new thought about church // Monday E-Devotion

Robert Frost said that home was a place where, "when you have to go there, they have to take you in."

Today's devotion is short, you may say very short. But I want to share with you a couple verses and a thought just like the quote above. Church is a place that is not to be avoided. It is to be a welcoming place that is fresh and exciting and always about the lord's business. What does it mean to be a member or a partner in a church?

We are completing our first time of study about this new church we are part of, and many people have expressed a desire to be part of the church. That excites, but it is not something I take lightly. I ask and our leadership team ask people to think seriously and to search for the place God is calling them to.

Think with me about the common 5 functions of the church. The 5 functions of the church have already been mentioned in our time together, yet we need to see that everything we do is to be linked to these functions. They are: WORSHIP (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Hebrews 10:19-25), DISCIPLESHIP (Luke 9:23; Matthew 28:18-20), EVANGELISM (John 3:1-18; John 4:27-38), FELLOWSHIP(Acts 2:42), and MINISTRY (Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:14-16). I believe that God calls every believer to take an active roll in these functions. Think about it.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (nasb) --- Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

God has called the church, us, to give others hope. We best do this together at a place called home, our church home!