How come my friends go to a different church?
Answer: In most homes, parents decide where children will go to church if they go. Some people go to a certain church because they grew up in that church. Even after moving across town, they drive there every Sunday to be with friends and family.
Some people choose a church because they enjoy a certain style of worship. There are many reasons for choosing a church. But some churches really aren’t true churches according to the Bible’s teachings.
Real churches honor Jesus, study God’s Word, tell people to give their lives to Christ, and emphasize obeying God. Churches are groups of God’s people, meeting together to worship, fellowship, serve, and learn.
Key verses: If someone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. He doesn’t love his brother who is right there in front of him. So how can he love God whom he has never seen?
And God said that one must love not only God but his brother too. (1 John 4:20-21)
Related verses: Acts 2: 1; Hebrews 10:24-25
Related question: Why are there different types of churches?
What part of the body of christ am I?
Answer: The Bible uses word pictures to explain how Christians relate to each other. We are a “family,” with brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a “building,” with Christ as the cornerstone.
We are a “body,” with each person serving as a special part. God talks about us being a body to show how Christians should treat each other and work together. God has given each Christian special gifts.
That means each of us has talents and abilities that can be used to help other believers. Not everybody has the same gifts. And, like the parts of a body, we need each other. All of our gifts are important.
Key verses: There are many parts to our bodies. It is the same with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his body. It takes every one of us to make it complete. We each have different work to do. We belong to each other, and each needs all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)
Related verses: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-30
Note to parents: This is a question usually asked only by older children (junior high or older) who have heard teaching on the body of Christ. Encourage them to get involved with a gift or talent they have.