Living out our Love life with Christ- and His Church

  

The Happy churches of Dayton

I’ve been wondering- What is the antidote for a “Happy Church” infection?

My daughter now faces in the Dayton area what many others face, either because of military transfer or career relocation– establishing a new residence and the circle of acquaintances and connections that are essential to adapting to the “new place.”

But if my daughter’s most recent experiences with finding a new church are at all representative of the brave new world around us, we have reasons for concern and a greater understanding of our purpose as a NT church.

Consider her most recent visits to mega-churches in the Dayton area; large, burgeoning congregations with coffee shops and athletic facilities, but no motivation or need to help her connect to a small group or interest in her as a person. Maybe that’s because, in some churches, its the choreography that matters. In “Happy Churches” as I shall call them, services are created, driven, and enjoyed for their lack of substance– even at times the Bible itself. 
Can it be, as my daughter discovered, that we’ve grown so weary of Jesus’ tedious instruction at the final supper on earth before His crucifixion, that because of time and logistics, we must streamline the communion service so as to include only one of the elements of the celebration of His death? Have the bland generalities of Grace swallowed up the specifics of Biblical truth? Do Muslims know more of their Allah than we know of Jesus- The author and finisher of our faith? 

So I’m wondering– what the church really for?

1. Gathering place to fellowship with your friends
2. Social agency, charged with meeting the needs of the community
3. I place, where your name as “member“will insure your obituary record that you belonged to a church
4. A place to get fixed, fixed up, or find that prosperity you knew was yours all along. A self-help station!
5. A place to network- build connections, develop your business…

But a quick check of my Bible reveals

• Paul found the church to be the pillar and foundation of the truth: 1 Tim. 3:15
• The churches his overwhelming concern: 2 Corinthians
• And Jesus, said, Try as you might to dismantle it, disregard it, or dismiss it– it will survive

Trans: what began in Acts as the pre-eminent invitation of a lifetime, gets relegated to a mere afterthought in many people’s minds– (Barna: UK: 29% believe that he is real). Equally, disturbing mainstream believers see little use for the church beyond a gathering place.  Ah, come on, pastor Mark, isn’t it all about relationship with Jesus?

In the midst of this discussion sits Valentine’s Day. 

Valentine’s Day is struggling with its need to exist. We search desperately for a reason to love that outlasts the sexual one night stand; All the while, failing  to learn from the relationship Jesus has with His church. The fact is, that Jesus has carried on 2000 year love affair with his church.  And his Valentine to His church might best be exemplified in Ephesians 5. Now, since my interests this morning are more ecclesiastical than marital, or personal, I’ll avoid the specific behaviors that couples should lend their ear to…

In favor of, identifying, say, 7 strands of Christ’s love affair with his church.

1. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF HIS CHURCH: Ephesuans 1; Colossians 1:18
2. CHRIST IS THE SAVIOUR OF HIS CHURCH: I lay down my life for my sheep!
3. CHRIST IS THE PERFECT BRIDEGROOM OF HIS CHURCH: The Bridegroom who has never defrauded his love, or cheated his bride through impurity. church (cf. 5:2; John 10:11, 15, 17–18; Gal. 1:4; Eph. 5:25; Heb. 9:14.
4. CHRIST IS THE MASTER OF HIS CHURCH: if “head” speaks to His authority, Master speaks to his overwhelming wisdom and knowledge when it comes to our needs. Disciples: (John 6; Where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life).
5. CHRIST US AT WORK SANCTIFYING HIS CHURCH: Making the church more holy, more interested in pursuing His glory rather than our own.  Heb.2:11; 10:10, 14; 13:12
6. CHRIST IS AT WORK FEEDING HIS CHURCH: Giving the church its nourishment so that it would grow strong. (So why do so many miss so many meals in favor of the junk food the world offers?)
7. CHRIST IS AT WORK PURIFYING AND PREPARING HIS CHURCH.( Hebrews 11: so that we would be ready)

AND NOW, FOR YOU,

If you’re looking for a guaranteed fix for your own marriage or a perfect model to build your future marriage, consider these hints!

1. If we want our marriage Christlike we have to settle the issue of authority. Who has it? How is it exercised, and why it matters?
2. IF we want our marriage to be Christlike,we have to settle the issue of purity. One woman one man, giving themselves to one another within the boundaries of marriage, no cheating, no fornicating, no experimenting… Because God never did that with us!
3. If we want our marriages to be Christlike, we have to see beyond our own needs, period!  That means, emotional, Phyical, and spiritual…

Close

Picture of Pastor/ Mrs Williams

This picture is both precious to me but difficult to see. [Describe the background for the pic]. 

What Jesus did:

He stepped out of heaven, into an earthly body and cuddled up next to you and me who were dying and said, I’m with you… I’m yours, and I will be with you till the end and beyond… And I will never let you Go. That’s how much God loves His church. How can you love His church any less? Jesus stepped forward and committed himself to His church.. The church is worth it– worth your time, your attention, and your name being firmly attached to it.

MJC