I WIll Build MY Church

Those are the very words of Jesus.  He said, “I will build my church.”  It is easy for us to forget that truth.  Christ is the head of the church.  We sometimes need to be reminded whose church it is—It’s Christ’s!  In our American church system, we sometimes label the church by the Pastor’s name.  “I attend Mark’s church” or “That is Tom’s church.”  That isn’t true at all.  It’s Christ’s church! 

As the church I pastor (New Life) prepares to launch a second campus in Surprise, I am reminded of this truth.  Although New Life will give birth through another expression of our church in the Surprise area, it’s still Christ’s church.  New Life is just a name that identifies a specific congregation of people.  We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11:  “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation, as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it.  But each one should be careful how he builds.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”  Christ is the head of this church!  He is the chief cornerstone from which the church is built and grows. 

We cannot do this without God, but He has decided to not to do it without us.  God uses people to accomplish His purposes.  His greatest purpose is The Great Commission—to reach people far from God with the message of His love and grace.  That’s why we do this.  That’s why we are investing in an extension campus that reaches beyond our limited geographical reach here in Peoria.  We will continue to service the needs in Peoria and Glendale but extend our service to the far edge of the west valley in Surprise. 

The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”  A church cannot be built by human effort alone.  The beauty of the church shines as a radiant testimony to a watching world when we truly join God in what he is doing.  Our motivation in expanding our ministry reach into the Surprise area is to work in cooperation with other churches to bring the presence of Jesus and let the light of Christ shine brightly throughout the west valley.  If we remind ourselves that we are just one church among other churches serving the needs of the community, God will be honored and the community will be better served.  Jesus said, “I will build my church.” Oh, may we not forget whose church it is and the foundation upon which we build. 

The church is the hope of the world.  Even with its flaws, it is God’s mechanism for shining light into the dark recesses of this world.  It’s through the church that the message of God’s love for mankind is expressed.  Let’s build something beautiful together by following God’s lead in building his church. 

Learn more at www.newlifeonline.com or follow Steve Lingenfelter on Twitter, @stevOLL.