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Oct 25, 2025 06:00am

Take Me to Church (Part 1)

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Just recently, I was praying for a family who experienced loss and heartbreak. This was a family who had been hurt by people in the church and had fallen away. As I prayed for them, I found my prayers gravitating to this: Lord, bring them back to church. Draw them closer to You through Your people. Woo them back.

The lyrics of the song “Church (Take Me Back)” started playing in my mind. This song is all about the beautiful aspects of the church that we can so easily miss out on when we aren’t plugged into the family of God. It was then that God began to show me all the good things He does through His Church. Because sinners make up the church, she isn’t perfect, but even amid her imperfections, there is such beauty and strength in attending a Gospel-preaching, Bible-believing church. I pray that this reminds us all that good things always happen when we attend church.

Take me to church, where I’m taught the truth—the Word of God. The truth is this: I am a sinner, I can’t do it all, and I am, quite simply, not enough on my own. The more I know God’s truth, the more I get to know the God of truth. Truth breeds trust, and trust is everything in God’s economy.

Take me to church, where I hear about the consequences of sin. This is a place where I am reminded that while God is good and loving, He is also just and punishes sin. Sin deserves death, and by God’s mercy, He atones for our sin through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is by God’s grace that He chooses to love us, forgive us, and bless us, despite our sin-sickness.

Take me to church, where I hear the Word of God preached and am reminded of all the imperfect people who sought a perfect God and experienced the impossible in their lives.

Take me back to church, where I’m told that the mantra “I am a good person who deserves good things” is a lie. None of us is “good”—we have all fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and through a loving and saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we can still experience the goodness of God (Romans 8:28). Only He can give us true hope and help with living life.

Take me to church, where I am encouraged that the storms of life won’t take me down. When I keep my eyes on God and trust Him through the harshest and darkest of storms, I will experience Him. In these storms, God is going to call me to get out of my boat of fear and walk by faith until He calms them down. He promises me that even though His paths may lead through the sea, He is right next to me, strengthening me to keep walking with His righteous right hand. And when my heart grows faint and I want to give up, it’s then He scoops me up and carries me.

Take me to church, where I am reminded that there is hope amid the trials, tribulations, and temptations of life. It is at these weak moments in life when God’s power works most strongly in our lives. And sometimes, the biggest miracle of all is when we get out of bed and choose to trust God, even when we see no evidence of it at the moment.

Take me to church, where the death of a loved one allows me to experience the power of a loving and supporting church. It reminds me how powerful the ministry of a home-cooked meal and a hug are.

Take me to church, where we are called to live out the second commandment of loving others as we love ourselves. It’s a place where we minister to the hurting, lonely, and broken, not only within our church but within our community. Whether it’s a meal, a backpack filled with supplies, or Christmas gifts, the church helps others experience the love of Christ.

Take me to church, where I can send out a prayer request and experience the power of a praying church. Whether it’s a text, an email, or a phone call, God reminds me He has my back. There’s nothing better than knowing you have prayer warriors fighting on your behalf.

Take me to church, where the preacher can pound his pulpit and weep in tears, all at the same time. He knows he is a sinner too, an imperfect man who needs the Lord just as much as his flock does . . . if not more. He bears his burdens and his soul to his flock in vulnerability, showing them that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.

Take me to church, where the Gospel points us to the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). In a world where the truth can be laced with lies and gray areas seem right, God’s truth reminds us who we are and how we are to live. We are set apart from the rest of the world and are called to be holy, for God is holy. He establishes boundaries to keep us safe, cleansed, and sanctified. Although we will fall short of perfection and holiness, God calls His children to always strive for it.

Take me to church, where I am told I am in a battle. This spiritual battle wages on daily over my family and me. But amid this battle, God has equipped me with a sword—His Word. It is the double-edged sword that helps me have victory over my sin and the enemy of my soul.

Take me to church, where I learn that love is a choice, not a feeling. It’s a choice to love God. It’s a choice to follow God. And it’s a choice to allow God to sanctify me in my walk with Him. And when I choose to draw close to God, He draws near to me.

Take me to church, where worship songs remind us all to come to the altar with our worries, burdens, and sorrows. It’s a place where, for a short time, we take our eyes off ourselves and focus them on our Father—the Creator of the Universe, the Great I Am, and the Almighty—who can bring peace to chaos, purpose from pain, and help to the hurting.

Take me to church, where I am comforted by the thought that death, pain, and heartbreak don’t have the final word. Jesus wins—plain and simple. God will redeem every tear I’ve cried, and one day, He promises there will be no more death and no more tears (Revelation 21:4). And one day, I will be reunited with all my loved ones who also placed their hope in Jesus.

Oh, friends, let’s not give up on going to church, where the Bible is preached and authenticity is encouraged! Yes, people can judge. Yes, people can make mistakes. And yes, people can hurt. It’s part of our sinful nature. But flawed sinners are all God has to work with. Let us remember that Jesus gave His life for the church—it’s that important to Him! It’s a safe haven where we can grow together, serve together, worship together, and encourage each other. If the church was worth Jesus dying for, it’s worth showing up for. We aren’t meant to live life alone—we all need help in pursuing Jesus together. The church, with all her flaws, still points us to the One who can take a willing heart and use it to change the world.

Let us go to church, where we are reminded it’s not about us . . . it’s about our Savior.