Do Not Depart

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It’s Not What You Think It Is

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I am a die-hard Auburn Tigers football fan.  I have been known (ahem) to keep a whiteboard next to the couch on Saturdays with game times and channels so I could more effectively keep track of how every other game being played affected my Tigers.  I yell and jump around, do victory dances, and have been known to to leave the room after an exceptionally bad play.  I’m a lunatic … in fact, some might say I’m a fanatic.  Okay, honestly, some have said – including my husband who, when preaching a sermon on worship, used my football-insanity as an example of what worship looks like.   See, I’m changed on game days … watching Auburn play affects my countenance and it affects what I do and how I act when the game is over.

In the church, we need to understand the importance of worship. And recognize what worship is and is not.  Worship isn’t  “choruses” or hymns, pipe organs or electric guitars, standing or sitting, hands up or down … worship is far better defined as “Worth-Ship.”  And, as my husband likes to remind our church, we ALL give worth-ship to something.  In fact, we were created to do so.  The issue isn’t, “How do we worship?”  The real question is, “What or who do we worship?”

Isaiah 1 reveals to us what God intends our worship of Him to be.  God had clearly told the Israelites what He desired from them in terms of worship.  He had outlined a full sacrificial system designed not only to meet their need of forgiveness but also to meet their need for worship.  But, it was not their sacrifices He wanted … it was their hearts.

“The multitude of your sacrifices – what are they to me?” says the Lord.  “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals.  I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.”  v. 11 NIV

They were doing what they had been commanded, what they had been instructed.  God continues by saying, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! … I cannot bear your evil assemblies” (v. 13).  He tells them their festivals and feasts “have become a burden” and speaks of being weary of them (v.14).

In verse 15 we find this eye-opening statement:

“When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer prayers, I will not listen.”

Can you imagine God saying to us, “Enough!  Enough of your songs and dramas, enough of your creeds and rituals, enough of the pretense!”

That’s what God was saying to the Israelites.  They were in day-to-day life no different from any other people and yet they continued to do all those “things” they had been commanded.    And God said (and continues to say), “Enough!”

Then He gives us these beautiful words of hope:

“Stop doing what is wrong and learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow … Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  (v.16 – 19)

Worshiping God isn’t about what we do in church … it’s about what we do when we leave. It doesn’t matter what songs are sung and what (if any!) instruments are a part.  Worship isn’t music style or preference and when we limit it to that, we miss the great joy of experiencing worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).   Worship, true worship, will always change us!

Just like the result of an Auburn football game affects what I do after the final whistle is blown, so worship – if it is real – will affect what we do after we have experienced it.

Have you experienced true worship?  How has that changed you?

Image: Jordan-Hare Stadium by Scott Fillmer

When is it okay to leave?

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“When is it okay to leave one church to go to another?” Although there are not any passages in the Bible that specifically say “You should change churches when…” there are plenty of truth principles in Scripture to guide us in this matter. So that’s where we’ll start to find some answers!

Biblical Foundation

God calls every Christian into a local church where he or she can serve. First Corinthians 12:18 teaches that God puts each church together as He sees fit. He calls every Christian to a specific place of service in a specific church. God works to fully equip each local church to meet the needs of its members and to fulfill His purposes for that church in His world.

Although we personally benefit from the spiritual nourishment and fellowship we receive from the church, God’s specific placement of us is first and foremost for the benefit of that body and its members, not for us! According to Romans 12:5, “each member belongs to all the others.”

Our spiritual gifts are given to us by God so we can serve the body and help it grow in unity and spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:11-13).

So, these biblical truths will help us tackle our question:

  • God calls every Christian to be a part of a local church.
  • God builds each local church, as He sees fit, to prepare them for His purposes.
  • God places each of us in a specific church for a specific place of service.
  • God gifts every Christian for the purpose of serving the members of their church in which He has placed them.

Application of Biblical Principles

The biblical truths about God’s design for the church can guide us as we make decisions about church membership.

Seek God diligently:

The choice of what church to serve in is God’s, not ours. We must diligently seek God’s will and obey His direction. A move should never be based on our feelings or desires. That decision is always rightfully God’s alone.

We must depend on God and trust His direction.

Carefully weed out any selfish motives:

God’s placement of us in a church is primarily to benefit others. We must be very cautious about leaving one church for another if our reasons have anything to do with “our needs.” I know from personal experience that this is a tough one. My husband and I once struggled over staying in a church we believed God had called us to because our kids were having a difficult time finding their place.

On the other hand, I’ve seen countless Christians change churches as casually as they change grocery stores. They leave and go down the street because they like the music better or they have a stronger youth program. These reasons are all about us – what we want, what we like, what we can get out of it. That’s consumer Christianity. We’re called to serve, not to be served.

Ask God to show you if your desire to leave your church is based on selfish reasons or His direction.

Look for your place of service:

Remember, God places us in a body based on how He wants us to serve in it. If it’s obvious that God is still using the gifts He gave you in the body you’re in, then He probably wants you to stay put. However, if God makes you aware of a specific need in another church body that He has uniquely gifted you to meet, then He may be calling you to serve there. Again, seek God’s guidance to determine if He is calling you to serve in a specific way in another body.

