Pastor Jim Mann
In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul wrote: But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25, NIV)
Every Sunday as our church comes together for worship we seem to experience this. The songs, the Scriptures chosen, the encouraging words delivered and the sermon all seem to be coordinated. They are, of course, but not usually by the staff. It is not human cleverness; it’s the prophetic movement of the Holy Spirit in our midst. It is God speaking his directive word to us.
A new member of the church recently said to me several times, “God is really here! I can feel him!” That’s exactly what Paul described would happen when the Spirit moves in church.
Isn’t that wonderful? I’m very happy that God is here. But I’m not content with that. I want to take God there! Instead of waiting for folks to come to us to find God—I want us to take God to them and make the introduction. Where is “there?” There might be your workplace, or the Wildhorse Grill, or the golf course. Remember, Jesus said “Go…”
That’s being the church. We’ve been using that phrase at our church lately—Be the Church. We never planned on a slogan…it just kind of happened.
The phrase stuck because the church isn’t a building. It’s not an organization. It’s not a non-profit. It’s a group of people God has brought together for his purposes. In fact that’s what the Greek word ekklesia means, “called out ones.” And because you are the church and I am the church (if we’re Christians), we’re not bound to a place or a certain time on Sunday mornings. Wherever you go, the church goes with you!
To be sure, there are different expressions of the church. At Robson Ranch we have two wonderful examples. New Life Church happens to be the one meeting at the clubhouse on Sundays at 8:30. Fellowship at the Ranch is a wonderful church that happens to meet at 10:30 in the same place. Of course down Crawford Road you’ll find even more expressions.
So it’s important that you go to church. There, you can experience God. But know that this wonderful experience isn’t meant to be confined to a place or time. The church goes…. Think about it this week as you head to Kroger’s or Walgreens. Go—be the church!
Jim Mann, Ph.D. pastors New Life Church at Robson Ranch. This interdenominational church meets at the Robson Clubhouse on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. Visit New Life’s website: www. NewLifeDenton.org for more information.