Are Churches in Temecula Only for Attending Religious Services?

When many people (typically those who don’t attend church) think of churches in Temecula, they think of buildings that host weekly religious services. And while it’s true that this is one of the activities that tend to take place in church buildings, churches are much more than just Sunday morning services, and this is definitely true at Sunridge!

First of all, we should be clear that for Christians in general and for Sunridge in particular, the word “church” doesn’t actually refer the building in which services are held. A church is the group of people who follow Jesus Christ together.

In I Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul compares the church to the human body. He writes, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” (I Cor. 12: 12) He goes on in chapter 12 to talk about how each part of a physical body (foot, hand, ear, etc.) has a role—all of which are important to the overall functioning of the body. He then compares this to the church. Paul talks about how the church is made up of people with different gifts, and every one of those gifts is vital to the church as a whole. It takes everyone exercising their spiritual gifts to create a church that is healthy and active.

At Sunridge, we have pastors who have the gift of teaching, but they aren’t the only ones who are doing the work of the church. We have many, many other people in our congregation who are using their gifts to make Sunridge a place where people can come to not only hear the word of God preached, but also a place where they can find help, encouragement, support, and healing.

We have our Growth Group leaders who desire to help people grow in their faith through small group discussions. We have a team of women who lead our MomCo group, who are passionate about helping moms find connection and support as they raise their children. We have individuals who want to help others walk through difficult life circumstances, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, or any other hard situation they may be facing. And then there are those in our congregation who may not have an “official” role at Sunridge but are always there to encourage, lend a helping hand, or pray.

If you’re someone who thinks the church is just a place you go to hear a sermon on a weekly basis, you’re missing out! We encourage you to get involved. Join a group. Attend a Bible study. Inquire about an area in which you can serve. Ask people how you can pray for someone. By being an active part of the body of believers at Sunridge, you can experience what church truly is!