BE the church, don't just GO to church.

What is Church? Is it a building? Is it a group of people? What were you taught? I have had a million things run through my mind. Growing up it was a place we went. I wasn't raised in a place that taught what the church was for. So when Justin and I started a study on the book of Act. You could imagine my surprise.

I have heavily talked about unity in the body of Christ. Despite the fact that we are more broken now then we have ever been. I've talked about how the body is made up of many different parts and everyone has a place in the body. Last night God opened my eyes to some new things.

We read Acts 1-2. I want to really focus on verse 42 in chapter 2. They (The new bThey elievers who were baptized) dedicated themselves to the apostles teachings, breaking of bread together, to each other, and to prayer. Church isn't just a building or the location that you meet, it's not just the people you are around, it's not the amount of people you have as followers. It's our actions. That's where we have lost it. Look around you at all the things that we have seen as a body over the last 6 months. Our actions speak louder than our words. James 2:14-26 tells us that Faith without Works is dead.

The word talks about baptizing, taking communion, praying together, dedicating to an apostles teaching, and gathering together. It makes me think a lot about what we are really doing as a church. Are we actually BEING the church or attending a meeting somewhere and calling it a day. We can't just show up on Sunday and think that we are doing what we are called to do.

You might be thinking Hey, Deb umm you know we baptize people, take communion, pray together, listen to a pastors teaching, and gather together. But there is something that we tend to forget. Chapter 2 doesn't end there.

Signs and wonders

Sold property and gave to anyone in need

Continued to meet

Broke Bread together in the home and ate together.

They shared the Gospel and watched their numbers increase.

We have to be a living example of the church. Not just a gathering. Not just hanging out. Look at what the first example was. Look what they did. Look at the things they accomplished. When they were somewhere, lives were changed. Don't leave somewhere without changing it for the better. Don't just be church on Sunday. Be church all the time. Is your church modeled after the first church?