what is church to you?

From this morning's sermon at Southeast Christian Church...Do you see church as:
a.) a building
b.) an occasional event-- out of tradition or duty
c.) a regular event-- out of habit, duty, guilt, etc.
d.) a fellowship in which a lifestyle is lived out with others in community

Of course, A is an acceptable answer. But if your answer does not include D, then you're not experiencing all that the Triune God would have for you-- in communion with Him and with others.

The term church comes from the Greek word ecclesia, meaning a gathering together of those who have been called out. Thus, the church is comprised of those who are still in the world, but have been called "out of" the world and are to be gathered together in community.

The church is alternatively called the bride of Christ and the body of Christ-- two metaphors which indicate its importance and its supposed unity. As individual Christians have been "bought" with the blood of Christ, so the church has its origins in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so, the implications of the faith reach to both individuals and individuals living in community with like-minded apprentices of Jesus.

An irony about Southeast is that it is perhaps most famous for its buildings. And yet, in large part, its "success" (as defined in many possible ways) is built around the many small groups which comprise the heart of the larger body. Once you get above 500 people in a church, you're not going to know everyone anyway. Although large-scale worship can be inspirational, true fellowship in even a medium-sized church must come through smaller, more intimate groups.

If you've not made that investment-- whether at Southeast or elsewhere-- consider making the leap from church as an event to church as a lifestyle lived out in community.