The Bible was written in three ancient languages. Each translation to your language represents years of work to help you process the Bible in a way that makes sense.

A Quick Note on Different Bible Versions

You might occasionally notice a series of letters after a reference to Scripture, such as John 7:37-38 NLT or Matthew 4:4 NIV. The letters “NLT” and “NIV” here indicate the version of the Bible—in this case, New Living Translation or New International Version.

Throughout history, different scholars have translated the original biblical texts in slightly different ways. Some translations aim for a more literal rendering of the original text (such as the English Standard Version, ESV), while others aim for more modern phrasing (such as the New Living Translation, NLT). All versions fall somewhere on this spectrum of word-for-word versus thought-for-thought translation. The New International Version (NIV) falls right about in the middle, so it’s a great version to read from if you’re just getting started. And for that reason our Pastors primarily teach from the NIV.

Are you a morning person or night owl? Do you like quiet places or bustling coffee shops? Do you learn by watching, listening, or reading? Do you sometimes read paper and other times digital?

Once you decide on a routine that works for you, start one of these Bible Plans or consider finding a paper Study Bible.

Think like a detective and discover the story behind the story.

The Bible is a collection of 66 different books, written in three languages, across three continents, over a 1,500-year period by 40 different authors. Use tools like these to learn who the text was written to, when, where, and why.

Download the Bible Project App:

Through videos, podcasts and articles, you’ll experience the Bible as one unified story that leads to Jesus.

Try Blue Letter Bible:

Do-it-yourself access to scholarly tools - like language searches and commentaries. Click the link to preview an Interlinear search of Philemon 1:1.

Listen to The BEMA Podcast:

Listen to content about the Bible with this walk-through podcast about the context of the whole Bible, the text, and surrounding history.

There’s no need to rush. Take your time and get curious.

After studying the context, what questions do you still have? Use your questions as tools to help you dig deeper through prayer, study, and conversations with friends.

Join a Community Group:

A Community Group is a safe place to make friends who'll help you process your questions about the Bible.

Work Through the Weird Stuff Article:

Surprised or confused by something in the Bible? You’re not alone! This article answers some questions while encouraging you to keep asking more.

Process Your Doubts Podcast Episode:

This podcast episode by Life.Church invites you to work through questions and doubts by placing yourself inside a well known Jesus story.

The Bible is meant to transform us, not just inform us. The more we apply what we learn from God’s Word, the more we become like Jesus.

Ask God what He wants you to learn about Him and yourself.

Guided Prayer in the Bible App:

A simple, Scripture-based, daily prayer feature of the Bible App to help center your heart and mind on God.

Connect the Bible with Prayer Podcast:

This podcast starts a conversation about the many connections between the spiritual practices of reading the Bible and prayer.

Simply reading the Bible for yourself is the most important thing.

Beyond that there’s so much great content to explore. Here’s a few resources to supplement your reading.

Disclaimer:

The resources shared on this page—including videos, podcasts, and articles—are offered to support your spiritual growth and understanding of the Christian faith. While we believe these materials generally align with the core beliefs and values of our church, there may be occasional points of view or interpretations that differ slightly from our doctrinal positions. We encourage you to engage with these resources thoughtfully and with discernment.

Every week, people from all over the world attend church services. Some meet in church buildings, while others meet in homes. They speak different languages and worship God in diverse ways. But despite their differences, they share a common value—gathering regularly. Why? Why do we go to church? Let’s explore a few reasons together.

What is “Church”?

For many of us, when we think of the word “church,” we think about a building—but it wasn’t always that way. Thousands of years ago, Jesus called His followers together and gave them a mission: to tell the world how to find forgiveness, love, and purpose in Jesus. And that’s what the early followers did.

They told people the good news of Jesus’ love and forgiveness and encouraged people to imitate Jesus’ way of life. These followers didn’t have a building to go to each weekend; they were the Church.

The early church made a habit of spending time together. They shared meals, sang, learned Scripture, and encouraged one another. The tradition of gathering regularly was passed down through the generations. One key verse about gathering comes from an early-church author, who wrote:

And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 BSB

Over two thousand years, the church has expanded, adapted, and diversified. But almost every Christian tradition still shares the value of gathering regularly. Why?

Why Do We Go to Church? Here are 3 Reasons.

1. We all need encouragement.

Isolation can feel comfortable, right? Nothing but you, your hobbies, and your own preferences to care about. You don’t have to worry about meeting anyone’s expectations or letting people down. You also get to avoid the potential heartbreak and disappointment that relationships can create. But these short-term advantages can’t outweigh the downsides of living without meaningful relationships.

