Church is like an electrical outlet the Holy Spirit uses to train, equip and build up the people of God for the work of the ministry.

However, it matters not how much power is flowing if we’re not plugged in. There are many people who treat church as just another thing we may or may not do. However, being plugged into a local church is very important. In fact, the Bible says in Hebrews 10:25 (CEV), “Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.”

There are many reasons why people aren’t plugged into church. To name a few: they may be offended, they may be just living for the here and now and not focused on their future or eternity, or they may be rebellious and refuse to submit to spiritual authority. Whatever the case, we all need to be plugged into Jesus through our local church. Here are a few reasons why: Going to church helps us grow in our faith toward God. (Romans 10:17 (NIV)) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Another great reason to plug into church is, when we come together at church we can experience freedom in the presence of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:17) “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

See, it’s times like these we need to be plugged into Jesus through the church. It is at church, where we can find good fellowship with other believers, faith and hope from hearing Gods word, and freedom from the pain and cares of this life. Hey, if I were you, I’d get plugged in.

I’m like David when he says in Psalm 84:10, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

Sylvester Mixon is pastor at Unity Christian Center in Alabaster. You can reach him at sylvestermixon@aim.com.