Is Your Church Alive?

Written by John Grant 

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 

Seeing the commissioning of a new naval vessel is a wonderful sight and experience. Amidst all the pomp and circumstance dockside, the ship is moored at the dock, quiet as a church mouse and not a sight of a single person aboard.

Then at the appointed time someone says: “Officers and crew of the (name of vessel), you may board and bring the ship to life.” Then the crew comes running from behind the audience and boards the ship. It literally comes to life, as the crew scurries to their assigned duty stations. Smoke pours from the stacks, lights come on and sailors man the rails.

When I witnessed such an occasion, I could not help but think of the church. As a ship alone is nothing but a mass of steel, so to is the church more that bricks and sticks. Neither has any potential until complimented with a crew.

Once I was speaking with a pastor whose church had burned to the ground. When I commented that I was sorry that he had lost his church he replied, “We lost the building and we will rebuild; the church is doing fine.

Like a dark and crewless ship, the church without its members, alive and active is nothing but a dark and vacant building. The congregation is its crew and the team that makes it alive.

One reason why we need to be connected to a church family is to fulfill our calling to serve other believers in practical ways. The Bible says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT).

Your service is desperately needed in the Body of Christ – just ask any local church. Each of us has a role to play, and every role is important. There is no small service to God; it all matters. There are no insignificant ministries in the church.

The point is that we all need to get on board and bring our church to life.

Questions: Are you involved in your local body of Christ? What can you do to get more involved?

Learn how to make a meaningful contribution to your church’s ministry efforts

http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2012/12/13/is-your-church-alive/