Too many Christians are just like these cookie-cutter churches... do you know why?
Because Christians ARE the church of God!
But God doesn't want "just another church" and he doesn't want any more "Cookie-Cutter Christians." God is looking for Believers that believe His word and will BE His Church!
So what does it mean to BE the church?
Well, it means that your Christian lifestyle:
- doesn't have a steeple where you pray - high and mighty, lofty and lifted up, holier than those below.
- doesn't have a cross around your neck as identification instead of a cross of sacrifice in your heart
- doesn't have a door that accepts only members in and visitors if they fill out a membership card
- doesn't have four walls and boundaries that serves only those within and not those outside of them
...lunch with an unsaved friend.
Or serving the homeless...
Or meeting strangers on the street...
Or healing the sick, hurt, lost and bound.
Mark 16:16-18 - "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Are you a Believer? If yes, then what do you believe? Do you have the guts and the nerve... or the faith and boldness to be the Believer Jesus has empowered you to be?
Most Believers have a hard time just following the "Great Commission" from Matthew 28:18. But guess what? The "great commission" is from the same conversation in Mark 16. So if you struggle just going into all the world... how are you going to be effective in your own world?
I'll tell you how... "only believe" - that's what Jesus would say!
- Believe you have been given power...
- Believe you have been gifted...
- Believe in the Supernatural...
- Believe God's word is true...
- Believe every word applies to you...
- Believe you can overcome every attack of the enemy...
- And Have Faith in God!
- I dare you to look for it.
- I dare you to believe it.
- I dare you to live it.
- I dare you to step out of the cookie-cutter life of your Christianity
- I dare you to BE The Church God created you to be.
Oh yeah, and - be different. ~Pastor D