One of the really wonderful things about being a part of a congregation of like minded Christians is when it becomes known that a certain brother or sister in the Lord could do with some support there is always someone (usually many) who are ready to help. I love it when I hear a fellow member has reached out to someone else and done so without attracting attention to themselves. They saw something or heard something, and after confirming what they noticed, they quietly did something to help out and support one another. It is an immense encouragement to see the body of the congregation exercising pastoral Christian support to each other. It is a great thrill for me to arrive at a place to offer pastoral encouragement to find that others have been there before me. This is how things are meant to be (Eph 4:16).

Another wonderful thing about being a part of God's family in a congregation is the way in which we can see and admire the way God works His grace. To be allowed to be part of each others' families and see babies develop into toddlers who are full of enthusiasm for worship and being with their church friends is thrilling. Then, to see those children grow into young people and hear them make mature and well considered confessions of trust in the Lord Jesus Christ fills me with deep thankfulness and emotion. To know that I was a tiny part among all the other parts of the congregation of God working things together to bring them to that point is deeply humbling.

It is not only seeing children grow in this way that fills me with joy, but also being able to see older brothers and sisters grow through the experience of life and God leading them through it that is wonderful. The Bible speaks about the body of Christ being built up and reaching unity in faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature and attaining the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13). Often these things seem to come through hard lessons and perseverance, but they are evident among us. I see the hand of the all sovereign and perfectly wise God among us as young men and women take up roles of responsibility in the church and wrestle with how to apply their faith to being fathers and mothers, to their work and to the church family. It provides a certain contentment and a feeling of warmth when those who were once so doubtful about their faith before now humbly yet positively counsel those who once counselled them in the faith. It is a wonderful blessing to witness the deepening of calm trust in the Lord in those we look up to as senior members, as health issues arise and the body isn't able to do what it once could.

All of these things make us realise that the hand of God is upon us because if it wasn't, we surely would have imploded long ago.

There is another area of church life that encourages me and it is how we seek to support and encourage one another in worship. Here is one area that needs to be highlighted in particular. This is, after all, the main reason we are a church - to be a people who have been called out and chosen by God in order to bring Him worship and honour.

Perhaps it is not fully realised among us what an immense encouragement it is to fellow believers struggling to bring honour to the Lord when we lend our enthusiastic support to worship services. The reverse is true as well. Nothing disheartens the preacher and fellow brothers and sisters more when a mere handful of the congregation can find it in their heart to make the small effort that is needed to come together to sing the praises of the Lord and to hear His Word. But what a wonderfully uplifting support is given when people come together to worship the Lord God Almighty, but also to urge and support others in this area.

If you haven't thought of this before or realised it, let me urge you to see how important this is as a fundamental part of building each other up. Not only for the morning worship service, but also for the evening worship service. We need each other so that our hearts may swell and expand together in the comfort and joy of the Lord.

Then there are times when we must gather to give our support and hold each other up in times of grief and we gather to meet before the Lord at the funeral of a fellow member.

Don't forget weddings either. We may not have close and intimate friendships with the couple, but they belong to our church family and they will make their vows before God and His people.

Come, let us urge one another on to greater works of worship and service and show each other how much we support the other, and seek to hold them up as much as we are being supported.