So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of  God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.  The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.  You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.  Ephesians 2:19-22 HCSB

As you read this scripture passage, I want you to pay close attention to something.  The cornerstone and the foundation don’t mention clay, cement, bricks or mortar.  The foundation mentioned is the apostles and the prophets.  The cornerstone is Jesus Christ Himself.   This church is made up of people like you and me.  Buildings don’t grow, people grow.  And how beautiful is it to see a group of people grow into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.

It’s been a little over a year since we started our church and I thank God for His presence in our church.  I thank God for the people that have been faithful in attending and tithing.  I pray that we continue the welcoming spirit that is in our church.  We have a good time when we get together.  We enjoy growing into God’s holy sanctuary.

The church I am speaking of is the body of believers that have come together to worship God.  Our scripture passage today is not referring to a building.  You see even though we have established our church and done all the legal paperwork to be recognized by the state as a church, we still meet in a house.  I know there are people bothered by that fact.  I have actually had people come to me and tell me that meeting in a house seems odd to them.  I hope that everyone can grasp what a church is and where a church is?  The church is the body of believers.  The location of the church is wherever this body of believers meet to gather.  Whether they meet in a house, a barn, a tent or gathered under the shade of a tree this is where their church is.

Today I want to ask you where your church is and what your church means to you.  Is your church some beautiful building?  Do your members care more for the building than the fellow members?  If you think your church is the building, you are mistaken my friend.  Your church is the members. Or perhaps I should say, God’s church.  You see none of us have ownership in a church.  A good, healthy functioning church is God’s church where things are done in God’s way for God’s glory.  Our Sunday school lessons these past few weeks have been on becoming a welcoming church.  Thom S. Rainer has several books on becoming a welcoming church.  Spoiler alert, it starts with becoming a welcoming church member.  We can’t control how other church members act.  But, we can control how we act towards others.  I promise you that even a total stranger gets a feel for your church after being in there for just one service.  They can tell if your church is warm and welcoming or cold and uninviting.

Now I realize that this is being read by people who eat, sleep, and breathe their church as well as people who haven’t stepped foot in a church in years.  So let me say this, if you are not attending a church then you should be.  The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25 that we are not to neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the Day drawing near.  We are not going to be here forever.  How you live out your days on this earth will have a great impact on how it goes for you at the great white throne of judgement (Revelation 20:11-15).  Find yourself a good bible teaching church.  Check the pastor to be sure that he preaches in accordance with God’s word.  If you are attending a church that has become cold and uninviting, first make sure that you are not a part of the problem.  Then try to be a part of the solution.  If you don’t see anyone else willing to change, then pray and ask God what you should do.  I promise He will guide you in the right way.  It may be that He will lead you to a warm, welcoming church.  Some churches split because members disagree and can not reach a compromise.  A church split is generally considered to be a very negative event.

A church split should actually be a good thing.  It should signify two bodies of Christ splitting and growing even larger bodies of Christ.  We are told that we are to go forth and spread the gospel.  But unfortunately churches usually split in anger.  If both sides remain angry, bitter and unforgiving there will be no growth.

I love the last verse in our scripture passage today.  Verse 22 tells us that we are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.  The building is not the church, the people are the church.  My prayer for you today is that you are gathered with a God fearing group of believers who are dedicated to reaching out to others in love.  I pray that you are in a welcoming church that is focused on God and what He wants them to do.  If you are in a church that is “inner focused” as Thom Rainer points out in his book, I Am a Church Member, then you need to move on to a church that is focused on bringing people in and leading them to salvation.  You need to be in a church that loves the Lord with all their heart, all their soul, and all their strength.  You need to be in a church where the members love each other.  These are the two greatest commandments.  They are found in Luke 10:27.  In Corinthians 13 we are told that we may have many things and many gifts and talents, but without love we have nothing.

So think about this today?  Where is your church?  Who is your church?  Is Jesus Christ clearly the cornerstone?  Is your church putting God first, others second and themselves last?  Is your church fun?  Church should be fun and enjoyable.  How will we draw others in if everyone is walking around with a frown on their face?

I ask you to consider these things today.  There are warm, welcoming, inviting churches where God’s Spirit is felt and love is in the air.  There are cold churches where the Spirit of God seems to have departed some time ago.  In these churches you may feel like a foreigner when you enter.  Find a good church today.   Don’t just go to church, get involved in church.  When you get involved in a warm, welcoming church you are blessed beyond measure.  You have a church family that loves and supports you.  So do yourself a favor and find a good church and get in there and get involved.

Have a great day!