The Church is the only gathering of His saints that Jesus personally promised to build (Matthew 16:18). The Church is God’s idea, not man’s. As His followers, we are a part of God’s eternal plan! He’s building us one upon another. God is gathering us together, called out, and assembled from all over the world! What binds us together? His Word! We are enamored by His love, grace, wonder, glory, beauty, and mercy.
I love the Church of Jesus. I hope you do, too. I love our local Church here at Calvary. The people I know and serve with are precious to Jesus and me! It’s a joy to be used in beautiful ways in these last days. I believe there are important reasons why God has left His Church on the earth today.
1. A Hospital.
The Church should be like a spiritual hospital where the spiritually sick and hurting, those racked with pain and fears, can come and be healed and nurtured back to health. The Church is a refuge, a place of protection and shelter where men and women can be restored to their Maker. It’s where we can find the forgiveness and hope we long for.
Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT): “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
2. A Restaurant
The Church should be like a spiritual restaurant where believers can come and receive a well-prepared feast from the Word of God! You come in hungry, and you leave spiritually satisfied! The pastor’s role is to pray and study the word of God, exercising the gift of the pastor and teacher to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. This is done through exegetical, expository teaching through the whole Bible.
2 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV) “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
3. A Training Center
The Church should be like a spiritual training center where believers are taught, strengthened, and supported in their relationship with Jesus. It is where you are trained to love, study, serve, share, care, and live an abiding life in Jesus.
Ephesians 4:11–13 (NKJV) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”
4. A Gymnasium
The Church should be like a spiritual gymnasium where believers can discover their spiritual gifts, learn to exercise them, and thus build one another up in the faith toward maturity! The Church is where you learn to work out, grow strong, and help others.
1 Timothy 4:7–8 (NKJV) “But reject profane and old wives fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
5. A Launching Pad
The Church should be like a spiritual launching pad where men and women come in but are sent out. Don’t limit being sent out to only church planters and missionaries. As everyone comes in, they are also sent out into their homes, communities, workplaces, and beyond. Wherever you are, there the Church is! Never forget you are the Church.
Mark 16:15–18 (NKJV) “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
6. A Family
The Church should be like a spiritual family where God says He adopts you. As a family, we will enjoy all the ups and downs. Being in His forever family, we will experience all of the good and the bad. We live actively connected, choosing not to give up on one another.
Romans 8:13–17 (NKJV) “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
7. A Body
The Church should be like the spiritual Body of Christ because it is. The Church is where we function as part of the team and use our gifts to build up the body and reach the world. We are individuals but part of the whole. We are different parts but exist for one purpose.
1 Corinthians 12:20 (NKJV) “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.”
You’re essential to your local church community and the larger Church worldwide. God’s grace has made you unique and uniquely equipped to fulfill His purpose on the earth.
It’s encouraging to remember all the different ways to view the Church. Could you share them in the comments with us? Can you think of any more?
