Tonight, we are starting a series on THE (RIVER) CHURCH. (Series Title is The (River) Church: Isn't She lovely?")
The Key Question is: WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
We have all heard more than our share of preachers say "the church isn't a building". Yet often in their commentary they excoriate those who don't "come to church". This week I received a text from a friend that read "The Church has left the building". As usual, I got a good laugh from another church sign laboring to ..............I don't know what they expect to happen from their signs.
We all know what that the church is not a building (at least I hope so). But what is the church? Tonight we'll give a "one liner" answer (sure to make this blog tomorrow or later tonight), but beyond a once for all one line (paragraph, paper, etc)answer= what does it mean to be the church? Isn't this a conversation that should never end? Isn't this a conversation that should drive our lives into the seemingly mundane and glorious new order?
WHAT IS THE CHURCH? What are some thoughts we have? And let's be gracious, but not "nice" (as in let's not avoid "criticism" when critique is necessary).
starting the conversation (or at least keeping it going)
sam c.
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5 comments:
Well, the church is a gathering of people seeking to bring joy into each other's lives so that God would be glorified. (and they must meet in a building called a church ;))
A year ago if someone were to have asked me the question "What is the church?" my answer most likely would have been less then positive...
Over the last several years my view or opinion of the church had been soured by my disappointment in the actions of others and to be quite honest my own actions as well.
This summer has helped me to learn and see that the church can be, not that is HAS to be but that it CAN be, a group of imperfect people living life together in a way that is not limited to certain days of the week or one certain location...
Instead there is an openness to actually being one's self... to be accepted as an individual and as a contributer to the larger community. In this way i believe that the church can help individuals see there own value in the eyes of God... through the way that the members and the body of the church value each other.
God's Peace.
Josh
Well, I am sure there is a church sign that nails this for us, but I think the church is a group of people who have been redeemed by Christ to live out his life in the world. I think the church is in view when Christ says, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." I think it is ok for us to refer to individuals as members of the church (or body), but essentially the church is us together, and Christ's body is impotent unless we are together. Together doesn't have to mean strictly geographic, although I think that is part of the other, but it does have to mean unifed in spirit, vision, energy, and love, i.e. those things that encapsulate Christ.
Before I came into this church, I was always taught a church is the building we meet in and you know one when you see one, usually a building with a steeple or a cross and a sign of course.
I have come to realize that church Is a family who helps you and the people in that family to grow in and with God. People who come together to better peoples lives not only in their immediate community but all over the world.A group of people that want to better peoples lives and introduce them to the word of God.
a group of broken people that become whole when they are connected to one another.
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