The church is the gathering of Christ’s Disciples on earth and those that seek to know Him.  It is not a place for the perfect; instead, it is a place for sinners who are in search of forgiveness and striving for perfection in love.  It is only in Christ that we find forgiveness for our sin and be strengthened for perfection for He alone among humanity did live a sinless life.  So as the church, we embrace brokenness and together strive to become whole again in Jesus Christ.  Together the people of the church constitute the body of Christ at work in the world today.  This implies that we have a mission that we have been given to accomplish by Christ who is the head of the Church.  Indeed, we have such a mission which is found in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

To carry out this mission requires that we be in a relationship with Christ, His people the Church, and with those outside the church.  We can not lead others to a Savior that we do not know and so we must first know Christ so we can introduce others to Him.  This requires that we spend time in prayer, that we read the scriptures, and that we worship Him as Lord and Savior with others that know Him. 

We also must Go beyond the bounds of the church to build relationships with others to lead them to Christ.  So, at work, at the YMCA, at the cloth shop, or wherever you go, get to know others who are interested in the things you are interested in and build a relationship with them so that you can introduce them to Christ.  The mission of the church is relational and so we cannot be isolated and be faithful to the mission of making Disciples. 

Peace,

Burt