Real Talk with Roderick
been missin' yoU
The church is usually regarded as a building. Stain glass windows, a raised pulpit, a piano and organ, and old pews. Or maybe a cool auditorium with high tech sound, huge flat screens, and a great coffee shop in the foyer. Things like this come to mind when people are invited to go to church. But church has almost nothing to do with the location.
The Church is a group of people, in all of their many faults, that have committed to following Jesus and helping each other do the same. Where they meet is irrelevant. What matters is that they meet to encourage one another in the difficulties of this life, to hear the true words of the Bible in order to stir them up to do the hard stuff, and to give thanks for the many blessings that God has given. You could do that alone? Not really. God has designed us for Himself and to serve one another. We are quite capable of giving thanks by ourselves. But what kind of Jesus follower is content to stay home and not serve in the local fellowship. That is not what Jesus did; he left home and came here to serve.
Each follower of Jesus has been equipped to help the whole. And when you keep your part at home you miss the encouragement you should be getting... and giving. Let me invite you to come to church this week? Three Rivers? That would be nice. But not really. No, I am inviting you to come to Jesus for forgiveness and then to the local church nearest you to engage in life with others. You should be there to be built up in living for God. And you should be there to help others in their walk.
It has been too long. Been missin' yoU.
In His grip by His grace,
Roderick
