believer has unique gifts that build up the rest. When you separate from the body, you lose both the strength of others and the opportunity to strengthen them.  

4. Being committed to the church will bring great conquest. What we can achieve together is far more powerful than what we can achieve on our own (Ephesians 3:10-11). The Kingdom of darkness will be brought down when the church of Christ stands up in unity and Christ given authority. Being a committed part of the church is one of the greatest opportunities for us to live purpose driven lives together in local church families and to be part of a vast company of fellow followers of Christ around the world in each nation and locality. Together we can model and advance the Kingdom of God on earth. We can be confident that God is at work (Ephesians 5:27 ). One day Jesus is coming back for such a beautiful church. One day we will see in heaven what God has accomplished (Revelation 7:9). What a privilege it will be, to be with the church from all nations and generations in heaven. But equally it is a privilege, and a responsibility, to be part of the greatest society on earth (Ephesians 3:20-21).