Jesus Builds His Church

Do you remember what it was like when you first came to Jesus and started going to church? Do you remember the love and overflow of joy, to be surrounded by people who were going after God just like you? Can you imagine what it would be like if you suddenly heard someone gossiping about another fellow member? Perhaps this has happened to you. Were you surprised by this, even grieved? How can people who are supposed to be in unity talk so viciously about a fellow believer? 

This should not be so. But does this mean that the Church is broken? Perhaps the Church has served its purpose and this grand “experiment” has failed? 

No! The truth is that the Church is filled with imperfect, broken people. And you are one of them. I’m one of them. You will never find a perfect church because it is filled with imperfect people who are simply trying to grow closer to God.

The Church is a hospital for sinners who are just trying to figure out how to live a holy life. The Church is a family that has flaws, but chooses to stay together through it all. Mature faith isn’t about finding the perfect church, it's about becoming the kind of person who brings grace into an imperfect one. 

Matthew 16:15-19

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

We are the most “connected” generation the world has ever seen, and yet we are the loneliest because we have forgotten that true connection comes from relationship with people, not a screen. 

A Healthy Church is a Friendly Church

Proverbs 18:24 

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly."

The world knows we are different, not because we look different on the outside, but because of our love for one another and for the world around us. Coming to church is about souls, not about getting “your seat” or having the coffee be just right. We should not be coming to church so we can be comfortable, but so we can touch people for Jesus. Jesus tired of the Church making it about themselves rather than about Him! And it’s not about a building. We carry the Church with us because we are supposed to carry His presence with us wherever we go. 

A Healthy Church Builds Strong Families and Relationships

Colossians 3:13

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Proverbs 17:9 

"Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."

This verse is very simple and yet so powerful. In a nutshell, it’s saying that either you are the problem or you are the solution. Your words can either slash another down through gossip, or it can heal through words of kindness and encouragement. This is what the Church was designed to: to bring people back into the right relationship with the Father through redemption and restoration! It’s not just about getting our theology right, it’s about relationship with a loving God who desires that none should perish!

Hebrews 10:25 

"Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Hebrews 10:23-25 

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

A Healthy Church Cultivates Something Deeper

1 Thessalonians 2:8

"We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us."

“Going to church will not save you, but going to church might keep you saved.” - Jim Boyd

There are three things that I see in this verse that the Church needs to be about. The first is care. The enemy is stealing our care for one another. To care is to genuinely want the best for someone–it doesn’t matter if you don’t agree with them, or the way they dress or sing is different from you. That person is someone’s child. If your child was lost in the world, wouldn't you want someone to reach out to them? We should do that for everyone we meet. 

The Church is not an exclusive club that only a privileged few get to come to. It is a place where all should be cared for, no matter their background, appearance, or flaws. 

Second, we share.This is not about “stuff”. Our greatest asset that we have to share is time. Spending time with someone else, sharing yourself. It is about being a family and doing life together. 

The third is dear. Relationships are evident by the individuals we value. Hopefully, you would never tear someone down who is dear to you. This means to value them above yourself, to make sure that their heart is protected. You become a safe place for them and vice versa. It’s time for the Church to start acting like we are dear to one another, to love each other the same way Jesus loves us. 

I have often heard it said that we need to build up the church, make sure we are growing in numbers. (after all, this is the sign of a healthy church, right?) But it’s actually not our job to build the Church, it’s Jesus’. It’s our job to simply love the people in the Church. If love is in our midst, we will grow. Numbers for the sake of numbers are not enough. Love is a must.