3.5-What is the church?

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3.5-



There are people who believe that the kingdom of God equals the church and the church equals the building.  This is not the case.

Luke 17.
20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with [n]signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is [o]in your midst.”

Kingdom people are people who have God as the king of their hearts.  They get together in groups, sometimes only two or three and there God is in the midst of them.  There might be a group of 2 or 3 or 30 or 200 or 3,000 or more.  They are in essence an called out of the world group of people who have Jesus Christ as the king of kings and Lord of Lord’s in their heart.

I like a description I found in the book Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott when she was describing her minister telling a story about what church is, 

“her best friend got lost one day.  The little girl ran up and down the streets of the big town where they lived, but she couldn’t find a single landmark.  She was very frightened.  Finally a policeman stopped to help her.  He put her in the passenger seat of his car, and they drove around until she finally saw her church.  She pointed it out to the policeman, and then she told him firmly, ‘You could let me out now.  This is my church, and I can always find my way home from there.’"

Matthew 16.
15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are [j]the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon [k]Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are [l]Peter, and upon this [m]rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Acts 2.
43 [ap]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and [aq]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [ar]were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread [as]from house to house, they were taking their [at]meals together with gladness and [au]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding [av]to their number day by day those who were being saved.

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