Christ KillersSample

Day 9: Built to Belong:

When Jesus saves you, He doesn’t just rescue you from sin—He adopts you into a family. He places you into a living, breathing, imperfect but powerful community called the Church. That means the Christian life is not a solo adventure. It’s a team effort. You weren’t meant to follow Jesus alone.

Paul reminds us in Romans 12:4-5 (CSB): “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” The picture is vivid: many parts, one body. Different roles, one mission. You’re not just a bystander—you’re a vital member of something bigger than yourself.

Still, it’s easy to slip into the mindset that church is just a place you attend when it fits into your schedule. But Scripture tells a different story. Being part of the Church means belonging, contributing, and investing in the lives of others. It means saying, “I’m in this with you”—in the mess, in the beauty, and in the growth.

Maybe you’ve felt like you don’t fit. Maybe you’ve compared your gifts to others and believed the lie that you don’t have anything to offer. But 1 Corinthians 12:14-15 (CSB) pushes back on that thinking: “Indeed, the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,’ it is not for that reason any less a part of the body.” Your role matters. Your presence matters. When you withhold your gifts, the Church misses out.

1 Peter 4:10 (CSB) reinforces this truth: “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” You’ve been given something sacred—something the world needs. And God intends for you to steward that gift by serving others, not storing it away in fear or comparison.

Maybe you’ve been hurt by people in church before. That pain is real, and it can make community feel risky. But Hebrews 10:25 encourages us not to give up meeting together. Even when it’s difficult. Even when people fail. Because gathering with other believers isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about staying grounded in truth, spurring one another on, and walking out our faith in real relationships.

The Church is where we grow, where we’re challenged, where we learn to forgive and be forgiven. It’s where we link arms in worship, mission, and purpose. And when the Church is healthy—when every person finds their place and serves with love—it becomes a force that changes the world.

So if you’re on the fringe, come closer. If you’re sitting on the sidelines, step in. If you’re feeling disconnected, take the risk of reaching out. The Church needs you. And you need the Church.

You weren’t just built to believe. You were built to belong.