As a young guy in my late teens I went to “church” for the first time. When the word “church” was brought up to me, my first thought was getting up early on a Sunday morning, getting dressed up, and going to a beautiful church building with a steeple. And then, singing a few songs and hearing a sermon and then going on about your day! If we are honest with ourselves, that is the thought of a lot of people in our society!
We “do church” on Sunday morning for a few hours, but what about the other 166 other hours in the week? Is this what the church is? Is it just gathering for a service and singing a few songs and listening to a sermon then going home and doing our own thing the rest of the week? Is church just the church building? Is it just the gathering?
In Matthew 16, when Jesus says to Peter: “on this rock I will build my church” was He talking about a structure or a building? I DON’T THINK SO!
In the western church, we tend to fall into the idea and get caught up in the aesthetics of what the church should look like. Is our church big enough? Is it pretty enough? Do we have enough stuff to offer to reach everyone? We also tend to fall into the trap of being caught up in the number of people who come. Do we have enough members? Do we have enough money? All of these are important of course, but when these become the main thing, it begins to be all about statistics and not about the church!
“The church is a people, not a place or a statistic. Its a body, united into him who is the head, Its a family joined together in adoption!” – Mark Dever
So, the church is a people! The word “Ekklesia” in the Greek translates the word we use today as “the church.” It refers to a gathering or assembly or congregation. So we as christians are the church! We are a united body in Christ!
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we though many , are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. – Romans 12:4-5
As a united body, We are a family! We are a family who gather together for the same reason, and that reason is to glorify God and to worship Him in unity!
And all who believed were together and had all things in common, And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. – Acts 2:44-47
As a family, we are there for each other! When disaster happens we are there! When we need a shoulder to cry on we are there! When we feel like we have nobody to talk to we are there!
As Toby Mac says in his song Lil Church Right Now, “I could use a little church right now. Love to have a little family around, I’ve been feelin so overwhelmed, I could use a little church right now! My cup’s about as empty, As this wilderness Im in, I lost my way with the loss of love, That came to a bitter end, So far from runnin over, So close to given in, Its gonna take the hands that made me, To make me whole again! I could use a little church right now! ”
We need each other!
We are to be there to celebrate with each other when it’s time to celebrate! We are to be there for each other whatever the situation is! Good, bad, exciting or just for everyday life, we are to be there for each other as a family! For some, their church family is all they have. They don’t have anybody else to confide in, but that’s how it should be for all of us! The Bible tells us our bigger responsibility is to our church family, let’s look at the words of Jesus!
And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them,”Who are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”- Mark 3:32-35
So as goes with all families, but even more important in our church family (see also Acts 2:42-47).
1 .We have to love each other.
2. We have to serve each other.
3. We have to encourage each other.
4. We have to hold each other accountable.
5. We have to be patient with each other.
6. We have to forgive each other.
So, we can see that the church is more than the church! Paul tells us in Ephesians that, “as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her!“
Christ didn’t die for a building. Christ didn’t die for statistics. Christ died for His people; Christ died for His Church! We are the Church!
“The Church happens not so much when we gather but when we scatter! – Joel Hunter
I love when we gather as a church on Sunday mornings, and are united for the same goal. But, I encourage you to be the church not only on Sunday, but be the church everyday!
North Bullitt Christian Church 