Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB77

For starters, the Bible is explicit that we are to get together for worship, fellowshipping and encouraging each other in growth. Finding a local congregation of believers to join and contribute to is simply being obedient to the LORD and will reap many blessings.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. -James 2:14‭-‬17 CSB

I love my church. If you go to church, I hope you love yours too. Church is so much more than just studying God’s word and singing a few songs, it is an important avenue for fellowship and thus encouraging each other to work for the goals of our Father’s kingdom. The people at my church are warm, loving and show their caring through deeds — not just nice words and prayers.l

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. -James 2:18 NIV

Before we started attending and eventually joining the church my wife and I belong to now, we checked out a couple of different churches to see what would best fit for us in our Christian service. We have come to appreciate a more traditional style of worship and found a church that reminds us more of a Baptist church in style and theology. The bottom line is that we think the Holy Spirit has drawn us to the church we joined. For the record, the church my wife and I belong to is the Preston City Bible Church in Preston City, CT. It is fundamentalist in doctrine and practice (although not KJV-only). I find it to be Spirit-filled (NOT to be confused with Charismatic or Pentecostal). The church has grown, is active in the community and various forms of outreach. The people are great and we have come to love many of them as the family they truly are.

It is my hope and prayer for you the reader that you too may find a local fellowship of believers to help strengthen and encourage you in achieving the kingdom-minded goals our LORD has for you!