A Message of Hope

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”  Matthew 16:18
The Church of Christ has been meeting in Albany since the 1920’s.  A group of believers met in private homes, the courthouse, a city tabernacle, and then multiple, bigger buildings here on this lot. Our church has survived drought and floods.  Ice storms and high winds.  We the people are the church and not the place we build with human hands. 
God’s church is like the history of our building here in Albany.  He began His church in the first century with a small group of people.  The message of salvation was so great that the church grew and the Lord added on to it as needed (Acts 2: 47), first in Jerusalem and then throughout the world.  He is still adding onto His church those that are being saved.
Often we think of the church here in Albany as our church.  It’s where we attend.  It’s where we were baptized.  It’s our building on the main thoroughfare in town.  It’s our church.  Fortunately, the Bible teaches something different.
First, the church is not a building.  It never was and never will be.  Somehow we have taken the idea of a called out assembly of believers and made it into a brick and mortar building.  The Greek word ekklesia is a called out or elected assembly that meets for political or religious reasons.  The church is people who are called out of the world to follow God. 
Second, the church belongs, lock, stock, and barrel to Christ.  He founded it (Matthew 16:18), He died for it (Ephesians 5:25), and He is still our chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).  There is only one chief and we are not Him. 
As we consider today, our role in Christ’s church, let’s put our desires in context with who we serve.  As the called out assembly of Christ, we must seek His guidance in helping us decide how to serve Him in the most effective way possible.  Let us all pray for that guidance and a spirit of love that transcends our petty humanity and leads to eternal glory as we enter His Kingdom.
Scripture:  Ephesians 2: 19-22