1. Three Illustrations of the Church - God's word compares the church to a body, a bride, and a living building. As a body we are seperate members of something bigger. We work together to accomplish the mission of Christ. As a bride we faithfully hold on to our holiness as we wait for the return of Christ. He being the groom who has left us to prepare us a home. As a building we are the living tabernacles of Christ. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and carry Christ with us where ever we go. Because of this, we don't go to church, collectively we are the church. All three illustrations show a different but equally part of the relationship that Christians have with Christ. Each documented in scripture in ways that shine light are who we truly are and how each believer should see themselves and others.
2. The Business of Doing Church -Have modern churches become businesses instead of the Body? Is the church's mission to make money and build expensive buildings or to save souls? Do the assemblies found in scripture have Presidents, Secretaries and Chairmans? What about the practice of including secular businesses inside of our places of worship? How does McDonald's fit into God's plan of salvation? Even if these things aren't included in scripture are they wrong or are they harmless? The scriptures are clear, church is not a business, it is a family.Have we taken to much time away from the mission of saving lost souls and exchanged it for the programs of man?Have we included things that secular society deems important instead of what God deems important? Have we been good stewards with God's finances are have we been foolishly squandering resources?
3. True Christian Fellowship -Is the way we “church” what man created or what Jesus intended? If Jesus came back and looked at churches today would they look like the assemblies He left? Have we taken the mission of saving lost souls and exchanged it for the programs of man? Have we been good stewards of God's finances or have we squandered them on things that do not profit? Where do we get our practices from, the word of God, or the imitation of pagans. Since it's Christ's church, surely He gets to decide how He wants it. Our only obligation is to read what that is and follow it to be best of our ability. Only then can we consider ourselves engaging in true Christian Fellowship.
