Steve Davis: Don't just go to church — belong
I moved to Cabarrus County in 1984. I was 17 years old and just a few months away from turning 18. I had recently graduated from high school in Greensboro and moved here with my family as I prepared to begin college at UNCC.
Not long after we arrived, my family found a new church, and I met some people my age. After my first Sunday evening service, they invited me to go "cruise the mall." I had never heard of such a thing. Around here, cruising Carolina Mall — and before that, Idiot Circle — was a popular way for teenagers to spend an evening. I have to admit, I was pretty bored.
Looking back, I realize the problem wasn't cruising the mall. The problem was that I didn't know anyone very well. I barely knew the people riding in the car with me, and I certainly didn't know everyone else who was there. It wasn't the activity that mattered — it was the relationships. Without those relationships, the evening felt empty.
The same is true in the church.
Being a Christian is not simply about attending worship services; it is about belonging to God's family. God designed the church so that our relationships with one another help us keep following Christ, grow in holiness, and show the love of Jesus to a watching world.
Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." That kind of love cannot be lived out in isolation. It happens as we worship together, serve together, pray together, and walk through life's joys and hardships together.
The church teaches us to love people who are different from us, who sometimes irritate us, and who occasionally hurt us. As we follow Christ, we learn to be vulnerable, forgiving, patient, gentle, and willing to bear with one another's weaknesses. These qualities do not come naturally — they are the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work within us.
One of the reasons people remain committed to a church is because they have built meaningful, Christ-centered friendships. That's why every one of us should intentionally invest in others, especially those who are new. Introduce yourself. Invite someone to lunch. Join a Bible study or a serving team together. Simple acts of kindness often become lifelong friendships.
A healthy church is built one relationship at a time. When we love one another well, we don't just make church more enjoyable — we reflect the love of Christ to one another and to the world.
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