FORTheCity Devotion Day 2 – You Don’t Go To Church

By Carey Nieuwhof, Founding & Teaching Pastor at Connexus Church
READ 1 Corinthians 12:27
REFLECT
You probably grew up thinking of the church as something you go to. Like it’s an institution or organization. Like it’s something you either belong to or don’t.
Well, think again.
You don’t GO to church. You ARE the church.
That’s actually the radical implications of what it means for Jesus to be at work in you. He made you the church.
That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul was describing when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:27. He even took it a step further when he said “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
Pretty amazing isn’t it? You. As in you of feeble faith. You who aren’t 100% sure of things. You who often gets it wrong. You who offers the best of what you have but still feels like it comes up a bit short.
But that’s the powerful part of God’s grace. You probably have a picture in your mind of how much better you need to be for God to use you. But the powerful part of scripture is this: God doesn’t use perfect pictures; he uses broken people.
I personally am completely excited about the launch of FORTheCity at Connexus. You may be tempted to think of this as something Connexus is doing. Well, that’s both right and wrong.
After all, Connexus can’t:
Have your next door neighbour over for a BBQ
Strike up a friendship with that person at the gym you see every Thursday morning
Love your unloveable cousin
Throw a house party for the single moms in your neighbourhood
But you can.
And when you do that, you are the church. And when all of us do that … well, that’s Connexus.
So go be the church. Extend the love of Jesus to people you’re scared to love. Be a good neighbour. Be a good friend. Love people. You might be amazed at what God does.
Because you are the church. You really are.
BOTTOM LINE
You don’t go to church. You are the church.
LIVE
Imagine what might change in a year, or even in a month, when you reach out to four families and extend the grace and kindness that so many long for yet so few ever experience. If you haven't already shared your four names with us, you can do so here.
PRAY
Today, pray for courage. Because what’s standing between you and impact is likely a little fear. God, help me get over my fear of making some new friendships. Help me to move out of my comfort zone and extend the grace that you’ve extended to me.