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Post by Parker on Apr 4, 2023 4:49:00 GMT -8
DAY SIXTEEN
JESUS’ ASCENSION
He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9–11)
In another surprising twist for the disciples, Jesus didn’t stick around on earth indefinitely. But he didn’t leave his followers hanging, either! Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in believers, giving them God’s power throughout their lives.
After assuring his followers that they would be equipped for the work he was giving them, Jesus ascended to heaven. He took his place at the right hand of God as King. Because Jesus ascended into heaven, we have the sure promise that we also belong to the kingdom of heaven. Right now we reign with Christ spiritually, but one day we will reign with him and dwell with him fully! God’s kingdom is the only kingdom that is not temporary. No other kingdom or power rivals Christ. And we reign with Christ!
As co-heirs of Jesus’ power, we are called to tell others about Jesus’ suffering, his resurrection, and the forgiveness of sin in his name. This kingdom isn’t up in the sky—“why do you stand here looking into the sky?” (Acts 1:11)—it’s here now among believers by the Holy Spirit. “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22–23).
Through faith in Jesus we have received the power and majesty of his kingdom. Let’s live like it! “The holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever” (Daniel 7:18).
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 5, 2023 4:45:53 GMT -8
DAY SEVENTEEN
PENTECOST AND LIVING IN THE IN-BETWEEN
ISAIAH 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17–18)
Jesus promised his continued presence with his people. The Holy Spirit is this presence. The Holy Spirit gave them wisdom and courage to tell the world about Jesus. They needed courage—most of them bailed on Jesus when he went to the cross. They were terrified and confused, but that was about to change. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit wasn’t just for the first disciples; he is with believers today! The Holy Spirit gives us truth, courage, and power, so that we can minister to the world. He dwells in us and draws us to God.
The book of Acts narrates the start of the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. The early Christians preached the gospel in power and without fear, adding thousands to the church. They healed the sick and made cripples walk. They cast out demons. They brought the dead to life. They also suffered persecution—even to the point of death—and division. In all this the Holy Spirit ministered to, strengthened, and equipped the followers of Jesus.
Jesus has defeated death and sin through dying and rising again; however, he hasn’t yet returned to judge the world and make everything right and perfect again. We live in this in-between time. We still sin and struggle, but we also have forgiveness and the hope that it won’t be like this forever! He has given us his Holy Spirit for power, wisdom, and courage.
He has also given us a mission: to tell the world the good news that he forgives and leads us when we believe and trust him! The New Testament is filled with stories of the church and how Jesus’ followers live in this in-between, and it reminds us that we are living for something bigger than just ourselves.
“The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:17–18).
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 6, 2023 4:09:45 GMT -8
DAY EIGHTEEN
JESUS IS COMING BACK
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30–31)
Jesus promised to come again. Once again, the disciples had their own idea of what Jesus meant. They expected to see him return to earth in their lifetime. When it didn’t happen the way they expected, some began to doubt whether Jesus would ever return. However, Jesus never said when he would return—in fact, he said no one but God the Father knows the hour. Instead, he told us to always expect his return, so that we would be prepared. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.… You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:42, 44).
God never forgets his people! His timing is intentional. God delays Jesus’ return, because he is merciful. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God wants everyone to turn to him, and he gives plenty of time and opportunity.
Jesus said he will come again, so he will! Jesus’ second coming will bring an end to sin, sickness, and sadness. It will be the ultimate, forever victory. He wants us to be ready. He wants us to be intentional about the time he gives us here on earth. We aren’t here to chase things that give only temporary happiness. He has given us a meaningful purpose: to know him, to follow him in obedience, and to share his love with others. “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11–12).
God has a plan, and we’re part of it, so let’s be faithful!
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 7, 2023 5:14:06 GMT -8
DAY NINETEEN
HEAVEN
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:4–5)
The God who created heaven is the same God who created mountains for us to climb and ski, and oceans for us to surf and snorkel. He created us to love, to be skillful, to learn, to be curious, to enjoy relationship with each other and with him. He made us creative, adventurous, and unique.
Our God has prepared a heaven better than earth in every single way. Every hope and expectation will be surpassed. Imagine the best things on earth: favorite smells, tastes, sights, hobbies, and places. Those are merely shadows of what heaven will be. Your dream job, your closest relationships, your ideal home—all of it pales compared to what God has in store for us!
