DOING CHURCH!

Man's idea or God's? Matt 16:18is the first time the word “church" is mentioned in the Bible. Jesus said, "On this rock (the revelation that he is the Christ) I will build my church, and the Gates of hell will not prevail against it." 

Jesus first words regarding the church are that, it, as a whole, is his, and he is the one building it. You can be sure that God is serious about those things that are his. The word church is mentioned at least 81 other times in the new testament showing how crucial it is to God. Since the church is God's, he cares deeply about your part in it. The church (universal) is made up of a whole bunch of small churches which in turn are made up of a bunch of people. The New Testament is predominantly written to specific churches in specific areas.

The word church in the Bible does not refer to a building but to those who are in the family of God by faith in the blood of Jesus. Some would think it is not essential to assemble with other believers, But God warns about this–Take a look:

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The early church not only met on Sundays, but they met together every day at the Temple and then from house to house – take a look.

Acts 2:46-47  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

When we signed up for Christianity by calling Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives, we signed up to fulfill the mission God has on earth; and that mission is to release the gospel to the world through the church, his body. God considers you and I the church – we are his body. The universal Church of God is meeting all over the world today, and God is counting on you to be fully engaged in his work here on earth – this church that he is building? Will you let God use you to build his church? What you get involved with what he is doing through his people? He is counting on you! 

God's idea??? I think so! Touching the world is our job as the body of Christ and it's high time for us to get busy with

DOING CHURCH!

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