by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19–22
Over the years at Lancaster Baptist Church, we’ve been involved in a number of building projects. But as beautiful as the facilities God has blessed us with are, they are not the church. And putting up an auditorium, classrooms, or a fellowship hall is not the real building program of the church. The church is the local gathering of Christians, saved through the blood of Jesus. And the primary building program of the church is to train, equip, and inspire the members to become mature believers—and to join their hearts together.
The singular characteristic of the early church was that they were together. Over and over we read descriptions like this: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). Unity is the key because individual Christians alone cannot accomplish the full purpose of God. It requires our different gifts, talents, and personalities working together to build up the entire body.
There are those who say that you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian. While it is true that no one is saved by going to church, it is also true that spiritual growth and maturity are greatly enhanced by the fellowship of believers. And in addition to what we receive, we have an obligation to the other members to minister to and encourage them. When God’s people are working together in unity the church becomes what God designed it to be.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Each of us has something to contribute to our church that no one else can provide.
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