If your idea of heaven is floating on a cloud, playing a harp, and sitting around twiddling your thumbs for eternity, then get that idea out of your head. We will have a perfect relationship with God and one another. We won’t have anything to hide or be embarrassed about. We won’t be left out. We will do what we love as worship to God. Our lives and jobs will be meaningful. We won’t be less of what God created us to be here on earth, we will be more ourselves than we can ever be on earth.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 8, 2023 9:45:04 GMT -8
e v e I thought you might like this one DAY TWENTYGOD IS A MYSTERY Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. (Psalm 145:3)My elderly grandmother has studied the Bible her whole life. One evening as my grandfather read a chapter, I noticed that her lips moved along with my grandfather’s reading. She knew every word; still, she focused as though she was hearing it for the first time. She told me afterward, “In every season of my life I have understood those words and God differently. It will never get old because he is so much more than I could ever discover.” Even though she has read through the Bible dozens of times and known Jesus for more than 80 years, she’s still learning. By his word and Spirit, God continually speaks to her current circumstances. Knowing the entire Bible doesn’t mean you have God all figured out. You might know all the answers at Bible study, and you might know Bible characters such as Noah, Jonah, and the disciples forward, backward, and upside down. Yet God wants to reveal more to you! He wants to speak into your life. As you get to know God, the surprises will keep coming. He is deeper, more incomprehensible, and more multidimensional than you will ever know. You will always have more to discover about God in your relationship with him. We won’t ever have all of our questions answered about God. No one person has all the right answers. We are made in God’s image. But we are limited; God is limitless, vast, and deeper than anything we can comprehend. “ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’ ” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Our human minds will never get it all, but as we seek him through the Bible and prayer, he will grow our understanding. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 9, 2023 9:17:18 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-ONE
GOD IS A TRINITY
EPHESIANS 2:4–5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
God is beyond our full understanding, and it’s difficult to wrap our human minds around him. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit are each fully God. Does that mean there are three gods? No. The Bible teaches that there is only one God. Does that mean that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are the same? No. As Christians, we believe in one God in a way that doesn’t deny the distinctions between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. This is the mystery of the Trinity.
Together the Father, Son and Holy Spirit do all things. Nevertheless, the Father is generally connected with creation, making the world. The Son, Jesus, is generally connected to redemption, making us right with God. The Holy Spirit is generally connected with growing us to be more like God. The Holy Spirit helps us grow by giving us understanding, by bringing our sin to our attention, so we can repent and be forgiven, and by guiding us to follow the Lord.
The Father sent Jesus to earth to be born, die, rise again, and ascend to heaven. Together the Father and Son sent the Spirit, who brings God’s people into relationship with the Father and Son. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15–17). The Holy Spirit will give you courage, enable you to hear God’s voice, and give you words to speak when you share Jesus with others.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 10, 2023 5:13:57 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-TWO
GOD IS THE ONLY GOD
“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.” (Isaiah 43:10–11)
Many people believe there are many ways to heaven, and the important thing is to be good. However, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). There is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ. Our salvation doesn’t depend on our identity, our behavior, or how we measure up to other people. We are saved only because Jesus rescued us by dying on the cross in our place and rising again, getting rid of our sin forever and giving us new life. The only way to heaven is to believe in him and accept his sacrifice.
God is the only one worthy of the number one spot in our lives. We may fill that spot with people we love, goals we have, good deeds, or material things, but only God can fill a spot designed for him. “For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods, for all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary” (Psalm 96:4–6).
If God is so powerful, then why does it sometimes seem like evil is winning in the world? God is sovereign; he is the ultimate ruler. “Dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28). This is true, even though sometimes it seems as if evil is winning in our world. God is in control even when everything looks broken and painful. Until Jesus returns to make everything right, we still live in a sinful and broken world. But he promises it won’t be this way forever!
Jeremiah was a prophet who had seen the ugly in the world, but still knew who held the world. He said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17).
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 11, 2023 6:29:50 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-THREE
GOD IS EVERYWHERE AND GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:23–24)
Have you ever hoped for a friend who would be there for you no matter what? A friend who knows everything about you, even anticipating what you’ll say next? A friend who never leaves you lonely and who understands you even before you explain yourself?
God understands you, he knows everything about you (yes, even the embarrassing parts), and he is always there for you. “Where can I go from your Spirit?” the psalmist exclaims. “Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:7–8).
You can’t run away from God. Even your thoughts are known to him. “Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely” (Psalm 139:4). The darkness will never be dark enough to hide you from him. “Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:12).
