A Glorious Church (Eph. 5:27)

Read Ephesians 5:27.

This is the only passage in the New Testament that describes what kind of Church that Jesus is coming for.  The glorious church is a holy church.  How do you prepare yourself for Jesus' coming? Be holy (1 Pet. 1:14-15).  Pursue holiness (Heb. 12:14).

Challenges & Conversations (12/15/15)

It's a church, not a babysitting center.  The church is interested in more than giving your children something to do while you sleep in late on Sunday mornings.

It's a church, not a finger-to-the-wind behavioral experiment.  The church is concerned with not offending Jesus more than it is concerned with not offending you.  Sometimes behavior is outright wrong. When it is, it needs to be confronted.

It's a church, not a democracy.  The church is interested in doing what God says, not in what people think God should've said. Selfishness is a major catalyst for declining church attendance.  

It's a church, not a protest center.  If you want the world to know everything the church is against but not what the church is for, we're not interested.  There is a place for you to file your complaint and make your statement.  The church is not that place.

It's a church, not an amusement park.  The primary goal is not for you to have fun but for you to leave changed.  Please stop suggesting that we make things more interesting for you.  The interest that needs to be increased is yours, not ours.

It's a church, not a television show.  We want to be good stewards of time, but the main concern isn't to cram everything into one hour, changing images every four seconds.  If you're bored in church, it might be that you've watched too much television.

It's a church, not an antiques store.  It is understood that things spill, break or fall.  When they do, take responsibility.  Mop it up, sweep it up, clean it up, pick it up.  Tell someone.

It's a church, not a dump.  If you don't want that item, what makes you think the church needs it?  Do you really want to "bless the church" or are you too lazy to go the rest of the way to the dump?

It's a church, not West Point.  Not everyone gets to be an officer.  If you don't get to be an officer, will you try to be a good follower?

It's a church, not an arcade.  Leave hand-held video games at home.

It's a church, not an office. Turn off your cell phone.  "But I'm following along in my Bible app." Yeah, sure you are.  You're also reading and sending texts, checking your e-mail and surfing the web. (Hey, people in the back rows see everything.)

It's a church.  Let's keep it a special environment.  Let's preserve its special purpose.

Expectation (Psa. 62:5)

Tomorrow is Sunday.  I'm nervously full of anticipation.  I can't wait to see what God's going to do in church tomorrow!  With every fibre of my being, I know He's going to show up!

If I go to church expecting something, then the worst that can happen is that I leave disappointed.  Disappointed but not devastated.  My experience didn't quite measure up to my expectation.  If I go to church expecting little to nothing, then the worst that can happen is that I leave strangely fulfilled in my cynicism, negativity and emptiness.  How's that going to help me? 

Are you going to chuch tomorrow?  If not, why not?  If so, what mindset will you bring with you?  Come with great expectation!  From a logical standpoint, you have less to lose.  From a spiritual standpoint, God wants you to be expectant.

Friend of the Bridegroom (Jn. 3:22-36)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Yesterday's reading was John 3:22-36.
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John was not the center of attention. All attention was to go to the bride and groom. The "friend" was a servant. Our culture sends a constant message: "It's all about you." Sorry, but it ain't so. Most writers of the New Testament called themselves "servants" or "bond-servants": Paul (Rom. 1:1; 2 Cor. 6:4; Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:1), James (Jam. 1:1), Peter (2 Pet. 1:1), Jude (Jude v. 1), and John (Rev. 1:1). Are you comfortable being a servant?

John had specific responsibilities as "friend of the bridegroom." He was to send the invitations, bring the bride and groom together, preside at the feast, and guard the bridal chamber from false lovers. Quite significant responsibilities for "just a servant," wouldn't you say? Never underestimate the impact of one faithful act of service.

John's greatest joy was to hear the bridegroom's voice. When he heard that voice, he knew his "friend" duties were completed. Jesus will keep on speaking until He comes for His bride (the Church). When that happens, He will shout (1 Thess. 4:16). Do you cherish the sound of your own voice or are you actively and patiently waiting for the Groom's voice?

The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The Church belongs to Jesus. It doesn't belong to the denomination. It doesn't belong to the founders. It doesn't belong to the board. It doesn't belong to the Pastor. The Church belongs to Jesus. He called it "My Church" (Mt. 16:18). Let's take good care of Jesus' Bride.

An iPhone Is Still an iPhone Regardless of the Carrier

A supposedly big deal is going to happen today. Verizon announced it's ability to host the Apple iPhone. No longer will AT&T be the exclusive wireless carrier of this social phenomenon.

We're not talking about a whole new and improved phone. There will just be one more carrier to the same great product. Service may or may not improve. Only time will tell. Dropped calls may or may not decrease. Only time will tell. What I can say for sure is this: An iPhone is still an iPhone regardless of the carrier. The phone itself hasn't changed.

Let's move from phones to churches. The one thing that doesn't change is the gospel. You can get better customer service at one church. You can have shorter services at another. One carrier of the gospel may be extremely creative. Another carrier may seem highly conservative. However, the gospel is (or should be) the same. Choose your carrier. The ability and allure of the phone (gospel) is still more important than the choice of carrier (church). Without the phone, the carrier is meaningless.

May I never be at a church where the gospel is not #1 priority.

Three Practicalities

This post is about the extremely practical side to success at church. Here is the bottom line: Nothing of eternal impact will ever happen unless someone...

• Prays for it. Without prayer, we're just working from human effort and strength. (Psa 127:1)
• Stays for it. The ministry that happens is in direct proportion to the number of willing, trained, and deployed workers. (Mt 9:37-38)
• Pays for it. Last time I checked, ministry was expensive. Products have to be bought. Curriculum has to be ordered. Missionaries have to be supported. Bills have to be paid.

Rhododendron

The recent cold, wind and snow haven't been able to knock the leaves off the rhododendron bush I planted in May. It looked quite delicate when I planted it. I guess "Rhodo," as I've called it, is quite hearty. Nothing kills it. Everything else is bare. Everything else in my yard has been affected by the season. Not Rhodo.

This reminds me of the church. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18.