Spiritual apostasy:

According to both Martin Luther and John Calvin, a true church will preach the Word of God accurately and rightly administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper as acts of obedience rather than acts of salvation. If false doctrines are being taught and you’ve exerted every effort to see it corrected, then it may be time to leave.

Choosing a church in a new city or changing churches in the same town is serious, spiritual business. We must never make the decision lightly or without God’s direction. Take the time to seek Him diligently.

Give Grace

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Grace … receiving what we do not deserve.

We cling to this verse:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.   Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

Not from ourselves.  Not of ourselves.  Not through ourselves.

We can’t earn grace.  We don’t deserve grace.  It is the gift of God.

But somehow, though we have been given such great grace so freely, we are stingy with it. We demand grace be given according to our need and yet we resist offering that same grace to others.

It happens in churches.  A lot.

The pastor’s sermon isn’t as well delivered as I’d like.

The worship leader doesn’t sing the same words as are on the screen.

The Sunday School teacher is distracted and the lesson isn’t very good.

The nursery worker failed to change the baby’s diaper before I picked her up  so she was wet.  Very wet.

No one spoke to me during the welcome time.

But what if you knew that the pastor had been at the hospital all night comforting parents whose child had been in a car accident and was in a coma.

Or what if you knew the worship leader had received a call early Sunday morning that his best friend’s wife had left him.

What if the Sunday School teacher hadn’t studied because he was laid off last week and was just having a hard time figuring out how to trust God in the midst of his fears about providing for his family.

And what if that nursery worker hadn’t changed your sweet baby’s diaper because she had spent time comforting the child of a visitor who had never been to church before.

What if the people who normally speak to you didn’t because they were checking on a young widow who was back at church for the first time since her husband’s tragic death.

Does that make a difference?

Should it?

Truthfully, not a bit.

Our extension of grace should never be based on our feelings or understanding of a situation.  Instead, we are called to give grace because we have received grace.

And, this is never more true than in our local faith families.  Jesus spoke to this truth plainly:

“A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35, NIV

Love gives grace … willingly.

We must give grace in our words.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:6 NIV

We must give grace to prevent conflict.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Hebrews 12:15 NIV

We must give grace as we serve.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.   1 Peter 4:10 NIV

Am I saying this will be easy?  Nope!  It won’t.  In fact, giving grace is hard.  Giving grace requires laying down self and giving priority to others.  Giving grace necessitates that we let go of our expectations and focus instead on encouraging others.

But time and again, I have seen this truth:  Grace multiplies!

And so my challenge to you is to give grace in your church.  To the pastors, the leaders, the teachers, the nursery workers, the technical crew, and to the people in the pews.

Time and again, give grace!   Not because “they” deserve it but because you didn’t deserve it either.

Have you seen grace multiplied in your church?  How can you give grace this week?

{I’ve also written on this idea of giving grace relating to online relationships for Gather Inspirit.}

 

Sin causes pain in the body of Christ

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Image by Corbis

I’ve been suffering with bursitis and tendonitis in my left hip and leg for the last year. The pain in this one area affects the functioning of my whole body and my lifestyle. Limping and favoring that one side throws my back off. I can’t sit at my computer working for long periods of time. I could keep going, but I know you’ve got the point.

Paul’s body analogy for the church helps us understand so much about the body of Christ. For instance, when one member suffers or rejoices every member suffers or rejoices with her. (See 1 Corinthians 12:26.) We’ve probably all experienced this. For instance, if a fellow believer loses a loved one, we all gather around her with prayer, encouragement, and support.

But what about sin? Let me clarify before we go further: We all still sin. None of us will be perfect this side of eternity.

However, there is a difference between a repentant believer and a Christian who blatantly and unrepentantly continues in a habit of sin.

What should the church do with that kind of situation?

Paul dealt with this in his first letter to the Corinthian church. A member of that church had an ongoing sexual relationship with his stepmother. He was unrepentant and the church had done nothing to stop him. In fact, Paul said they should have “been filled with grief” and put the man “out of your fellowship” (1 Cor 5:2).

Hmm. Doesn’t that seem harsh? Shouldn’t we be more tolerant than that? Where does Paul get that anyway? Paul got it straight from Jesus! In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus laid out a process for dealing with an unrepentant brother living a lifestyle of sin. Here it is in a nutshell:

  • Go to the brother or sister in private and show them their sin.
  • If they refuse to repent, go back with one or two witnesses.
  • If they still won’t listen, bring them before the church.
  • Still unrepentant? Remove them from the fellowship of the church.

What? Why? Two important goals sometime require this drastic measure.

1.      The health and witness of the rest of the body. Just like pain in one part of your physical body affects the whole, sin in one part of the body of Christ affects every member. The actions of an unrepentant sinner can bring temptation, pain, anger – the list goes on! And it affects the operation and effectiveness of that church within the Kingdom of God.

2.      The restoration of the unrepentant sinner. When Paul gave his instructions to the Corinthian church to expel the sinner from their fellowship his hope was that the man’s “sinful nature may be destroyed” (1 Cor 5:5). The end goal was for the discipline to bring the man to repentance so his relationship with God and the church body could be restored. I love that God graciously recorded the outcome of this particular situation for us in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Based on what we read in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, the church followed Paul’s direction regarding the discipline of the unrepentant member. And in fact, the man was sorrowed over the separation and brought to repentance! So Paul directed the church to bring him back into fellowship with love and encouragement.

