Be “the Church”
“It’s time for the Church to be the Church!”
I had the awesome opportunity of attending a simulcast of Willow Creek Church’s Leadership Summit recently. I am not sure if this was the intended “theme” of the Summit, but that was the message the Holy Spirit kept driving home to my heart! Especially now, in today’s hurting world, we must STEP UP and “be the Church.”
I know that most of us have tender hearts that CARE about people and that we WANT to help….
But, somehow LIFE can “get in the way.”
We become distracted. We’re busy. There is school….and soccer….and meetings….and work….and supper….and laundry…..and carpool…..and bills……
God plants seeds of inspiration, calls us to serve Him in different ways. Maybe He whispers to us to visit the lonely neighbor. Maybe He nudges us to sit down and write a letter to someone who needs to hear from us. Call our parents. Play a game with a child who has been asking. Make a meal for a grieving family. Babysit for a stressed out mom. Send an email to a college student who is away from home for the first time. Call a friend who has been on our mind.
You see, sometimes we think “MINISTRY” has to be serving on a mission trip half way around the world. But, God has placed each one of us in our own “space”, our own sphere of influence to minister to the hurting people around us…..to BE THE CHURCH.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE TOGETHER AND HAD EVERYTHING IN COMMON. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 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.” Acts 2:42-47
Isn’t that a beautiful picture of the Church? They loved one another. They met with one another daily, eating, praying, talking about God. They helped one another. There was SINCERE joy. They were able to perform miraculous things. And, every day, God added more who were being saved. Amazing.
I am ashamed to admit that I don’t know the names of many people at my church! Would I be willing to sell my possessions in order to help them?
The Acts 2 Church knew how to “be the Church!”
I want to “be the Church!” I need to get to know the members of my church family…..know their names, learn their “stories.” I need to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as He leads me and guides me, placing people in my path to love/help/minister to. And, I need to (again) take a look at my schedule. Does it allow for real time for real relationships? Are there some activities that could be trimmed so that I have time and energy to answer God’s call? Is there someone right now who God has placed on my heart, but I just haven’t taken the time to answer?
Father God, thank You for Your amazing, beautiful design of Your Church. Help me to see people the way You do. Help me to take the time to “be the Church.” Give me boldness when You ask me to minister to someone. Help me to trust You. Help me to be Jesus with skin on. I love You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
If you have time, please listen to the song “Give Me Eyes” by Brandon Heath. And I would love for you to visit me at my personal blog:
Thirsty for Him,
Tracy
Amen, amen.
Excellent, Tracy! We are all called to be disciples – a.k.a. missionaries. I am what is traditionally called a “missionary.” I’m blessed have the support of churches and individuals to be able to do what I do full time. Occasionally I look around and see how others are ministering that are doing so out of love and obedience, knowing it is not their paid vocation and I feel so humbled.
I can remember years ago hearing someone say, you are either a missionary or a mess. That about sums it up!
(PS – my anti-spam word is MERCY!)
Thanks for sharing this. You put wonderful words to my thoughts. I will share with my friends on Facebook to encourage them to “be the church” along with me.
That is a beautiful picture!!!
It’s the cry of my heart.
Great post, thanks! 🙂
Sue
Beautiful thoughts this morning. “Go into ALL the world and teach and preach the Gospel” … that includes our backyards! WE are the Church, the carpet can be new and the inside of our building beautiful but if WE don’t have love ~ We can’t exemplify Christ to others. -Blessings
I was also knocked off my feet by the Leadership Summit. Thank you for sharing the message you received from the event! There was so much packed into two days it is still taking some time to get it all absorbed. 🙂
Thanks for reminding me that “all corners of the earth” INCLUDE our own.
I think you would really like Frank Viola’s book then, Reimaging Church.
So true, Tracy. We really don’t need to travel around the world for ministry. Most of us have the ministry right in our own backyard.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
Tracy,
Our church just had our “Be the Church!” Sunday yesterday. We meet once a year in our grubby clothes and go out and serve the community as the body of Christ. (I am going to be posting about it later this week.) We met for a quick worship and prayer service and then dispersed to our seventeen different projects. It was great. Even the kids were involved. The youngest ones stayed behind and made cards for convelescent homes and the homeless.
I told my husband that our family needs to set aside a day a month and do the very same thing. Everyone had bright orange shirts on that said, “Don’t GO to church! Be the church.”
LOVED THIS POST!
A divine appointment.
You see, sometimes we think “MINISTRY” has to be serving on a mission trip half way around the world. But, God has placed each one of us in our own “space”, our own sphere of influence to minister to the hurting people around us…..to BE THE CHURCH.
Amen Tracy. Amen