Going to Church or Being the Church
There are a lot of people in the USA who go to church, but they are not being the church. I know I have written and talked about this several times, but it is so important. This evening I shared from Philippians 1 where Paul thanks God for the participation of the Philippian believers with him in the work of the gospel. They were not spectators, but participants.
When it comes to the work of the kingdom and the church, there are at least two factors in this participation. We have to be willing to do God's will by serving Him in various ways. However, the key is to buy into God's plan for the church body of which we are a part and fulfill our function in the body. That way the church can accomplish God's will. Many churches never get anything done, because everyone wants to do it his or her way, not God's way.
I truly believe that we are coming to the point at NHBC where we are deciding to follow the Lord where He is leading us. We are becoming willing and joyful participants in His work. We are praying and seeking His direction. We are not simply being comfortable in "going to church." We really want to "be the church." There is no telling what He can do, if we will continue to pursue this course.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 19-20 and Luke 23:1-25.
When it comes to the work of the kingdom and the church, there are at least two factors in this participation. We have to be willing to do God's will by serving Him in various ways. However, the key is to buy into God's plan for the church body of which we are a part and fulfill our function in the body. That way the church can accomplish God's will. Many churches never get anything done, because everyone wants to do it his or her way, not God's way.
I truly believe that we are coming to the point at NHBC where we are deciding to follow the Lord where He is leading us. We are becoming willing and joyful participants in His work. We are praying and seeking His direction. We are not simply being comfortable in "going to church." We really want to "be the church." There is no telling what He can do, if we will continue to pursue this course.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 19-20 and Luke 23:1-25.