Not many churches today practice discipline as Jesus commanded.  Jesus’ teaching is clear. The example of the New Testament church demonstrates the benefit to the unrepentant sinner and the church body. I have witnessed the benefit of it in the lives of Christians.

So, why do we hesitate? Why don’t all our churches practice discipline as Jesus taught? Why do you think? What have you seen?

 

Seeing the church as a gift

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When we started this series, I wondered how these posts would hit those of you walking around with deep wounds from sinful actions of those around you in local churches.

It’s inevitable that there are some of you who fit that description.

And as we mentioned from the beginning, we understand. It is impossible to invest deeply in the local church and avoid being wounded. Sometimes we are wounded in a good way, as our pride and sin are cut open and exposed… sometimes we are wounded when those around us sin against us and leave deep scars on our hearts.

There is so much I would love to say to you if we had coffee in person. I would love to hear your story. And I would love to give you a book to read.

Whether you are a new believer in Jesus Christ and just learning the “ropes” of  investing in a local church, or a person who has grown up in churches and has battle wounds to show for it, or a person who is actively in ministry as a staff member, pastor’s wife, or other integral role… I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

You see, the church is a beautiful thing. It is full of broken people. It desperately needs the grace of God. And it is a gift from God to you.

In The Gift of Church, Jim Samra does a fantastic job of presenting the Biblical and practical reasons why we should treasure and value the church as a beautiful gift to us from God Himself. Samra never glosses over the very real issues that have plagued church life since the time of Paul… and oh, the stories that each of us could share to back up the fact that sin plagues our local churches still today.

But the church is a gift.

“We love the church because it is a gift from God. We participate in the church because God does. We do not give up on the church, because God refuses to.” – Jim Samra,

It is in the assembly of believers in our local church body where God’s presence is manifested in a unique and powerful way, where God speaks to us uniquely through the preaching and teaching of the Word, corporate worship, and prayer.

It is in the local church where we display the diversity of God’s people, assembled in unity – people of all walks of life, economic and educational backgrounds, age groups, and ethnicities gathered together as one.

It is in the local church where we find true communion – in a world with a coffee house on every corner, filled with people desperately seeking a community where they can know and be known… it is only within the church where we don’t just find community, but we are community.

It is the local church which functions as our spiritual mother, disciplining and reproving us, nurturing us, feeding us, raising us to maturity in Jesus Christ. God has uniquely designed the local church to function in this way, and no other group can truly take its place.

It is the local church where our service and giving and praise join together with those of like mind, creating a beautiful symphony of different giftings and abilities. We can do together what we could never accomplish alone.

It is the local church that functions as the visible Jesus in our world, displaying His grace to a lost world.

In Samra’s own words,

“The church is God’s church, and it is a result of his vision. We can and should take issue with the varying ways in which God’s vision for the church has been manipulated, perverted, and corrupted. We can and should acknowledge that the church has failed us and we have failed the church. But in the end, God’s vision for the church remains. The church is a creative act of God. God the Father designed and decreed the first creation, and he has designed and decreed the creation of the church…

Despite the apparent flaws that sin introduced into the world we live in, it is still a place of great beauty. The same is true of the church. Despite the presence of sin and the ongoing, persistent failures of the church, it remains a community of great beauty.” (137)

I highly, highly recommend this book. Read it yourself. Share it with your pastor as a gift for pastor appreciation month. Discuss it in your small group.

We also have some great news – Pastor Samra has graciously contributed a copy of the book to be given away to one of our treasured Scripture Dig readers!

To enter to win this giveaway (for yourself, your pastor, or someone else!), just leave us a comment and let us know what you treasure most about your local church. How has it impacted and enriched your walk with Christ?

*This giveaway will close at 10pm EST on Friday, October 22nd 2010. Winner will be chosen from the comments below using random.org.

Connection is Key to Service

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Yesterday, Sandra gave us a beautiful parallel as to why we need the local church. Today we are going to look at why we need to serve through a local body of believers.

I’m going to preface this post with a word to all born again believers. Whether you are involved in a church of 100 or 10,000 or are part of a group who is going organic or seeking out a homechurch, the biblical call to be connected is equally relevant.  The way you function may look a bit different, but the core components of the biblical model should remain the same. The purpose and role of each member should line up with Scripture, no matter where you meet or how many you meet with.

When we are saved – born again by the Living God – we are called to follow Christ. In fact, the term “Christian” was originally used by the people of Antioch to describe the believers there. Their new name describe them as followers of Christ or “Little Christs.” They were known to be doers of what Jesus did – to live like He lived – to serve like He served.

The same should be true for all who call themselves “Christians.”

In Matthew 10:45 Jesus declares one of His primary purposes in making His divinely human appearance on planet earth was to serve mankind.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

So, in essence, we are saved to serve. We glorify God by the way we live out loud what Christ has done inside.

1 Corinthian 12 tells us the people who are born again and make up what we know as the church are given specific gifts that work in different ways in and through the body of Christ. Each gift is given as the Holy Spirit of God chooses.

