Four Phrases the Church Should Never Say

A pastor once told me that the following phrases should never be spoken by a church:

• I don't belong
• You don't belong
• I don't need you
• You don't need me

    For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

    For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

    The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

    Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.    

And I will show you a still more excellent way.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

The Church - A Simple Plan

So what constitutes a great church from an ok church?

Its rather simple really.

A great church has the following in place:

- a high view of Scripture and all that accompanies it.

- people that enjoy hanging out with each other.

- people that eat together. a lot.

- people that continually pray for each other.

Nothing that grandiose.   It's not a great building.  It's not a great worship band.  It's not a website that uses flash technology. 

Luke says it this way in Acts 2:42-47,     

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 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.

What's amazing about following this simple plan is that it became contagious to a point where others, non-believers, wanted to join in.

So, the question is, how are you doing in this?  Or how is your church in this?  

The result should be 

- hearts filled with joy

- the worship of God

- unbelievers coming to Christ  

If you don't see those things happening in your church and life, then perhaps you have been focusing a little too much on making sure that your favorite songs are in the worship service.

Repent. Believe. Love. Repeat.

Paul writes in Philippians chapter 4, "what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Fairly simple. 

Paul is not just suggesting that they live like him, but live like him living like Christ.  For we don't follow Paul, but we follow Christ!

What would that give us? 

Not just peace, but actually the God of ALL Peace.  Today dear friend, that God is with you.

Shouting Out Freedom

So often what we hear or what we think defines who we are.  Or rather who we think we are.

What or who have you been listening to lately?

• You are a failure
• You are a sinner
• You are a monster
• Jesus is walking away from you
• God doesn't love you
• Other people hate you
• You are a waste of time
• You are going no where in your life

So often the words of the world can be so loud that they drive out the still small voice that is shouting to us.

Can you hear Him shouting?

He is shouting words of freedom for you.

You are a hiding place for me; 
You preserve me from trouble; 
You surround me with shouts of deliverance. 
(Psalm 32:7)

• You are mine
• You are my love
• You are forgiven
• You are my child
• I am with you
• I will never leave you
• I will never forsake you
• I love you
• I have put you in a family
• Your purpose has been defined
• You have new life

 

God Save the Doubter

 

Exodus 14:14 "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

This, of course, comes as a command to the Israelite's as they are stuck between the Red Sea (i.e. death) and Pharaoh and his army (i.e. death).

 

Moses says to this motley crew of people... these soon-to-be nomads “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again."

 

Can hear the thoughts... the responses... from the people Israel?  

"Uh... what???"

"Yeah, but have you seen how many there are?"

"That giant body of water is in front of me and we have no boat!"

Sometimes when I am unable to see what is ahead I become fearful.  OR sometimes when I do see what IS ahead of me, fear settles in.

How quickly the Israelites doubted a Sovereign King.  

How quickly I doubt a Sovereign King.

Of course, on this side of the story, we know the outcome.  We know from reading Scripture, that God's people make it to the other side of the water.  That Pharaoh and his men are crushed.

We must not look to quickly here at just the deliverance.  For the beauty is not just the saving.  The beauty is found in God saving doubting people.  For that is what should give us great hope.   Even in the midst of forgetting whose we are, who we are - God still saves.