CONTRARY | Church (Ep 4)

Today we tackle the challenging topic of church, something that is most likely a pain point for many, and yet something that we must seek to embrace, love, serve, and participate in if we call ourselves followers of Christ, for He calls the church His Bride! Local churches mess up, because they’re filled with people that mess up, but keeping our eyes on Jesus, and reminding ourselves that He has given us a specific role to fulfill in His body, we must press on and continue encouraging one another in the faith, meeting together, worshiping together, serving together, learning together, and fulfilling the Great Commission together. 

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Scriptures Referenced:

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5)

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[d] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

“...from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...” Ephesians 5:25

“He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 15:24)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

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Quotes Referenced:

“The complaint that church is boring is never made by people in awe.” -R.C. Sproul 

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Article Referenced:

If You Were the Only Person Alive, Would Jesus Have Died For Only You? (//reasonsforhopejesus.com/only-person-alive-jesus-died-for-you/)