As each part of the body is dependent upon the other parts of the body to function to its fullest, so too is the church dependent upon each member to function to its fullest.

Time and space does not allow me to go into the various gifts God gives – we’ll save that for future posts, but it’s important that we understand that our connection to a local body is key to our growth as well as our service.

My gifts may take me in a different direction of ministry than your gifts, but each gift is equally important and necessary within the local church and beyond its four walls.

Our unique giftedness is a divine decision which leaves no room for boasting, no room for feeling less than another believer and no room for frustration about another believer’s disinterest in our specific ministry or calling.

Just as a hand does not function as a detached member of the body, neither do we – the church. Whether God’s gifting has placed you in a position of ministry beyond the four walls of your local church or strictly within the context of your home church, connection is key to service.

Gifts determine our service. Calling distinguishes our service. Connection supports, enhances and validates our service.

If you ever have any doubt as to whether connection is necessary for believers, consider the following word from the Word:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 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.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Bottom line – we need each other to live this Christian life out loud. We learn how to serve the world by serving each other first. Our local connection is the catalyst for service in and outside the body of Christ.

Do you struggle with understanding the need to be connected to a local church? Would you like to share how you’ve learned the importance of being connected or how your connection has made a difference in your life?

You Need a Local Church

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If I were going to make a list of reasons to live in Pennsylvania (where I live now), October would be at the top of my list. The weather, the apple orchards, and of course, the beautiful changing leaves. Why do the leaves change color? Basically, it is the mix of sun, rain, and temperature. If you were to take the beautiful maple tree in my yard and transplant it to Phoenix, it would not produce the same vibrant beauty it does here in Pennsylvania. Why? Because it’s only getting sun. But isn’t sun important to make the leaves change color? Yes. But it is only part of the process.
Just like trees need sun and rain and the right temperature for change, Christians also need the right “ingredients” for change. God created the perfect environment for our spiritual growth–the church.

Advancements in technology have created an artificial environment for Christian growth.  Love worship music? Download the latest praise album. Want to hear great preaching? Subscribe to podcasts by popular pastors. But these important parts, in isolation, are not enough. When we discussed the birth of the church, we saw what early believers did- “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). There was preaching, there was worship, but there was more. And to get more, we need each other.

Paul David Tripp defines the local church as “an intentionally intrusive, Christ centered, grace-based, redemptive community.” A preacher on a podcast can’t be intrusive in your life. The worship team who recorded an album didn’t specifically have you in mind as part of their audience. For real growth, you need a local church. You need the sanctifying experiences you will only get there.

How has God used the local church in your spiritual growth?

For more on this topic:

Why all these denominations?

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image created at wordle.net

 

Baptist.  Methodist.  Non-denominational.  Liturgical.  Catholic.  Pentacostal.  Evangelical.  Lutheran.  Presbyterian.  Protestant.

Huh?

This transformation from one church to many has become a confusing maze in today’s world. Religion, denomination, worship style … and, for many, the understanding of what it all means seems out of grasp.

But hopefully, after today, you’ll feel a little more confident in understanding why we have so many different kinds of churches and what the primary differences are in their practices.

First, a couple of definitions:

Religion: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

Denomination: a religious group, usually including many local churches, often larger than a sect: the Lutheran denomination.

So, when we discuss the Church – the Body of Christ – we are speaking of the religion of Christianity.  When we discuss specific local congregations – First United Methodist Church or St. Mark’s Catholic Church – we are speaking of different denominations within the Christian faith.

Clear as mud?  Hopefully not!  Whether you attend a Catholic church or a Presbyterian church or an Assembly of God, your religion is Christian – as opposed to those worshipping at a mosque whose religion is Islam.

Within the Christian religion, we find there are two primary divisions:  Catholicism and Protestantism. We all agree that Christ is the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified, died, and rose again, reigning now at the right hand of the throne of God.  We also agree that man is born sinful and Christ’s death is the necessary sacrifice which enables us to have restored relationship with God.
Protestantism can be further divided into several sub-categories.  In order to maintain as simple an explanation as possible, we will use the following categories:

Liturgical

Evangelical

Pentacostal

Each of these divisions espouses shared theology including Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone), Sola Fide (by faith alone), Sola Gratia (by grace alone), Solo Christo (through Christ alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone).  Additionally, the protestant denominations believe in the priesthood of the believer – eliminating the necessity of confession through a priest.

(Please remember this is a VERY simplified explanation!  For more detailed information on this topic, I recommend searching the specific topics on wikipedia and using other church history aids such as those found on Crosswalk.com).

Liturgical Churches

Typically the liturgical services most closely resemble the Catholic service.   Corporate worship includes the following elements – communal prayer, reading/hearing the Word (this can include a homily and generally involves readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, the Epistles and the Gospels), response of confession, passing the peace of Christ, and the Eucharist.  Liturgical churches rely on the church year to guide their Bible readings and specific emphases.  In addition, liturgical churches typically give great emphasis to learning of catechism, study of church history, and understanding doctrine.

Examples of liturgical denominations include Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Eastern Orthodox and some Methodists.

Evangelical Churches

The evangelical denominations follow a conservative and literal interpretation of the Bible and generally have a conservative worldview.  As evidenced by the name, these  denominations place high priority on sharing the gospel with others.   Evangelical churches focus on building the body through the Great Commission and are active in missions giving and going. In addition, evangelical denominations place great emphasis on discipleship and personal spiritual growth.

