A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church
Christians know church is important, but sometimes it doesn't seem worth it. An eclectic assortment of people with differing personalities, political views, and parenting styles can make for awkward interactions and difficult connections. What's the point of putting in the tough work to build relationships? But the Bible says God's people ought to be bound together. It uses words like beloved, brothers and sisters, saints, and fellow laborers to describe their mutual relationship in the church. In this book, Megan Hill answers a common question of churchgoers: What's so great about the church? With rich theology, practical direction, and study questions for group use, Hill encourages and equips both first-time visitors and regular members to delight in being a part of the local church—no matter how messy and ordinary it seems today. It is only when God's people begin to see one another as the Lord sees them that they will truly find a place to belong.
“A thousand messengers point us to the good news of a personal
relationship with Christ, but this book contains something
precious: the good news of a corporate one. Megan Hill has written
a love song for the church, a celebration of the communion of
saints in all its present practicality and all its future glory.
Her message stirred me to greater love for the fellowship of
believers and greater longing for the day when Christ and his bride
are at last fully and finally united.”
—Jen Wilkin, Bible teacher; author, Women
of the Word; None Like Him; and In His
Image
“This book is positively, intelligently, and helpfully
countercultural. It pushes back on our individualism, cynicism, and
consumerism and winsomely calls us to invest our lives—indeed find
our lives—in something we may be tempted to think is simply not
worth the trouble—the local church.”
—Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Even
Better than Eden
“Megan Hill’s love for the church and her Savior shines on every
page. She possesses an uncommon gift for engaging illustrations and
applications. Her theology of the church is biblical, and her
instruction winsome as she clarifies what it means for the church’s
members to share in each other’s gifts and graces. Readers will
find themselves thanking God for his gift of ‘a place to
belong.’”
—Charles M. Wingard, Dean of Students and
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, Reformed Theological
Seminary; author, Help for the New Pastor: Practical Advice for
Your First Year of Ministry
“Megan Hill encourages us to think biblically about the church
rather than just experientially or emotionally. This book
celebrates our ‘blessed belonging’ that is our privilege as God’s
covenant people. It is also an accessible tool to prepare us as his
bride as we await our bridegroom’s return.”
—Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Women’s Ministries,
Presbyterian Church in America; coauthor, Transformed
Product Details
- Title : A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church
- Author: Hill, Megan
- Publisher: Crossway
- Publication Date: 2020
- ISBN: 9781433563768
Megan Hill (BA, Grove City College) is the author of several books, including Praying Together; A Place to Belong; and Meg Is Not Alone. She also serves as the managing editor for the Gospel Coalition. A pastor's wife and a pastor's daughter, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children, where they belong to West Springfield Covenant Community Church (PCA).