A Place to Belong

What really is a church? How do you view your local congregation? And what’s your place in it?
In this brief but succinct work on Ecclesiology, the author chief aim is that believers may come to treasure the church; locally, and universally, as it is the institution that’s beloved by God, who were called out of the world to be Christ’s bride from eternity past, for the purpose of worshipping their Lord and Saviour. In order to assist us live as a community, the Lord gave us elders to shepherd His flock so that they may be nurtured in the faith, both individually, and ultimately as a body, so that we may be able to serve each other since every part is important in the body. We’re also reminded that as saints, we were called to live holy lives just like Our God, and we chiefly grow in it as a congregation. Seeing that the church is an assembly, it’s key to practice meaningful biblical membership, since church life is only possible in a defined membership. As members, each of us are also part of the global missions, either as the sent ones, or the senders and thus we should be all see that missions is the mission of the church, thus we should desire to see the church grow through the salvation of others. Lastly, though we’re local churches, we are all part of the universal church, and we have a duty to our brothers in other churches.
This is indeed a tremendous work that explains how the Gospel re-orients our view of the church, and as members, we should love our churches just as Christ loves it.
I really encourage every believer, it was possible within their means to get and read this book.

I love the description of this book and the cover is stunning, but I sadly was bored by the writing within. It reads more like a textbook or something you'd read for class than a nonfiction book to dive into. I appreciate the author's intentionality in referring to Scripture throughout, but there's very little story from what I read and I wasn't interested enough to finish the book.

On her (Church)own, each believer reflects Christ in a small way, but, together as the church, we know the fullness of Christ who fills us. Not only does Christ fill the church, but the church is the fullness of Christ. Christ cannot be a head without a body; he cannot be a king without a kingdom; he cannot be a mediator without his people; he cannot be a redeemer without his church. The church is the irrefutable evidence of Christ's complete and effective atonement for his people.

The church may not be a place to belong for you, however that said being said, it is God's design for it to be. This text serves in many different ways. One is the purpose of the church. If you are looking for a church or have been dissatisfied, it may be the purpose has not been biblical on your part or the church you are attending. Another example of being in a place that you belong is the community that is being cultivated. Is it a place where you work together, eat together, pray together, confess together. There is no I but there is a together. Another way a place to belongs serves is making the community more Christ like. This can be messy and will be messy. This takes time and this takes a love that is for the good of another. There is no hidden agenda.

Megan Hill is a wonderful communicator as she demonstrates the community of believers she belongs to and how these believers incorporate the church worldwide. It is not a we vs them mentality. I was encouraged and my heart was captivated. It was also insightful in the scattering of the church as a judgment from God. In reading this, we are in the middle of Covid-19 and I see the prevalence in this. This may be the church opportunity to not lose the lamp of Christ. Highly recommend this for all Christians.

A Special Thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

A Place to Belong is a book about church. The church is the people of God, the dwellign place of the Spirit, and the fullness of Christ. And the church has more beauty—and more value—than we can see with physical eyes. In her book, Megan Hill invites us to experience the local church in light of what God's Word says. A Place to Belong explores nine biblical terms for the church, such as worship, saints, beloved, and holiness. These nine terms are discussed within their own chapters, based on Scriptures, rich theology, and also practical suggestions.

To be honest, I absolutely loved this book. The whole book focuses on the Church: the community and wholesome experience of church, instead of individualism and being self-centered. Every chapter points out what church really is and why we should belong to a community, to the Church. All in all, this book encourages the reader to love and serve another more and better. I loved it.

I appreciated seeing how clearly Megan Hill loves the Church through her writing. Lots of Scripture is used and it's relevant to living our lives during Covid-19 times.