"GO TO" CHURCH AND BE THE CHURCH

After spending most of today preparing for Sunday's message based upon Hebrews 10:19 and following, I keep thinking about this short sentence... "Go to" church and BE the church. So many people think that we 'go to' church when God's Word clearly says that we ARE the church.

When Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that He was going to build His church, He wasn't talking about a building. Jesus was talking about the "ekklēsia" which can mean an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting locally as in Matthew 18:17 or all born-again believers throughout the world who are united into one body as in Colossians 1:24.

At Rolling Fork Baptist Church, we have been going through the book of Hebrews on Sunday mornings and we have seen so many warnings such as

NOT TO DRIFT AWAY FROM WHAT WE HAVE HEARD (CHAPTER 2)

NOT TO HARDEN OUR HEARTS AND FALL INTO SIN (CHAPTER 3)

NOT TO BE LEAD ASTRAY BY AN UNBELIEVING HEART (CHAPTER 3)

NOT TO MISS GOD’S REST BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE (CHAPTER 4)

NOT TO NEGLECT GOD’S WORD BECAUSE WE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE (CHAPTER 4)

NOT TO LET OUR FAITH SLIP AWAY (CHAPTER 4)

NOT TO BECOME DULL OF HEARING (CHAPTER 5)

NOT TO IGNORE SPIRITUAL GROWTH (CHAPTER 5-6)

I am not sure yet how this sentence '"Go to" church and BE the church.' will be used this year but I do know this. I have no doubt that this must be our focus. We need to gather together and be the church that God has called us to be. How can we do this if we never see each other? Look at these two verses from Hebrews chapter 10...
Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 
How can we stir up each other if we are not gathered together? And why is this so important? Besides the obvious reason that God's Word tells us to, we must be aware that "the Day" is coming and we must be ready for that Day. 

If you are not already gathering with a local church family, please start this week. We invite you to worship with us at Rolling Fork Baptist Church if you don't have a church home that you already attend regularly. Please "go to" church this week and start helping us be the church that God expects us to be.