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Scottish Government, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As the New Year 2026 approaches, we all think about New Year’s Resolutions. These can come in many forms. One New Year’s Resolution may be to find a good church if you do not already attend one.

If you do not already have a good local church where you can attend, give, and serve, it is time to find one.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

In today’s world, it seems easy and possible to attend church virtually. There are church services aired on Facebook and YouTube and through other venues. A person might ask himself or herself, if it is so easy to attend online, why not do online only? Why bother to attend in person?

That question is the result of not understanding the purpose of the church. The church is a place not only to attend, but also a place where a person tithes and also where a person serves according to the gifts God has individually dealt to the person.

I Corinthians 10: 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

A church should be picked through prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Each individual, as the scripture above indicates (and there are other scriptures that reinforce this idea) that each person has something to contribute to the body of an individual church. There are many churches. Different churches have different focuses of service. Each person needs to find out from the Lord what congregation should be the home church.

The church God calls you to will be the correct church for you, not only to attend, but also where you can give and serve.

Jesus often used natural things to draw parallels to spiritual truths.

If a human body had a “moveable part”, pick any any part, and that part decided to “move” somewhere for a few weeks, how would the body function? It would not. We have seen people who have learned to adapt to functioning with a body that may have injured or missing parts. It can be done, but no one would say that is the best way to function. Even if a person simply sprains a part for a few weeks, it is possible to function, but it puts a great strain on the rest of the body to adapt.

That is no different than a church where members do not show up or if they do show up, do not function in their place.

People use the phrase “I am not being fed at church.”

What you put into something, is what you get out of something.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

God says to bring the tithes into the storehouse that there will be meat in the storehouse. The storehouse is the local church. The tithes and offerings pay for the expenses of the church. The church is not subsidized by the government. If the church members are doing their part to bring into the storehouse what keeps the church going, then the storehouse will supply meat for those who bring in the supply.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

If God calls you to a church, that is where you should give your tithes, offerings, and service. If you are a church hopper, and give nothing to any particular church, either in time, talents, or money, but hop from church to church, it is unlikely that you will receive much from any church.

Amos 4:7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

8 So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

It is possible to wander from one church to another because of hearing “the Lord is moving” at this or that church, and yet return unsatisfied. Why? Because the standard is loyalty to one church, one congregation. As mentioned before, church is more than going from meeting to meeting. It is also a place to regularly give time, talent, and treasure, to give tithes and offerings, and to function as a member of the body of Christ. If your loyalty is to one church, God will feed you there. The only question is really…did God call you to a particular church? Settle that and then attend, serve, and give. Pray for the leadership of the church.

There is nothing wrong with occasionally going to a special meeting, but not at the expense of loyalty to your regular church. If you don’t attend church with the intent of also giving and serving, you probably will not get as much out of it as other loyal, committed, regular members do. God is no respector of persons.

If your church experience has been less than satisfying, then maybe it is necessary to consider and pray about these things and find the right church to attend, give, and serve.

As the New Year approaches, it is good to set our priorities straight. And our first priority should be to be where God wants us to be, doing what God wants us to do, if we want the blessings of God that is. God will always bless us as much as He can, but we can position ourselves for greater blessings through greater obedience. If we walk out from under the umbrella of obedience to the Word of God and the voice of the Holy Spirit into the storms of life, that is our choice.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.