Crucial Truth: Jesus did not die so that you could go to church. He died so that you could be the church.
Are there things you would never say in church, but you would say in another setting?
Which of the following locations would you describe as holy?
1. Burger King
2. Your Church
3. Your House
Nothing concerning these locations make them more or less holy than the other. You might ask, "How can you say Burger King is more holy than our church?"
What makes this particular location holy? What makes this particular bush holy?
What makes the Holy of Holies holier than any other particular location? (trying saying holy of holies holier 5x fast)
The presence of God makes these locations holy. Anywhere God is becomes holy. Anything God declares to be holy is holy.
This is the story of a lady who thought one particular location was more holy than another. Jesus looks at this woman and tells her that a building isn't going to be the holy place anymore. A building will no longer contain the presence of God, but the body of believers by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will contain it.
Anything that God declares to be holy is holy.
When we reach this crucial understanding, church becomes more than a worship service we attend. Church is who we are. Jesus did not die so that we could go to church. Jesus died so that we could be the church. Our behavior should not be modified just because we walk through the doors and into the Student Worship Center or into the Sanctuary. Our behavior, our dress, and our morals should be the same every moment of every day.
Response:
Should I go to church? Yes.
Why? Because God said so [Hebrews 20:25] and because Jesus went to church and if it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.
Perhaps you know people who say the following:
1. I don't have to go to church to experience God.
-True. I can experience God in my home, as I listen to worship music, as I pray, as I read my Bible, etc.
-But God still commands that you go to church [Hebrews 10:25]
-Where do people sing songs about Jesus? Where do you hear the proclamation of the Word (preaching)? Where do other believers gather to celebrate Jesus? Oh yeah....Church.
-You can't say you love God but not love His people.
2. I can't find a decent church.
-This is nothing more than a poor excuse.
-This response reveals your selfish nature. You need to grow up and come back to the real world. Life is not all about you.
3. The church is full of hypocrites.
- I agree. The church is full of people just like you.
- Is it not amazing that despite our faults and failures, God can still love people like us? We should gather to celebrate something this amazing. Where can we do that? Church.
I challenge you to invite your friends, family, and enemies to come experience the abundant life found in Jesus. Where can they hear about this good news? You guessed it......Church.
-Daniel
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