Erica and Pastor Jesse discuss the importance of attending church. Missing church means missing out on its richness and fullness. God designed the church, and attending is a faith step. Going to church allows for community building, serving, and spiritual growth. Find one that offers worship, teaches scripture, has warmth and authenticity, and serves beyond its walls.
What is Faith Filter? We take what’s on our minds, what’s percolating in our hearts, and what’s happening in the world… and put it through the filter of our faith… everything we believe and what God Word says about it!
Guest: Pastor Jesse from Grace Community Church in Auburn/ Host of the Bonfire podcast on Purposely, AND author of the brand new book, The Power Of The Second Thought, How To Live With Indestructible Hope!
Do you have a question about faith that you’d love Pastor Jesse and Erica to talk about on the radio? Connect with Erica at Mornings@SPIRIT1053.com!
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TRANSCRIPTION:
Erica:
If you give God a space, He will fill it with something meaningful. It’s so true. Some of my favorite words, and I love this space because it’s a chance for you and I to get to know God and to connect with Him a little bit better as we hang out with Pastor Jesse, how you doing? Are you staying warm?
Pastor Jesse:
You know, we’re definitely in the season of icy roads and school delays and closures, and early on in the morning checking to see are the kids all going or are they here for the day?
Erica:
Tis the season. And also a little something that happens on Sunday morning. I thought we could talk about it this week on Faith Filter, is that you get this little temptation. You wake up in your nice warm, cozy bed. Maybe I’ll do Couch Church. Maybe I won’t go to church this morning. Pastor Jesse, why should we not listen to that voice and get up and go?
Pastor Jesse:
I think we all have that voice, and that wrestling, that tension. I mean, I’m a pastor, so I need to be there and I would want to be there even if I wasn’t a pastor. But the trend today in our culture is to not go to church. We saw this before the pandemic, and then it was heightened, accelerated the last few years. And anytime there’s a trend in the culture, don’t just go with the flow. Stop and check, what’s the word say? What does scripture say? And that’s a good starting point because we don’t want to be led just by our feelings, our temptations. We want to go deeper than that. And throughout the Bible you see the scriptures are clear. God designed the church. There’s elders, deacons, deaconess. There is the letters to the churches that Paul writes in the book, revelation. Churches need city. This is God’s plan. It’s God’s design. It’s kind of like, well, why would we do baptism? Why do we do communion? We do these things because God guides us. He makes it real clear. So, it is a faith step, but a lot of faith is saying no to what feels good right now quick. And then is that chocolate covered poison? It’s just like, Ooh, I want some chocolate. And then you swallow the poison. It’s like, I don’t think this is good for me. And church is an intentional decision. Seattle, going back to Barners research a few years ago, Seattle’s the second highest de-churched in the ninth, highest unchurched in the nation. So when you’re going to church in Seattle, you’re swimming upstream, you’re countercultural. But it’s a good decision. It really is.
Erica:
Be a salmon in Seattle. So Pastor Jesse, this is what I want to ask you. What happens when you say yes, you go to church? Because I got to tell you, I have to say almost every Sunday I’m like, maybe I won’t go. Maybe I’ll stay home and have coffee in bed, but every single time I go, I’m so happy I went.
Pastor Jesse:
That’s it! And that’s part of the fruit that comes in church. That’s where we do the one another’s. Because a church is a community, a family, a community of people who are following Jesus together. And you can’t do all the one another’s alone. Christianity is not a solo sport. And when you go and you hear the voices and you have a room full of praise, and then you get to serve and use your gifts, and you see people connecting different ages… I don’t see a lot of people really growing really on fire for God, and they’ve got no church. And there’s something about the embers coming together and then the flame grows. And it is important to be discerning. I remember this a long time ago. Someone told me the four W’s, and they said, when you’re looking for a church, make sure that there’s WORSHIP, meaning they really love God, they’re following Jesus. And then there’s the WORD, the second one, and they open up scripture, they teach scripture, they live scripture. And then the third is the WARMTH, the love, the authenticity, the relationships. And the fourth one is the WITNESS. They’re serving locally and globally beyond the walls of the church. And no church is going to be perfect. We all got flaws. But wherever you show up in life, you make it a better place, by abiding with Jesus, bearing fruit, have that mentality. Not just me, but we. And you’re coming to serve and you’re a blessing. And when you come, you’re needed. We need each other in the body of Christ. So don’t miss the blessings because when we miss Church, we’re really missing some of the richness, the fullness. And God does amazing things when we gather and seek him together.
Erica:
Oh, I’m right there with you. Awesome perspective as always. Pastor Jesse from Grace Community Church and host of the on fire Bonfire Podcast on purposely, thank you so much for hanging out with us. Time with you is always time well spent, my friend.
Pastor Jesse:
I’m so grateful that there’s so many solid churches around the Sound. We have so many great choices, and keep praying for the churches. This is the time we want to see the churches vibrant across the Sound.
Erica:
Amen. Talk to you next week, brother. Take care.
Pastor Jesse:
Thanks, Erica. Thanks so much. Appreciate you.
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