This study was taught at our Sunday evening service by Sim Forder, one of our pastors, on the 28th February 2021. You can listen to the audio on this web page or save it for later listening.

In this study we considered the question “why are we here” in the general sense, and specifically why has God placed us in this church as individuals?

Ultimately God created us for His pleasure (see Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Micah 6:8, Mark 12:28-31, Revelation 4:11) – but also he has placed us in this church to love and serve one another as part of His body. We read in Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:3-13 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 that we are to each fulfil our particular function as part of the body, for His glory and to love one another.

Simply put, our faith requires action:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14

The church is made up of men and women, imperfect men and women, and consequently it is an imperfect institution, but none the less it is of divine origin and God loves it, and every believer should realise that he belongs to it and should openly take his place in it.

RA Torrey