What is the Church?

It's taken years for me to write this post.  I have been in the middle of church strife, and on the fringe of it, and I've grown up in the church.  Most of my childhood church life was one way, traditional.  One day my idea of what church was...was changed.  It was the day I walked through the doors of LifeChurch.tv  -Stillwater campus.  That day I knew I was home.

How did I know that this was my church?  Because the moment I stepped foot in the door, I was was greeted and was received like a part of a family.  I was a stranger but that didn't matter.  I was welcomed.  I know what that feels like be on the outside looking in.  It was a warm engaging feeling of belonging.  It was fellowship.  It was home and I belonged there.  

Since then...every Sunday Kingdom builders are born there.  I belong.

The idea of us being Kingdom builders is not new, it's the philosophy that built the New Testament church.  Mark 1 states... "Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 'The time has come,' he said. "The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!"  Jesus modeled the gospel by making the claim..."I am your King."  

Next verse..."As Jesus walked..."  

Jesus took the gospel outside the tent meetings and the tabernacle and took it to the community of fisherman and tax collectors, the downcast, the oppressed, the rich, the poor.  He built the New Testament church with a devoted twelve.  He loved them enough to share the good news of salvation.  He gave of Himself because the beach front community needed to know.  They were crying out out for a Savior.  They needed Jesus and Jesus took the church to them.

Jesus is the Church and if we have Jesus Christ in our hearts, then we are the church.  We are kingdom builders of Jesus' church.  My church view has changed over the years about who and what the church is.  Church is a community that comes from fellowship with God and with other believers.  And that's what the fellowship of believers, making a community of truth based like minded believers looks like.  I realize that I am just one in the sea of believers, but we are all the church, inside and outside those building walls.  The actual community in which we live is crying out to be saved.  So we must, as the Great Commission states, go!  We must be the church that people are needing.  Our neighborhoods needs a Savior.

"Church arise...shake yourself from the dust....God is calling us to go!" Leeland

Will you be the one to tell them?

P.S. Mitch Hildebrant...this post was for you!