Something is happening over at 16019 Manchester Rd. Ellisville MO
That’s right, our new facility is slowly taking shape. We are setting the stage for the next phase of our congregation’s growth and in our ability to position ourselves to further serve our mission field in West County and the Greater St. Louis area. We have many people in this area that self-identify as Christian but do not in any way know Jesus or his Good News. Our mission field is one of the most challenging in the world. Loads of people call themselves Christian but do not actually know Jesus and are not in any way connected to his body, the Church. This is a devastating spiritually perilous place to be.
We have our work cut out for us. But remember, Jesus promised to be with anybody who responds in obedience to:
“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
~Matthew 28:19-20
To the degree which we embrace this mission is the degree to which Jesus is with us. Let that sink in. Feel God is distant? Perhaps you’ve drifted from his mission.
Very recently someone asked me how the new church was going. As I considered my response, I immediately thought of Frank and Gladys, Garth and Rosemary, several members of the Church Council, and so on. My mind also quickly considered some of the people our congregation has had contact with through Alpha, and the current Thursday evening Bible study that the Messerly family is hosting. I wondered briefly about some of our ministry partners such as The Spiritual Orphans Network, and Home Sweet Home, and the North American Lutheran Church. But then, as I was still considering how to respond, the person clarified what they meant by ‘the church.’ You guessed it. They were referring to the building we are preparing to move into.
*Heavy sigh.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
~Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus talked about a house in this text, but he was referring to the consequences of putting into practice, or not, his words. In that decision, a decision we get to make over and over again every day, there is either wisdom or foolishness. The choice is ours.
Then there’s this gem:
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
~Matthew 16:18
Here Jesus talks about building a church also, but it’s a building made of the confession of Peter: Jesus is the Messiah! That pivotal confession of faith is what Jesus pointed to when he said, “on this rock I will build my church.”
So, what is the church?
Glad you asked. Peter has something to say here:
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to
be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
~1 Peter 2:4-12
In other words, The Church is the people of God. What we are putting energy and work and money into is a facility. And facilities, facilitate things. Check out this definition. Especially notice numbers 4 a and 4 b
We are good, wise, missionaries, who realize that most people in our mission field will be easier to connect with if we have a dedicated place to meet and host at least some of our activities. It is not the sole place we will continue to do mission work. The only churches that do all their activities solely in their buildings are in the process of slowly dying right now. Churches (that is the people) are meant to be out there in the mission field. But we have wisely discerned that in our current culture, it’s much more challenging to connect with those we are trying to reach without something to facilitate our gatherings. Sure, some idealists might assert that the early Church didn’t have permanent, public, buildings for over three hundred years, but that was also a different time and culture. We are not trying to reach first-century residents of the Roman Empire. We are in the process of reaching residents of the greater St. Louis area, in twenty-first-century Missouri.
So, we need a facility. A building. We already have a church. And that’s all you fine people! So, in the days and weeks to come continue praying for the generosity of time, talent, and money as we prepare a place to continue our work in the greater St. Louis area. Never losing sight that the church is the people and the address we meet at is the facility. This building will facilitate a lot of great ministry for years to come so long as we do not lose sight of our mission, our purpose, and who we are. God is good all the time and all of the time God is good!
0 Comments