Nothing surprises God. He created you, and he knows you better than you know yourself! Think of a time in your life when you felt lonely or abandoned, or a time when you thought no one saw what you saw. God was there every time. God is everywhere. He cares for his people across the world, accomplishes his purposes in all places, and sees your hurts and dreams, all at the same time. He hears the prayers you pray. He even hears your prayers that you think don’t make sense. Not only does he know, but he also cares.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 12, 2023 7:04:50 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-FOUR
GOD IS LOVE THAT WON’T FADE
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37–39)
All around us we see love fail. We see relationships end in breakups. We see marriages end in divorce. We see friendships end. Some love us based on our performance. They love us as long as we look good, keep it together, and do what they want. We love people who don’t love us back or maybe they love us but do a lousy job showing it. We let people down and miss opportunities to love well. We think we love, but we doubt our love when our feelings go away and the relationship has challenges.
God’s love is nothing like those “loves.” His love endures forever. God’s love is not based on what we do or don’t do. Our choices bring consequences, and they must be faced, but they won’t change God’s love for us. God pursues us no matter how much we reject him. His love for us is unconditional and permanent. “You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15).
Jesus’ death and resurrection are the grandest acts of love anyone will ever do for you. Jesus left his throne in heaven to come to earth as a humble person who was beaten and killed, a Savior who offered himself on a cross as your sacrifice. Clearly Jesus’ love for you is not empty, mushy, or wimpy. It is strong and unfailing. His death and resurrection took away your sin and gives you true life with him. He can back up his promises to care for you and meet your needs.
The love of God changes who we are and how we relate to other people. His love is unfailingly patient, kind, protecting, merciful, and hopeful. His love seeps into us, and then it pours back out of us onto the people around us. His love gives us strength to do things that seem impossible.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 13, 2023 11:51:21 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-FIVE
GOD IS PERFECT AND UNCHANGING
DEUTERONOMY 6:4–5
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
We’ve all been disappointed by someone important to us. We’ve all had our trust betrayed. We’ve all wondered at some point, “Is there anyone I can trust?” And even when we try hard, we let others down. All people sin. Be encouraged! God doesn’t mess up. He’s not weak. He doesn’t back down. He never goes back on his word. You can always trust him—even when everything else fails.
We don’t always understand what God is doing, but his plans are perfect and his timing is right. This doesn’t mean our lives will always be easy. It doesn’t mean we won’t question why he is doing something. It doesn’t mean we will always have all the answers we want. We may not understand or even agree with everything God does, but we can still know he is perfect and his ways are perfect. God is a promise keeper and will follow through: “Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses” (1 Kings 8:56).
We can be confident that God is perfect and unchanging. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). His character will never waver. His word is as true today as it was thousands of years ago. The world is broken, but he is not. The world changes and fails, but he is sure and solid. As the prophet Isaiah says, “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.… The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:6, 8).
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 14, 2023 5:33:30 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-SIX
GOD IS A REFUGE
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall and like the heat of the desert. You silenced the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled. (Isaiah 25:4–5)
God is a refuge. He is a shelter, a safe place where we can rest even when things around us are terrifying. God not only understands our circumstances, but he also protects us when we are out of strength. While our lives may feel like they are spinning out of control, “Under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).
When you feel like no one understands you, when you’re afraid, discouraged, anxious, or desperate, when you want to run away or harm yourself, pray with the psalmist, “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1).
We can bring our mess, our broken pieces, and our out-of-control life to God. He can put us together. We don’t have to fix ourselves before we go to God. We rest—alone and with others—when we read the Bible, when we pour out our heart in prayer, when we talk about God’s promises and great deeds. Our rest comes from God, our refuge.
God says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). How can you be still and rest in God as your refuge today? Try turning off your phone, computer, or any distractions for a while. Find a way to be still. Go for a walk and let your mind be still or find a cozy spot to close your eyes and think about the verses you’ve read. Ask another Christian to tell you about a time God was their refuge. Be still and think about the words in a song or Bible reading during church. Take time to pray and rest so God can calm your fears. Be still and know that he is God.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 15, 2023 4:58:05 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-SEVEN
GOD IS THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR
The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.… The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.… Your right hand, LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, LORD, shattered the enemy. (Exodus 15:2, 3, 6)
God is love. He is forgiving and merciful. This doesn’t mean God is a pushover. God is also a warrior. He is just, strong, and uncompromising. He has no equal. Yet our ideas of strength don’t totally apply here. God came to earth in weakness as baby. He who governs the universe was sentenced to death by a human governor. He defeated death through his cross and resurrection. “[Jesus] too shared in [our] humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14–15).
The Lord fights for us and through us. We are involved with him in a very real spiritual battle. We can’t stay neutral. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8–9).