Examples of evangelical denominations include most Baptists (including Southern Baptists), the Church of the Nazarene, Free Methodists, Mennonite Brethren, the Wesleyan Church, and some Methodists.

Pentacostal Churches

The pentacostal denominations place special emphasis on personal experience of God through the baptism and/or filling of the Holy Spirit. The focus of these churches is reflecting the same spiritual power, worship styles, and teachings of the early church as seen in Acts.   Pentacostal denominations are typically missions-minded and local churches in these denominations are active in supporting and sending missionaries.

Denominations who would be considered pentacostal include Assemblies of God, the Church of God (Cleveland, TN), and Foursquare churches.

In today’s Christian culture, the lines between many of these practices in the local churches are very blurry. It is not uncommon to see a liturgical bent in an evangelical church nor unusual for a pentacostal church to place great emphasis on personal spiritual disciplines.

Many have wondered if denominations are good or bad for the Gospel. It is confusing and complicated.  But, if we remember that God uses the image of Father and child to describe our relationship, we can understand that even children raised in the same home have differing lifestyles and personalities based on their temperament and experiences.  Different doesn’t mean wrong or worse.

The same is true with different denominations … We must make certain that we give highest priority to the Gospel and allow the differences within our family to give us greater depth and grace.

Join us tomorrow as we look at distinguishing core doctrinal beliefs from peripheral issues and “gray areas.”

Hopefully you were with us during our month-long focus on salvation. As we discussed during this series, no matter what church you belong to, how many generations of your family have been members, how frequently you attend, how actively you are involved, how much money you give… the real issue is whether or not you have placed your trust in Jesus as the one and only way to start a relationship with God and the only solution to the eternally-fatal problem of sin.

What is “church?”

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Do you remember that old kid’s rhyme we used to do with hand motions? Here’s the church; here’s the steeple; open the door and here’s all the people. Cute and fun to do with your kids, but it’s just plain wrong. That’s not what the Bible teaches about the church. Church is not a building. It’s not the activities we go to on Sunday morning.

Jesus founded of the church (Matt 16:18) and is its Head (Col 1:18; Eph 1:22-23).

Jesus used the primary Greek word we translate into “church” twice (Matt 16:18 and 18:17). Ekklesia is a congregation or assembly of individuals that have been “called out.” So, first and most importantly, the church is people. People called out by God. The word “church” can be used to refer to individual local churches and all believers world-wide.

In his book, Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem defines the church this way: The church is the community of all true believers for all time. In this definition, Grudem refers to what biblical scholars call the “Church Invisible.” We can’t see the church the way God sees it. God sees all true believers of all nations, races, and points in history. Old Testament, New Testament, and today. This is the church as we will see it in eternity. When we get to heaven!

John Calvin defined the church as “Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the sacraments (baptism and Lord’s Supper) administered according to God’s institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a church of God exists.” Calvin’s definition explains the “Church Visible.” This is the current, functional church as we can see it today. The functional church is a local body of believers. Each member gifted and assembled together by Christ to carry out His purposes in their community and this world.

Paul gives us an excellent picture of the church in Ephesians 2:11-22. Here are the highlights:

  • Separated from Christ because of our sin. Lost, without hope and without God in this world.
  • But Christ provided forgiveness through His death. His blood washed us clean and brought us near to God.
  • Christ’s sacrifice made peace between us and God. Jesus also provides peace between people. Jew and Gentile. Believer and believer. So we can become one in Him.
  • All believers are one in Christ. One body with Christ as the Head.
  • Once foreigners, we are now citizens together of God’s household.
  • Each believer is part of the whole.
  • The church exists for the “praise of His glory” (Eph 1:12).
  • The church is God’s spiritual temple – the dwelling place of God. And Jesus is the Cornerstone that holds it together.

Word pictures and synonyms for Christ’s church fill the pages of the Bible. Watch for these as you spend time in God’s Word and your understanding of the Church will be enriched. Here is a sampling:

  • God’s Household (1 Tim 3:15)
  • Body of Christ (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12-13; Eph 4:15-16)
  • Bride of Christ (Eph 5:25-26; Rev 19:7)
  • Spiritual building/temple (Eph 2:19-22)
  • Chosen people, holy nation, people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9)
  • God’s family (Eph 3:15)
  • God’s fellow workers, God’s field, God’s building (1 Cor 3:9)
  • Candlestick (Rev 1:20)

How do you feel about the Church? Jesus loved her enough to die for her (Eph 5:25-27). Christ purchased the Church with His own blood (Acts 20:28) so He could “rescue us from this evil age” (Gal 1:4). Believer, we should be champions and protectors of Jesus’ church. What can we do today to encourage and build her up?

From one church to many

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Image from http://www.heartandsoulreflections.com/

Yesterday, Sandra gave us a better understanding of how the Church got started during the feast of Pentecost. Fasten your seatbelt today, because we are going to take a turbo-speed overview of the early history of God’s work in and through the local church through the books of Acts and the epistles!

