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A Thought from Pastor Cooper
You Can't Make It Alone
God created us with social needs. "It is not good for the man to be alone," was God's assessment of Adam when He created him. Our relationship to God is our life line, we can only be healthy when we also have good relationships with others. That's why we have the church. The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning
the called out ones. Originally, the word simply referred to an assembly or a gathering. Later it took on a sacred meaning as the early church grew into a powerful force turning the world upside down. The church is a living organism, the spiritual body of Christ made up of every person who confesses Jesus Christ is Lord.
The only use of the word church in the Gospels is found in Matthew 16:18. Jesus promised, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." The church rests securely on "the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone" (Eph 2:20). Most importantly, the church is "the family of believers" (Gal 6:10). Jesus "bought the church with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Jesus "loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph 5:25).
John Donne said, "No man is an island, entire of itself." The Christian life is lived in community, not isolation. The church is the place where our faith is nurtured, our character is molded, and our gifts are used in service to God and to His people. Let us too cherish the church, our spiritual family, and find our place in the church where we can not only grow up in the Lord, but we also find our place of ministry. Joy comes not only from the ministry we receive but also from the ministry we give. 
P.S. This Sunday I am concluding the 2-part series entitled: It's Time for a Change. See you on Sunday! |