We simply aren’t built to go through life alone. All on our own, we’re vulnerable to destructive habits and negative self-talk. We also miss out on the strength that grows through friendship.

Christians are people who are learning to live and love like Jesus. The way of Jesus isn’t always easy, but when we gather regularly with other Jesus followers, our strength, passion, and conviction multiply. So we go to church because it’s a place to find encouragement through relationships.

Going to a local church or an online church every week gives you the opportunity to meet new people who can help you grow in your faith. It can also give you opportunities to share life-giving encouragement with others.

2. We all have room to grow.

Understanding what it means to be a Christian is simple. We’re called to live and love like Jesus as we follow Him. But have you noticed that Jesus is perfect, and we’re not?

Fortunately, God is full of grace for us—and we all have room to grow in that grace. Listening to pastors and leaders on a regular basis gives us opportunities to grow in faith. It can be uncomfortable to learn about areas of personal growth, but it’s worth it.

And the growth isn’t meant to be one-way. As we continually become more like Jesus, we have the opportunity and calling to help others do the same. All of us have stories of how God has been working in our lives. When we share those stories, we help others to go deeper in their faith too.

3. We grow best with different perspectives.

Everyone has a unique background and perspective. That means we all experience God in different ways. For example, someone celebrating a major life event might see a Bible verse about God’s goodness differently than someone who has recently gone through a loss. Both perspectives are meaningful—and both can inform how we understand God.

We have a lot to learn about God through people from different places. People view faith, God, and the Bible through the lens of their culture. So we have a lot to learn about God through people from different places. When we go to church, we expose ourselves to alternate perspectives and cultural understandings of God and gain a richer understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.

Why do we go to church? Because we need each other.

The Church isn’t a building, it’s people following Jesus together. So let’s make a habit of gathering together. Spending time with each other regularly is a gift, so let’s make the most of it!

If you’re new to church, you might notice there are many different kinds—Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Non-denominational, and more. These are called denominations, and they’re kind of like different branches of the same family. Most Christian churches share the same core beliefs—like who Jesus is and the message of the Bible—but they may differ in how they worship, how their leadership is structured, or how they interpret certain parts of Scripture.

Some churches are more traditional, with formal services and liturgy, while others are more modern or casual in style. Some are part of large networks with shared beliefs and history, while others are independent or non-denominational—meaning they don’t belong to a specific group but still hold to core Christian teachings.

At the heart of it all, the goal is the same: to know God, grow in faith, and follow Jesus together in community.

Finding the right church can be tricky. Especially if you’re new to church to begin with. That’s why we offer a class here at Summit called:

Step 1: Is Summit Church Perfect for You?

The purpose of Step 1 is to orient you to all things Summit Church so that you can discern if this is the family of faith that God has for you.

Step 1 happens on the first Sunday of each month, at 11:30 a.m. upstairs in the Next Steps Room. The class ends at 12:15. Snacks and water are provided. Childcare is also provided however, your kids are welcome to come in and sit with you if you prefer. You do not need to sign up.

Some months the schedule may vary so please double-check the calendar. If you can't make it in-person you can take Step 1 Online by clicking here.

By now, you know that church is about relationships. Attending church can help you grow in relationship with God and with other people. So, how do we make the most of attending church? How do we give ourselves the best opportunity to experience encouragement and growth through diverse relationships?

We attend regularly. Going to the gym twice a year is better than not going at all, but it’s probably not going to make a huge difference in your fitness. In the same way, going to church once in a while is good, but it’s probably not going to make a meaningful difference in your daily life. So make an intentional habit of attending that works for you.

We get to know someone better each week. Talking to strangers can be intimidating, but it’s the first step to building lasting friendships. So make a habit of being curious. Ask questions, and share a bit about yourself. One way to do this is by joining a group of people you can journey more closely with as you all grow in your faith together, encouraging each other. We call these Community Groups.

We share what we have. The early church used what they had for the good of others. Some had physical resources, others had life experience, and some had extra time to spend doing God’s work. You have something that someone else needs. It might be a skill, special talent, or resource that can make a difference in someone’s life. Often it looks like seeking service opportunities and being generous with your resources.

Church isn’t a place; it’s people following Jesus together. So let’s make a habit of gathering together with a local church or online church whenever we can.

Prayer is meant to be a personal conversation with God—like you would have with friends, family, or a mentor. Take the pressure off. Let go of how you think you should pray and just talk with God openly and honestly.

Watch this video to discover some example prayers to help you get started.