After Pentecost, we see the Church expanding at a phenomenal rate as more and more people came to understand that Jesus Christ was the Messiah they had been looking for, the Lamb of God who died on their behalf (Acts 2:46-47). As the apostles shared boldly with the public about the identity of this controversial Jesus (an annoyance the Jewish religious leaders had done their best to rid themselves of several months earlier), they began to face increasing persecution. In response to persecution, we find the believers in Jesus not hiding their faith, but praying for boldness to continue sharing truth (Acts 4:23-31).

The number of believers in Jesus living in Jerusalem continued to blossom and this first church met daily together in the temple for worship and also assembled in smaller groups in private homes (Acts 2:46). The apostles served as the leadership of the church, distributing donated goods and money to the poor (Acts 4:32-37), performing signs and wonders (Acts 4:12-16), and devoting themselves to prayer and to teaching the Word of God (Acts 6:4). As the number of believers greatly increased and the practical demand of caring for the needy in their midst became too much for the original twelve, other men were appointed as lay leaders to serve and support the church body (Acts 6:1-7).

In Acts chapters 6 and 7 we find the dramatic account of the arrest and stoning of Stephen and are introduced to a zealous and fiery young man by the name of Saul. Full of anger at the spread of what he viewed as a blasphemous twist of Judaism, Saul began a savage one-man crusade to destroy the church (Acts 8:3). In Acts 9, God literally stopped Saul in his tracks and showed him how blind he had been to the truth of Jesus; after this one encounter with the living Jesus Saul turned from the church’s number one enemy to God’s chosen instrument to proclaim truth and establish churches throughout the Roman empire.

As persecution increased in Jerusalem, believers in Jesus began to scatter to surrounding areas, carrying the Truth with them as they went – first to fellow Jews and then also to Gentiles (Acts 11:19-26). A thriving group of believers became established in Antioch, the first place where followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians; this group of believers was also referred to as a church and was taught and pastored by Barnabus and Saul.

Throughout the remainder of the book of Acts, we find Paul and his companions traveling throughout Asia Minor to share the Truth of Jesus with both Jews and Gentiles. These believers were not expected to fend for themselves – establishing local churches with spiritually qualified leadership was a critical part of their ministry (Acts 14:23). Established churches became actively involved in ministry themselves, sending people into ministry (Acts 15:22); established leaders were entrusted with the responsibility to guard the doctrinal purity of their local bodies (Acts 20:28).

Throughout the remainder of the New Testament, we find many letters (or “epistles”) to individual churches, mostly from Paul. Scanning a list of verses which reference the term “church” in the epistles quickly shows us the following:

  • There were many local churches with independent leadership who together formed the larger Church
  • The churches were urged to strive for unity, but never at the cost of doctrinal purity
  • Believers had been gifted by the Holy Spirit with specific spiritual gifts for the express purpose of building up their local churches
  • The churches were to be orderly with clearly appointed leadership and authority
  • Local churches collected money to support ministry and missions and meet needs of other believers
  • Christ is the head of the Church, and the Church is His body

Through these churches, believers were to be spiritually built up and taught, equipped for ministry and given opportunities to serve. These churches were the front-lines of the advance of the Gospel, being a light in their local communities and also sending out members from their midst to share the gospel and plant churches in new areas.

As we will continue to discuss tomorrow, the church is close to God’s heart; it is a vital part of His plan to form us into the image of Jesus, and it is His chosen vehicle to share Truth and unconditional love with the world. Dig into His Word on your own, and ask Him to reveal to you how very much He values the church!

The Birth of the Church

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The disciples stood staring at the clouds. Jesus just said the final words to His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” and “You will be my witnesses.” Imagine the roller coaster of emotions they had felt in the previous weeks- starting with the beautiful fellowship of the last supper, the surprise at Jesus’ betrayal, the agony of the cross, the miracle of the resurrection, the final teaching of Jesus, and finally His ascension. Remember the episodes of  “Saved by the Bell” when Zach would call a time-out and the show would stop? If I were a disciple at that moment, I would want to call a time out. But the disciples can’t waste a minute.

Then two angels appear and essentially say, “Alright brothers, move on, nothing to see here!” And the next chapter of their lives began.

Acts 2 begins with the Holy Spirit descending just as Jesus had promised. The Holy Spirit worked both through the disciples as they spoke, and through the crowd as they listened and responded. Then Peter (who so often said the wrong thing at the wrong time in the Gospels) spoke to the crowd of thousands, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, spoke the right words at the right time. 2:37 says, “When they heard they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the disciples, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?'” Peter responded, “Repent and be baptized…” By the end of the the day of Pentecost, Scripture says there were about three thousand souls saved. The disciples may have wanted to call another time out at this point. What were they going to do with all these new brothers and sisters?

Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” The first church was born.

Imagine yourself there on the “birth day” of the church. Like the three thousand who were gathered there, ask the Holy Spirit to move you. If you haven’t taken the first steps of repentance and baptism, we would love to talk more with you personally through email.

If you have taken those steps, don’t call a time-out. Devote yourself to the study of God’s Word, encourage and be encouraged by fellowship with other believers, share your blessings, and pray. The challenge Jesus gave to the disciples has not been completed. We must continue to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. The church has a job to do!

