If one wants a better home, then he must be a better family member. If one wants a better government, then he must be a better citizen. Anything is only as good as the total of its parts. If all the parts that make up the whole are good and reliable then the whole itself is good and reliable. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Therefore, if one wants a better church then he must be a better church member.

Paul wrote this concerning a strong church: “*from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love*” (Ephesians 4:16). The “*working in due measure*” of this verse must be according to the ability of all the parts together, each one contributing their best, since the members do not all have the same talents. When each part of this process is observed, it will result in the increase or the growth of the body. And, the church will be built up in love for her Head and for one another as members (Romans 12:17-21).

If every Christian would consider God and one another before himself in all things, only then will there be a better church. Our Lord died for the church and He only wants the best, therefore each member must be the best he can be so that the church can be the best she can be.

If the congregation where you attend is going to be a better congregation then each one of the members must realize his importance. They must realize that each one is important no matter what they can do! Read the “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25. The servants who were given five and two talents used what they were given to the glory of their Lord. But the one talent servant did not use what he was given. To the five and two talent servants their Lord said, “*Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord*” (Matthew 25:21, 23). But read what He said of the one talent servant: “*Thou wicked and slothful servant...Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents...And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth*” (Matthew 25:26-30). The Lord is depending on each member to do his or her part. The Lord is depending on each one to help their congregation grow and function.

If one wants the congregation where he attends to be a better congregation then he must do something for the congregation! He must be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, and ready to help others (Ephesians 4:31-32; Galatians 6:1-2). He must help the congregation by building her up instead of tearing her down and criticizing what she is trying to do. But one of the best ways one can help the congregation is by guarding his daily life against doing or saying anything that would bring shame and reproach upon the church for which our Lord and Savior died (Ephesians 5:15).

If one wants the congregation where he attends to be a better congregation then he must invite others to share in her hope of glory. The Christian life is the best and most rewarding life that one could live. You know, God created man in His image, He created man good. Doing good should come as natural as breathing. God created man to breathe and God created man good: both are natural to man. If one lives as a Christian, he lives the good life as opposed to the so-called “good life” of the world. A Christian is blessed materially and spiritually. A Christian is blessed in unlimited ways.

When one brings others to Bible class and worship he is helping that friend or family member to understand that God has provided many blessings for those in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). The congregation that grows is the congregation that is truly concerned with the spiritual welfare of others. It is the congregation that will show her love for others by showing them the many and wonderful blessings that are in Jesus Christ.

If one wants the congregation where he attends to be a better congregation, it must begin with himself!

The time to begin building a better church is now! Brethren, become one and be joined together in the same mind, the same judgment, and the same purpose (1 Corinthians 1:10). Hand in hand, let each of us together march to the glory land!

“*And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified*” (Acts 20:32).