We Are The Church

What is a Family?

How would you define the term family or what a family should be? Lives together, or at least stays in contact with one another in part of the definition. Loves one another, they also may feel comfortable with one another. A family has certain traditions or ways of doing things that they enjoy doing together. How else would you define a family?

The early church could have been considered a family. They all lived together. We read in Acts, that they sold their property, and lived together, some of the early churches did this. Some where is constant contact with one another in many ways, maybe even multiple times a day. They ate together, learned together, cared for one another, and worshiped God together. Some of this was out of convenience and necessity because of the culture they were under at the time. Many would be in hiding together or had to hide what they were doing. Either way, through this, they were very close to one another.

I like to think that you are my family. We fellowship with one another, learn from one another, care for one another, and worship God together. Yet, it think we need to really it is time for us to evaluate our work together. Do we work like a church. What is our joint identity? What is it that identifies us as a family?

Pray and Read Romans 12:1-8

The first three verses tell us how we are to act as Christians. If we want to please God, then there are things that we should do or essentially be in order to be seen as a follower of Christ. A living sacrifice is two-fold. First, we are alive because Jesus gave us life. Also, we are a sacrifice because we have given up our worldly desires for the will of God. This is how we worship God is by giving Him this honor. It is like making your parent proud. Good parents, good family members love to hear good news about those in their family. Their may even be a sense of pride when a family member reaches a level of success. I know I am proud of my kids for every award they have and everything they enjoy doing. I think in this same way we make God proud when we live for Him and not of this world.

When we deny this world of our soul, or when we refuse to allow the world to influence us, we begin to notice a renewing of our minds. We begin to think like Christ, feel with our emotions like Christ when we desire the influence of the Holy Spirit over us above the influence of the world. In this way, we become connected to our Heavenly Father. Personally, my anxiety is worse when I think that I have to please other people or do things in a certain way that may seem acceptable to others. However, when I am at peace with myself in whom God created me to be, or when I am confident in who I am, I find peace. That peace comes from seeking Christ and drawing near to the One who created me.

When I am near to Christ, I am comfortable with others who are drawing near to Christ. This is how the early church renewed their mind to think and act, most importantly be, Christian. They stuck together. They had common ground and a single focus which helped them to love one another and take care of one another. This connection helped them to understand that they were not alone in their faith. Not one of them wanted to be better than the other, for they wanted safety and security for one another. They wanted to learn more about Christ and also wanted to teach one another of their faith. They mentally and emotionally belonged to one another in Christ and in His grace.

Now I am sure things were not perfect. We all fall from grace and make mistakes. But that is another function of a good church. A good church family does not condemn or look down on any one who fails. Instead they strive to lift each other up and help each other be better as much as possible.

I am sure that each one of them were different as well. “One Body, Many Functions”, Paul writes. I am sure their were times where the church, like this one in Roman for example, didn’t get along. They may have seen times of disagreements and arguments as does any family or even like groups of close friends. Yet, they had the ability to pray together, discern God’s will together. They each had the Holy Spirit to help them move forward in a good direction.

Yet, still each one is different by design. Each one of us are given gifts unique to us personally. Some of us want to learn about God and be apart of a group or class that does just this. Some of us want to do ministry outside the walls of this building and think that this work is more important than anything. Some of us feel that coming together and worshipping God is the most important thing we can do. So of us want to take care of each other and make sure that we are maintaining our relationships with one another. Some of us want to do that but want to ensure that everyone who visits feels welcome and encouraged. That is a lot of different opinions and what a church should be doing. Yet, it should not be a shock to you that it takes all of us. Each of those gifts, and ministry needs are equally important. That is why it takes all of us working together.

My vision for this church is that we are using our gifts and our skills jointly to be like Christ. This is our Vision Statement:

“Offering Christ to a hurting world by being true disciples of Christ in the world”.

We must be growing as disciples of Christ, alongside each other so that we can together show the goodness of God to those who need Him most. I pray for this community to know Jesus. However, the answer to that prayer lies with each one of us doing that which God has created us and called us to do together.

So where do you fit? What is the cry of your heart? What do you believe God has gifted you to do? In what ways is the Holy Spirit equipping you? How can we accomplish these goals together in the power of the Holy Spirit? When we each lean into our strengths and also work with others who are leaning into their gifts and strengths, that is when ministry happens. When we are DOING the work of the church, then we are glorifying our Father and sharing Christ with the world.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.