A Place, A Family, An Action?...What Is It?

What do you think of when I say church?

Let's face it, most of us think of church as a place. It makes sense because it is a type of structure right? What else do you think church should mean when you hear it?

or maybe I should say .....when you FEEL it.

I'm asking you this for a very specific purpose. Be prepared because I'm going to challenge you.

Here's the deal. You go to church, chat with a few friends and aquaintances, worship, and listen to the sermon right? That's a form of church. What do you do afterwards? Do you reflect on the sermon? do you pray what God wants to reveal to you through that sermon?

What do you do with it afterwards? I ask because this next part is where you ARE church.

I have seen all to many times where people have gone to church for years, only to treat it as a treasure not to be shared or revealed with anyone else. Sunday upon Sunday, you see them come in, sit down, listen, and the seminar is over. Seminar? Yes seminar, because a message about Christ that is taught but not shared or put into practice is nothing but a seminar. You learn, but don't apply it. Is that all that church is?

NO. Jesus said as he was gathering his disiples, "come, and I will make you fishers of men." To do that would imply that he was going to teach, and then release them out into the world to spread his message by word and by example. Are we not expected to do the same? The true joy of knowing your relationship with Christ is knowing that the treasure shared, is the treasure multiplied. Jesus is looking to use you as his conduit. His "lightning rod" if you will. You are church and you have the capacity annointed by the Holy Spirit to multiply that treasure.

How about your fellow believers around you? Everyone goes through their hills and valleys. Are you paying attention to those around you that may be encountering a downturn? It's when we are at our weakest points when the enemy like to play games with our minds. Encouragement may be all that person needs in order to avoid making bad choices or doing something they will regret later. Maybe all they need is someone to pray with or someone to simply encourage them to pray. That's you being church again! It's us looking after our brothers and sisters and maybe even brothers and sisters yet to find Jesus.

Although we think of a building first when we hear the word church, I thank Jesus every day that a building is the last thing that he thinks of.

Just a thought.