It’s difficult. It’s messy. It’s painful. It’s beautiful.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: St Stephen's Tower,...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

For the past month here on Scripture Dig, we have  been examining the amazing and profound topic of salvation. In many ways, our next topic – the church – ties directly into this previous emphasis. You see, if you have been saved, if Christ’s blood has covered your sin and you have received new life in Him, you are part of His Church.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Colossians 1:21-29

In many of Paul’s writings, his passion for the Church of God shines through. He labored and literally poured himself out for small, struggling assemblies of believers in Jesus Christ – particular local churches which together comprised “the Church.”

In his letters we find that church life in the 1st century was very similar to church life in the 21st century – it was messy. These local churches were full of sinners who sometimes struggled to live like saints. They wrestled to discern doctrinal truth from error. Their leaders were imperfect, even though well-intentioned. Personal struggles and conflicts between believers (often women – go figure!) were evident.

Body life is messy, but it is absolutely essential. The New Testament knows of no such thing as a believer who is not an active part of a local church – if you are saved, belonging to, being held accountable by, and serving in the local church is a vital component of your growth.

The church is near and dear to the heart of God – local churches function as “the body of Christ” here on earth as we await His return. The church was, therefore, near to the heart of Paul… and it should be near to our hearts, as well.

For the next month here at Scripture Dig we will examine this topic of the local church – we will look at it’s Biblical roots, purposes,  and necessity in our lives.

I write this knowing full well that some of you are walking around with deep wounds that spring from conflicts and issues in local churches. Some of you may have distanced yourselves from church altogether, seeking to avoid further pain and frustration. I pray that this series would not only change your perspective about the importance of actively belonging to a local church, but I also pray that you would know that we understand.

Each member of the Scripture Dig team is actively involved in our local bodies of believers, as staff, pastor’s wives, or lay leaders. I guarantee that all of us have been deeply wounded in local churches in various ways – it is a “package deal” when working to speak spiritual Truth into the lives of fellow sinners… and those situations often bring our own sin to the surface, as well. It’s difficult. It’s messy. It’s painful. And it is most definitely an essential part of what has helped to form us more into the image of Jesus Christ.

So, let’s dig into this topic together; let’s pray together that God will give us a heart like His for this imperfect but beautiful and precious thing called “the church.”

Salvation Theme Review

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Are you sure of your eternal salvation? Do you know that when your life on this earth is finished you will be with Jesus? You don’t have to wonder or “hope so.” The Bible says you can know with confidence that you have eternal life.

I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God, so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life. 1 John 5:13, Amplified Bible

We can be certain because our salvation does not depend on us! In fact, we have no power to save ourselves. Only God can save. He has the desire to save, the power to save, and the plan to save.

During the month of September, our Scripture Dig team focused on salvation. What it is, why we need it, how we receive it, and more. If you’ve never been “born again” by the Spirit of God, don’t let September come to an end without receiving God’s great salvation. (Click here to see how you can know Jesus as Savior.)

For those who’ve been Christians for years – or even decades – this month’s theme serves to vitally ground us in the truths of our faith. Knowing these truths equips us to share Christ boldly with others and helps us recognize false teaching. If you missed any of September’s posts, now is a good time to catch up:

  • We were created by God and for God – Stephanie reminded us God made us for His pleasure and glory.
  • No one is good but God alone – Kristi explored the holiness of God so we could better understand the seriousness of our sin.
  • Oh the consequences! – Teri Lynne delved into the nature of sin and its results, now and eternally.
  • The Reality of Hell – Sandra showed us the sober reality of hell as found in Scripture.
  • The Rescuer’s love – Julie presented God’s overwhelming love for us in sending His Son to save us from sin.
  • Our Rescue – Teri Lynne proclaimed the result of Jesus’ rescue mission – our salvation!
  • Like trying to cure cancer with a light bulb – Kristi explored some of the ways we humans try to get to God on our own and why none of them are sufficient.
  • Only One Way? – Julie showed from Scripture why Jesus Christ is the only way to know God.
  • Why the Cross? – Over two posts, Stephanie thoroughly showed why Jesus’ death was necessary for our salvation. Part One; Part Two
  • The Cross is not enough – Kathy presented from Scripture the vital importance of the resurrection of Jesus, for our life today and for eternity.
  • Run with Endurance – Sandra explored how Christians should live out their lives. Now we’re saved. So what?

Each team member also shared their unique salvation story. If you missed one you can read them now.

God works uniquely and personally in each person’s life. What’s your salvation story? How is God working in your life right now? We would love to hear.


Great Resource for you to check out:

God’s Truth Revealed is a 12-session Bible study for spiritual seekers, new Christians, or anyone who wants to get a solid foundation in the basic tenets of our faith. I developed this material while teaching and ministering to seekers and new Christians and it was published by New Hope Publishers in 2008.

During the month of October the Scripture Dig team will be exploring the purpose and nature of the Church. Stop by Monday for the introduction.

Just Let Go!

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Photo from 1freechurch.org

I was a “church baby.” From infancy my parents faithfully took me to Sunday School, worship service, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday nights, and whatever else happened to be going on. I memorized Bible verses, earned high attendance pins, and wore wire hanger angel wings covered with gold garland in the Christmas pageant. I went to church camp and sang in the youth choir.