Don’t be fooled. Your power, strength, and fame aren’t powerful. You can’t defeat the enemy (Satan) on your own. Acknowledge your weakness and lack of control. “Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.… And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:7, 10).
If you follow Jesus, you are on the side that wins (read Revelation 20:7–15 for a glimpse into that future battle). As with any battle, fighting a spiritual battle takes time and training to fight. You don’t sit on the couch eating junk food or numb your brain with social media to prepare for a physical battle. You work with a trainer—in a spiritual battle, this is a small group leader, pastor, church members. You master your weapons—your spiritual weapons are the Bible and prayer. You orient your life—work, meals, and rest—around this preparation. You don’t get to sit this one out.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 16, 2023 10:15:58 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-EIGHT
GOD IS FORGIVENESS If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)Have you ever felt guilty for something you’ve done or thought? Have you wondered if God could really forgive and change you? No matter how hard we try, we all have a sin problem. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God also knows our sin problem and has redeemed us in Christ! “And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).We all need forgiveness, and we all suffer guilt—sometimes even after we’ve received forgiveness. David is a great biblical example of this truth. He needed serious forgiveness. He was a king of Israel who loved God, but he messed up and kept messing up. He lusted after a married woman, Bathsheba. After he took advantage of her, he had her husband killed to cover his tracks. When David sinned, God sent a prophet to confront him. “You are the man!… Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?” (2 Samuel 12:7, 9). David realized he was making himself miserable. He acknowledged and confessed his sin. He still faced consequences for his sin, and he couldn’t undo the wrongs he committed. However, he was mercifully reconciled to God. Even amid his consequences, David worshiped God, assured that God had put away his sin. In Psalm 51 we read David’s confession of these sins. He first acknowledges God’s character and his own sin. He then asks to be cleansed of his guilt. He asks God to change him and replace his heavy, shame-filled heart with the joy of God’s salvation. He promises to tell what God has done for him and to worship God. Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ |
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Post by Parker on Apr 17, 2023 8:57:41 GMT -8
DAY TWENTY-NINE
GOD IS PERSONAL
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.2 TIMOTHY 3:16–17
Your hands made me and formed me. (Psalm 119:73)
The Lord didn’t just create us and let things go without getting involved. God created the heavens and earth, plant and animal life, and he made us with intricate detail and uniqueness. God puts great care into all the things he makes. With loving purpose he designed your physical appearance, your mind, your talents, and your personality. He delights in what he has made and longs to know you.
God has always dwelled with his people. In the garden of Eden he dwelled with Adam and Eve. After Adam and Eve sinned, God went to extravagant lengths to pursue his people. He sent prophets with his message, and he gave the Israelites instructions for the tabernacle, where his presence would be. Then Jesus came to earth. After the ascension, God poured the Holy Spirit into our hearts so that God will always be present with us. He will never leave or forsake us.
If you struggle with your identity, if you are insecure about the way God made you, if you tend to criticize yourself, then take extra time reading through today’s psalm.
Notice how God through the psalmist defines your identity. Observe how the psalmist describes how God made you. Write down the verses that stick out to you. Post them so you can be reminded of God’s love for you. You are not an accident. His hands made you and formed you. God values you and is thrilled about your life. He gladly dwells with you!
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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Post by Parker on Apr 18, 2023 4:54:30 GMT -8
DAY THIRTY
CHURCH—A BUILDING CAN’T CONTAIN IT
God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:24–27)
The church is made up of people who believe Jesus is their Savior and have made him first in their lives. The church isn’t made up of perfect people. It is made of people who are learning about following Christ and learning how to love God and each other.
The church, which includes all Christ-followers, meets regularly all across the globe in smaller organizations known as local churches. A local church can meet in a small building, a home, or a stadium, but a church isn’t the building itself. The church is made up of people who are following Jesus. No matter how young you are when you became a Christian, there is a place for you to be part of a local church! It’s important to find a place in your community where you can learn and serve.
The church doesn’t gather to be entertained. God’s desire is for the church to encourage each other, pray together, and learn together. We get to worship together, hear God’s word, and serve others. We get to discover and enjoy the gifts God gives us! The church gathers to experience God’s grace together in Christ.
In Acts we read that the church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). This common life involved more than meeting in a building once a week and then going their separate ways. They ate together. They prayed together. They gave what they had to help the needy and the hurting. They shared—through their words and actions—the good news that Jesus promises forgiveness and life to those who believe in him. Through the church God works in the world.
Shilo Taylor, Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ
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