45 – Rethink: Church
Ephesians 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV)
What is the church to you?
Is the church a place you go to or something you’re a part of?
Is the church a social club that you participate in or a place you belong?
Is the church a building you drive to or a body you are a member of?
Would it still be church if everyone you looked to or know was gone?
Some do church religiously, not relationally.
Went to move from religion to relationship.
We have a need to be around people. If not church for some, it might be the casino.
God desires us to worship Him but He also desires us to get together to worship.
Blessings fell on the church when it was in unison in the bible.
Many get turned off, not from church, but church folks.
#1 We are a Family
When you became a believer of Christ Jesus, you became a member of His family.
You are no longer foreigners and strangers but citizens because of what Christ has done.
Last week, we talked about slaves and slave owners being members of the same church. He’s further driving home the point that we are family.
THIS family can be friendly.
Foreigners are different from strangers.
In the church setting, a foreigner is one who hasn’t joined with the church, haven’t been baptized. Accepting Christ makes you a citizen of the Christian faith.
Because of what Christ has done, we are no longer strangers.
If Christ accepts everybody, who are we to discriminate against anybody. We are to accept whosoever.
God is the head of our family….not Rev. Sparks. His role is different from mine. He’s the “teller” and the leader. You have to find your job.
Our God in heaven is never too busy to deal with us because we’re a member of His family.
Church is a place of peaceful refuge.
It’s a place where people work together.
#2 We are a Building
Not the building that we come to……WE ARE the building, the house of God. We are each a brick. God dwells in us.
Everyone of us matters.
Jesus is the cornerstone of this building. It’s not based on us, it is based on Him. He is immovable.
#3 We are God’s home
Tamala R. Maddox, Ph.D.
Principal
R.F. Bumpus Middle School