If you were to ask me what the five most important things are in the life of a Christian, I would tell you that right up there near the very top of the list would be for them to be an active part of a local body of believers.
I absolutely LOVE the church! Yes, I love my church, but I love God's church! I love the divine design of the church. I love how God uniquely equips different people with all sorts of gifts and then when they are brought all together, you get to see a beautiful picture of God's handiwork.
Ephesians chapter four has always been a favorite passage of mine concerning the church because Paul does something here that I truly appreciate in Scripture -- he draws a a word picture. He very practically compares the church to a human body.
Not only do we see from these verses that God desires maturity and spiritual growth from the body and its members, but we see that we all have something to contribute. God specifically created YOU to do what only YOU can do for the body as a whole. Just like in a physical body, the spiritual body only functions at its best when all of its parts (the believers) are healthy and doing what they were created to do.
One of my pet peeves is to hear the church referred to as a building. The church never has been, nor was ever intended to be viewed as a location or a building. Christ's followers are the church! YOU and I are the church!
So, if we are the body, and if God designed us to bring our gifts together to participate in Kingdom work, then why are local churches closing their doors in greater number than anytime in history? Why are statistics for worship attendance continuing to plummet every year?
Ask yourself this:
Because I love the church so much, I'll be returning to this topic tomorrow to offer some reassurance to anyone who might not have the same fondness towards the church as I do because of a negative past experience with a local body of believers. Your leariness is understood, but I don't want you to completely throw in the towel!
For now, take a moment to stop and pray. For some of you, you need to praise and thank God for the blessing of the local body that you are a part of. For others, you might need to ask Him to open your heart and mind to giving the church a second chance.
I absolutely LOVE the church! Yes, I love my church, but I love God's church! I love the divine design of the church. I love how God uniquely equips different people with all sorts of gifts and then when they are brought all together, you get to see a beautiful picture of God's handiwork.
Ephesians chapter four has always been a favorite passage of mine concerning the church because Paul does something here that I truly appreciate in Scripture -- he draws a a word picture. He very practically compares the church to a human body.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephes. 4:15-16
Not only do we see from these verses that God desires maturity and spiritual growth from the body and its members, but we see that we all have something to contribute. God specifically created YOU to do what only YOU can do for the body as a whole. Just like in a physical body, the spiritual body only functions at its best when all of its parts (the believers) are healthy and doing what they were created to do.
One of my pet peeves is to hear the church referred to as a building. The church never has been, nor was ever intended to be viewed as a location or a building. Christ's followers are the church! YOU and I are the church!
So, if we are the body, and if God designed us to bring our gifts together to participate in Kingdom work, then why are local churches closing their doors in greater number than anytime in history? Why are statistics for worship attendance continuing to plummet every year?
Ask yourself this:
"Am I missing out on some of the blessings that God has planned for me as a believer because I have been "Missing in Action" from the local body of believers?"
- Perhaps you've recently moved and you haven't gotten settled in a local body yet.
- Perhaps you don't attend regularly because you're spouse doesn't want to go with you.
- Perhaps the last time you went, you felt out of place or didn't feel welcomed.
- Perhaps your bed on Sunday mornings is just too stinkin' comfy and warm!
Because I love the church so much, I'll be returning to this topic tomorrow to offer some reassurance to anyone who might not have the same fondness towards the church as I do because of a negative past experience with a local body of believers. Your leariness is understood, but I don't want you to completely throw in the towel!
For now, take a moment to stop and pray. For some of you, you need to praise and thank God for the blessing of the local body that you are a part of. For others, you might need to ask Him to open your heart and mind to giving the church a second chance.
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