Spiritual growth is a group project

The psalmist said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Do you feel that way about God’s house too? And if not, why not? Paul wrote, “God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home” (Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG). There are times when you need to be alone with God in prayer; there are times you’ll only find the answer you seek when you’re with God’s people. When those who are indwelt by God’s Spirit meet for worship, teaching, encouragement, and service, God shows up in a powerful way. You grow spiritually as you experience His presence, hear His Word, and fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Every time you gather with other members of Christ’s body, it reminds you again that you’re on the winning side. It’s hard to celebrate by yourself. When you have something worth celebrating, you generally call folks together so you can share the joy, right? Jesus is so excited about His victory at the cross that He calls us together every week to celebrate what He accomplished for us. And celebration, like spiritual growth, is a group project.