SO, what is the church?

The church is not just a building. The church is certainly not a store. The thought of the church being a club is nearly offensive. And the church as a cruise ship — that’s really out in left field. SO, what is the church? His Body (integrated and interdependent, individual parts of a whole)· Romans 12:4-5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. God's Field (worked together to produce fruit) · 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field... A Family (lovingly committed) · Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household... A Building (a work in progress, but God’s work) · 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9) A Vine (alive by the resurrection and the life) · John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. His Flock (Under the care of the good shepherd, Jesus is our head) · John 10:14-16 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. Jesus' Bride (that means we’re Holy) · Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.The church. We don’t go there, we are it. The church, all about “He,” and not about “me.” — Pastor Terry