What Is The Church by Jerry Payne
Today Jerry helps us to see what the church is not.
Verses to remember:
Matthew 16
Acts 2:46
Acts 20:20
Romans 16:23
1 Corinthians 16:19
Colossians 4:15
Philemon 2
Today Jerry helps us to see what the church is not.
Verses to remember:
O.K. …. Here it is, this is what i gathered from the scriptures we are supposed to read. Maybe because of the population of the world it is only natural for us to go from 10-12 meeting in a house to 50-200 meeting in a larger building. So , think of the building we meet in now as the house was back then, and all the other buildings where churches meet as other “houses” where the church gathers. The churches back then communicated with one another, this is def. something we need to do (side note: we would eventually communicate with churches across the world on a regular basis), starting with east texas, then north , then south, then west, then surrounding states so on and so forth. So now we are gathering meeting and breaking bread together and communicating with other churches . Now we need to be effective, in Acts 2:46 it refers to the church body selling possessions and giving to everyone as he needed and having favor of all people and the Lord added to there numbers. Usually when the church has a fundraiser or collects money it is for youth or trips or building needs,(not always but a lot of the time),I feel we should concentrate more on doing just what Acts says and give to those in need, whatever that need may be. I believe this is where we fall short(and I am speaking of myself as much as anyone). We are so busy just trying to make ends meet and being wrapped up in today’s rat race that we can’t find time to love our neighbor, in this case our neighbor is east texas. Too many thoughts to type…….IN SHORT if we step out and really give like the church did in Acts and communicate that to other churches in the area regardless of denomination, and come together to break bread and pray for other churches with which we communicate as did Epaphras. then i believe that God will see we can be trusted in the small stuff and will give us sure direction from there………………….JUST A THOUGHT….
P.S. I know that there were some in the church who went out and helped ppl in need and i was not part of that and i regret it but i think we can be even more creative in finding ways that every member of the body can be effective in our community.