Church in the Woods

It’s not unusual to hear people say that they don’t have to go to church to worship God, they can worship God when they are alone enjoying a Sunday nature excursion. The premise is true; however, worshiping when in nature is not a replacement for worshiping as a church body. Paul and his companions traveled to Philippi and stayed there several days. Paul said, “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us” (Acts 16:13-15 NIV).