Hey guys! Long time since I wrote last! I'm hoping you guys forgive me for that, but I have been beyond busy. I'm glad that I have been busy, but it's nice to have some time off.
So.....
What about church? I attended that same church again today (though the sermon series was different) and I must say it was well worth the drive. I'm telling you what, this church seems to understand what REAL CHURCH is suppose to be. I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits and have felt the Holy Spirit in that place.
You see, the ministerial team there presents a message of Jesus Christ through music and word that gets down to the business of what we need to hear. There is no "small talk" during the sermon time....instead it is let's get to the scripture and dive into to what God has to say.
As we made our way in to sit down, I couldn't help but notice the happiness that was among so many people and the attire that so many were wearing. So many churches today spend more time on putting people down about clothes than teaching the Bible and because of that there seems to ALWAYS be doom and gloom in the air. NOT at this church....God was there, people were happy and the Bible was taught! That really got me thinking again about what real church is. I see real church as being, as the lead pastor spoke, a real place where real people meet a real God who has a real love for them and helps with their real problems.
Today, there was mention of a church-wide relief effort to help those in Joplin, Mo. and I have a feeling that they will fill that tractor trailer so full that they can't get the doors closed....that's REAL CHURCH. Real church is forgetting about yourself and sacrificing for others to know the true love of Jesus Christ our Lord. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to be a small part of real church. Recently, I haven't been able to say that, but in the past couple of months I can say with certainty that I have been a part of a couple of real churches. God is at work in some of the churches and WOULD BE in others if the people only will allow Him.
If you think or feel that your church isn't a real church, PLEASE pray that the leaders of your church will relinquish the power and let GOD GUIDE your path and if you are a part of real church.....GOD BLESS YOU! Don't let that slip away! Do ALL that you can to continue being a real church. God is awesome and wants people to come to know Him, personally....real church allows that.
Until next time......
God bless.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
What is church?
What an awesome day this has been! I got great sleep last night and I was excited to see what God had in store for my wife and I as we visited a local church.
As we went in the facility to be a part of an assembly of God's people, there was a busyness in the air. The busyness wasn't to try and avoid guests, but there was a great deal of things happening. We were greeted a few people and we made our way to the "sanctuary"....it was a grand place, a place where God was worshiped and felt.
Once we made our way in we found seats and sat down, excited to participate in the service. After the worship was concluded, a small video clip was shown on the screens. At the end of the video clip, the statement came up, "Real Church." The pastor proceeded to speak from the books of Acts and Matthew and went through what the church IS and IS NOT. And the REAL CHURCH is invovled in the work of God, not the technical things that tend to allow evil/negative things to happen.
Thank you to OBC for a great service and the encouragement that there are churches that realize that this world has changed but not so much that we don't use the book of Acts to refocus on who is the church. Notice I said "who" is the church ....that's right, THE CHURCH is its people.....NOT the building and NOT an organization, BUT....BUT it IS MESSY! Jesus never said that it would be a neat and clean thing that can be stuffed into a box. God is good and He forgives!! What a blessing because if He wasn't we'd ALL be in trouble.
I am sooo excited to see what God has in store for my wife and I at this point in our lives. I am joyful knowing that I'm going to get to travel this road with such a wonderful wife.
I thank God again for leading us to OBC this day! What a great day.
What is church?
Until next time....
Aaron
As we went in the facility to be a part of an assembly of God's people, there was a busyness in the air. The busyness wasn't to try and avoid guests, but there was a great deal of things happening. We were greeted a few people and we made our way to the "sanctuary"....it was a grand place, a place where God was worshiped and felt.
Once we made our way in we found seats and sat down, excited to participate in the service. After the worship was concluded, a small video clip was shown on the screens. At the end of the video clip, the statement came up, "Real Church." The pastor proceeded to speak from the books of Acts and Matthew and went through what the church IS and IS NOT. And the REAL CHURCH is invovled in the work of God, not the technical things that tend to allow evil/negative things to happen.
Thank you to OBC for a great service and the encouragement that there are churches that realize that this world has changed but not so much that we don't use the book of Acts to refocus on who is the church. Notice I said "who" is the church ....that's right, THE CHURCH is its people.....NOT the building and NOT an organization, BUT....BUT it IS MESSY! Jesus never said that it would be a neat and clean thing that can be stuffed into a box. God is good and He forgives!! What a blessing because if He wasn't we'd ALL be in trouble.
I am sooo excited to see what God has in store for my wife and I at this point in our lives. I am joyful knowing that I'm going to get to travel this road with such a wonderful wife.
I thank God again for leading us to OBC this day! What a great day.
What is church?
Until next time....
Aaron
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