The Beauty of the Church Is a Wonder to Behold — Part 2

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

August 8, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

The Beauty of the Church Is a Wonder to Behold — Part 2

The beauty of the church is a wonder to behold.

It’s a miracle…it truly is.

Anything that Jesus builds—and He said, “I will build My church…”—is by nature going to have a supernatural dimension to it.

The church is a miraculous, miracle-producing environment where God has direct access to our lives in a way that occurs nowhere else.

At the center of the church is THE PHYSICAL ASSEMBLING TOGETHER of believers.

If you don’t gather, you’re not part of the church—that is, if you are able to gather and choose not to.

The Greek word for church in the New Testament is ekklesia, which means assembly or called-out people.

Scripture presents the church not simply as an abstract spiritual concept, but as a physical community that actively gathers together for mutual encouragement, worship, and instruction.

Jesus intended His church to gather.

And within that gathering, some of the most significant features of God’s work in our lives take place.

That doesn’t mean God doesn’t work in our lives outside the assembly.

He does.

I have a daily walk with Jesus Christ.

I have a daily experience with Him.

I have a relationship with Him.

But something unique and powerful happens when we gather together with our eyes on Jesus.

The early church understood this.

Scripture Focus

Acts 2:46–47

“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

It was a growing assembly as people were continually being added to the gathering of the saints.

Paul’s letters were written to churches and were read and communicated within those assemblies.

Scripture Focus

1 Corinthians 11:18

“For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.”

Paul was addressing problems that were occurring when the believers gathered together.

There is a special dimension of supernatural power present when we assemble as the church.

Scripture Focus

1 Corinthians 5:4

“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

This is also why the letter to the Hebrews emphasizes gathering together as a priority.

Apparently, some had developed a habit of not assembling with other believers.

Scripture addresses that directly.

Scripture Focus

Hebrews 10:24–25 (AMP)

”…and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”

It stands to reason, then, that gathering with the church should be a priority in our lives.

One of the best decisions Renee and I made early in our Christian life was to be in every service.

We built our schedule, our working life, and our activities around the schedule of the church.

We didn’t do it because someone told us:

“Do this or else.”

We wanted to.

We hungered for more of what Jesus had for our lives.

The thought of missing church for a frivolous reason—or eventually for almost any reason—became abhorrent to us.

We felt as though we were missing something significant.

Faithful church attendance is one of the best ways to grow as Jesus intends you to grow and to bear much fruit.

Today’s Challenge

What will you be doing tomorrow?

I’ll be among other believers, assembling together and anticipating the great things God is going to do.

Make gathering with God’s people a priority.

Don’t approach church merely as another appointment on your calendar.

Come hungry.

Come expecting.

Come ready to worship, hear God’s Word, encourage others, and allow Jesus to work in your life.

There is something unique and powerful that happens when God’s people GATHER TOGETHER.