Whose Church Is It?

Last night my two-year-old (turns three next month)son saw a picture from one of our Expand mailings that had a picture of our current building on it. He said...."That's the church!" My first thought was...."boy, we are raising a bright one!"

I followed up his declaration by asking him..."Brady, whose church is it?" Honestly, the good side of me was hoping he would say..."That is MY church!" Also, the bad side of me, was kind of hoping that he would say..."That's daddy church." (Give me a break...Everyone wants their son to think highly of them!)

Instead, he said...."That's Eric's Church!" My wife busted out laughing. Brady was referring to Mr. Eric who is the volunteer leader of his classroom on Sunday morning. Immediately, I thought how cool is that. Brady thinks that it is Mr. Eric's church because at this point in his young life, it is Mr. Eric at church who is having the greatest impact on him.

I think this a perfect example of how we have always positioned CSF. Each person who is on the Team has a critical role of service, influence and ministry. We are a Fellowship that has hundreds of leaders and ministers. The answer to whose church is it???...is very clear and simple. It is God's church. We have a TEAM approach to changing and impacting our city, nation and the world. We are a "Team Church".

From the start of CSF we have vowed to attempt such big dreams that if they were to succeed it would be because God was in it and he alone would get the Glory. This is the meaning of Ephesians 3:20 that we have for our Expand verse.

I sometimes get nervous when I hear people speak of a local church and they refer to it like this: "Well, I go to __________'s church" and they give the name of the Lead or Senior Pastor. Or, when they refer to a church they refer first to the name of the Lead Pastor and not to the name of the church.

As we Expand....it will take all of us coming together. Serving, giving and being the local church. Whose church is it? It is God's church as he is the ultimate leader. However, we are the church...the people.


Today's Bible Reading: Matthew Chapter Two

Oh yes...the classic Christmas story. Did you read fast and blow through it because you think you know the story and their is nothing new to learn? You may not learn any new facts...but don't miss the fact that God was watching over Joseph and Mary. He had asked them to do something special. However, all was not going smooth. (never does) One principle that you may need to hear today is this...where God guides you, he will provide for you. May not be easy, may not be like you "planned"...but if we are putting God first and doing our best to do what he asked us to do, God will take care of us.