Paul describes the church as a body where “speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:15-16).

Some seem to think the Bible doesn’t talk about being part of a local church or that it’s outdated or unnecessary. But most of Paul’s letters were written — not to roaming Christians — but to local churches. We find these groups “striving side by side” (Phil. 1:27) and meeting together (Heb. 11:24-25) under shared leadership (Phil. 1:1), with a common fund (Acts 4-5, 1 Cor. 16, 1 Tim. 5). God designed local churches to help us thrive, to bless us and others in these organized, local bodies of his people. Here are seven gifts God wants for you in the church.

1. God wants each Christian to be part of a local church.

Early Christians gathered as local churches (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:1, Gal. 1:2), groups of people serving Christ and spreading the gospel together (1 Thes. 1:1,8). In the local church, we find the leadership (Acts 14:23), community (1 Cor. 10:16-17), and support (Heb. 10:24-25) we need to be lights in this dark world (Phil. 2:15-16).

When each part — including you and me — does our role in the work, the church grows as it should.

2. God wants each Christian to assemble with the church.

In the Bible, we find early churches coming together to hear the Word preached and share the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7ff, 1 Cor. 11:20ff), to sing and pray (1 Cor. 14:15), and to set money aside in a common treasury for the work (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Evidently, some individuals began to abandon the practice of assembling and were corrected, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25).

3. God wants each Christian to work.

After His resurrection, Christ gave His disciples a mission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Where we go and how we teach may differ from disciple to disciple. Still, we are here to do our part in spreading the gospel and encouraging other disciples. Paul describes the church as a body where “speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:15-16). When each part — including you and me — does our role in the work, the church grows as it should.

4. God wants each Christian to build relationships with other Christians.

Christians are commanded to rejoice in each other’s happy times and mourn with each other in the bad (Rom. 12:15). We are told to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other (Jam. 5:13). We need to love each other like brothers and sisters and prefer each other in honor (Rom. 12:10). It is a joy to build the spiritual friendships in the Lord.

We follow the pattern of the early church, focusing on spreading the gospel and encouraging Christians so that we can build up the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12-16).

5. God wants each Christian to submit to the church’s leaders.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb. 13:17). God has blessed us with overseers who meet the qualifications defined by God (Tit. 1:5-9, 1 Tim. 3:1-7). We happily follow them as they follow Christ (1 Pet. 5:1-5). “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thes. 5:12-13).

6. God wants the local church to work together.

We follow the pattern of the early church, focusing on spreading the gospel and encouraging Christians so that we can build up the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12-16). Local churches are also directed by the New Testament to help needy saints (1 Cor. 16:1-4).

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25).

7. God wants Christians to look out for each other.

Cain famously asked God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Well, in a way, we are! “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1-2; cf. Jam. 5:19-20). “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother” (2 Thes. 3:14-15).