Is it possible to live a faithful Christian life without being a faithful part of a local church? I’ve heard many people make the argument that it is indeed possible—especially if there are no good churches around. I disagree. At the bare minimum, there are forty different commands in the New Testament to live life in some sense with other believers.

This is an old post from one of my favourite blogs, The Cripplegate. Still worth a read though.

1. Stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24)
2. Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)
3. Build up one another (1 Thess 5:11)
4. Be of the same mind as one another (Romans 12:13, 15:5)
5. Comfort one another in the face of death (1 Thess 4:18)
6. Employ your spiritual gifts in serving one another (1 Peter 4:10)
7. Pray for one another (James 5:16)
8. Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
9. Be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50)
10. Encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11)
11. Greet one another (2 Cor 13:12)
12. Don’t become boastful in challenging one another (Gal 5:26)
13. Be kind to one another (Eph 4:32)
14. Abound in love for one another (1 Peter 1:22)
15. Live in peace with one another (1 Thess 5:13)
16. Love one another (2 John 5)
17. Fervently love one another (1 Peter 1:22)
18. Have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7)
19. Don’t judge one another (Romans 14:13)
20. Take communion (the Lord’s Table) with one another (1 Cor 11:33)
21. Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
22. Regard one another as more important than yourself (Phil 2:3)
23. Bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
24. Admonish one another (Rom 15:14)
25. Serve one another (Gal 5:13)
26. Do not lie to one another (Col 3:9)
27. Bear with one another (Col 3:13)
28. Forgive one another (Col 3:13)
29. Teach and admonish one another (Rom 15:14)
30. Care for one another (1 Cor 12:25)
31. Cloth yourselves with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5)
32. Be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
33. Do not complain against one another (James 5:9)
34. Show forbearance to one another (Eph 4:2)
35. Speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19)
36. Give preference to one another (Rom 12:10)
37. Don’t bite and devour one another (Gal 5:15)
38. Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21
39. Seek the good of one another (1 Thess 5:15)
40. Don’t forsake assembling with one another (Heb 10:25)

Schemes without local churches means that people miss out on so much of God’s blessing. Keep praying for us as we seek to strengthen gospel ministry in Scotland’s housing schemes.