When I was eight years old I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I clearly remember the day when I realized I was a sinner in need of forgiveness. I understood what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross. I can still see myself sitting across the desk from our pastor, talking through these things. He wanted to make sure I “got it.” I did. And so, I became a child of God.

Yet for the next eighteen years I struggled to find my own faith. I remained active and involved in church. I claimed Christ as my Savior. I followed all the rules. But I experienced little to no spiritual growth and rarely shared my faith. I wanted a rich relationship with Christ, but it remained elusive. Something was missing. I could see the kind of faith I longed to have in others’ lives. God seemed so personal to them, but I felt disconnected. Can you relate?

Then at the age of 26, as a young wife and mother, I joined my first ladies’ Bible study. Fed up with my dull, lifeless faith, I was open to whatever God wanted to do in my life. With that attitude I jumped into our study of the book of Romans. I heard God speak to me through His Word like I never had before. For the first time in all my church-going years I finally understood that my salvation and my faith have nothing to do with me and everything to do with Christ. His life paid the price my sin deserved. He bought me with His precious blood. My life belongs to Jesus, not me. God opened my eyes to the glorious truth that as long as I kept trying to hang on to my life and run things myself, I would never experience the intimacy with Him I had been searching for.

Galatians 2:20 beautifully depicts this Lordship aspect of our relationship with Christ.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20, NLT

There are moments – and days – that I live like I have forgotten this. I take back what rightfully belongs to God and try to do things my own way. But God faithfully and lovingly reminds me Who is Lord. More than two decades have passed since God gave me understanding of the Lordship of Christ. Over that time, God has grown me and shaped me and made me more like Jesus. He continues to teach me more about Himself and gives me occasional glimpses of His glory. I am not where I need to be, but I am also not where I once was. I continue to “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

If you’d like to read a little more about following Christ, check out these blog posts:

“Kill the Oxen”

“Dependence Day”

History repeats itself

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I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t like me, and I know I wouldn’t like myself. “How can I know this?” Well, I’m a history buff, and my love of things ancient stirred my curiosity to explore my own history… “pre-me.”  I hoped to find noble, compassionate, wise, and gentile habits. After all, I’m a “Virginian,” the state that produced 4 of our first 5 presidents and was settled by Europeans in 1607. Since my family arrived in the first quarter of the 17th century, shouldn’t I find something worthy of a page in history? I did. Perhaps that’s why famous Virginian Thomas Jefferson said, “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”


As I explored my heritage, I discovered some shining moments, but mostly sin. Instead of a story destined for greatness, I confirmed what the Bible said all along, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6.  Translation:  Instead of enduring heirlooms, my inheritance as a human being was just filthy rags. The generations before me walked a sinful path, with few turning to God. Since history repeats itself, I was clearly destined to follow in their footsteps. The further back I went, the more certain I was I’m cut out of sinful cloth.

My own story took a turn when my parents’ marriage skidded dangerously close to the edge and my mom went to church as a last resort. A woman in a stairway noticed she “needed a friend” and said so.  Doing more than smile, though, she took my mom to where she could hear the truth, to where God’s Word could change us one at a time. Until then, we repeated patterns of generations of empty people who defaulted to anger, abuse and addictions. I was on track to fit into THAT family album, and as a history lover, I KNOW I would’ve become just like my lost ancestors. But God changed our story (MY story) as we heard the gospel.  Our home was transformed by His truth. I’m so glad that “where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” Romans 5:20.


His grace changed generations of ugliness and rerouted my future. At five, I knew I wanted Jesus’ gift of life for me. Before I even understood my future was guaranteed to be bleak, God set me on a new course and spared me much of the pain I read in my history.  My heavenly Father offered me a future as His daughter, with a heavenly inheritance, so Thomas Jefferson was right! I really do like the way the future looks “post-grace” rather than the past history without God.

If you accepted Christ as a child and ever wonder “how bad it could’ve been,” just check out your family history.

I’m still a history buff. It’s evidence of who I’d be without Christ Jesus, and it’s evidence His sacrifice can change lives. The more I learn about the past, the more I know sin has always increased, but God’s grace increases all the more! What’s your history?

Run with Endurance

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At the moment of your salvation, your life changed. You went from

  • being a slave to sin, to being free (Rom. 6:6).
  • believing the things of the Spirit of God are folly, to having the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:14 & 16).
  • gratifying the desires of the flesh, to walking by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).
  • being dead in trespasses and sins, to being alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:1 & 5).

As we come to the end of our month of posts on the topic of salvation, we ask ourselves, “So what?” I have been saved, now what?

The apostle Paul answers this question both in Ephesians and Philippians, “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1) and “…let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:27). The answer to the “so what salvation” question is “live worthy.”

But how do we live worthy? I believe it takes the rest of your life.  I’m sure you’ve heard that the Christian life is like a marathon. The author of Hebrews uses this comparison when he writes, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (12:2).

Scripture tells us how to live as children of God. It’s in the decisions we make. It’s in the words we choose to say (and not say). It even influences how we spend money. We live, speak, love, worship, serve, work, drive, write, cook, clean…. do everything we do each day guided by  God’s grace, Jesus’ example, and the Spirit’s control. Our salvation touches every part of our lives and transforms us.

I want to encourage you today to continue to run with endurance. Praise God for your salvation, and now let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel!

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