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.

This Man Receives Sinners - Spurgeon

"This man receiveth sinners."
--Luke 15:2

Observe the condescension of this fact. This Man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners--this Man receiveth sinners. This Man, who is no other than the eternal God, before whom angels veil their faces--this Man receiveth sinners. It needs an angel's tongue to describe such a mighty stoop of love. That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful--they are of our own race; but that He, the offended God, against whom the transgression has been committed, should take upon Himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is marvellous.

"This Man receiveth sinners"; not, however, that they may remain sinners, but He receives them that He may pardon their sins, justify their persons, cleanse their hearts by His purifying word, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and enable them to serve Him, to show forth His praise, and to have communion with Him. Into His heart's love He receives sinners, takes them from the dunghill, and wears them as jewels in His crown; plucks them as brands from the burning, and preserves them as costly monuments of His mercy. None are so precious in Jesus' sight as the sinners for whom He died. When Jesus receives sinners, He has not some out-of-doors reception place, no casual ward where He charitably entertains them as men do passing beggars, but He opens the golden gates of His royal heart, and receives the sinner right into Himself--yea, He admits the humble penitent into personal union and makes Him a member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. There was never such a reception as this! This fact is still most sure this evening, He is still receiving sinners: would to God sinners would receive Him.