How Church Happens

So now that we know what the Church is and why we need it, we move onto our final focus…

How do we do it?

Church Life

For starters, be active in your church.

Go to the Sunday gathering. Sing, learn, contemplate the liturgy, and fellowship with those around you.

But don’t, and I can’t stress this enough, turn your Church experience into a purely Sunday occurrence. 

Make plans with your fellow congregants during the week.

Get involved in a group that regularly meets outside of Sunday.

Involve yourself in whatever ministry or social events the church might have during the week/weekend.

Find ways you can serve and contribute with your unique talents.

Do BBQs, help someone move, have a book club, play pickleball, go jogging together, the list goes on…

In essence, what I’m trying to say is, make your church a part of your life. Not just a part of your week.

Be active and accessible. 

Yes, it requires commitment and vulnerability.

Yes, that’s scary.

And it’s worth it.

By doing this, we learn from one another, we establish long and lasting relationships, we make mistakes and let each other down, that’s true, but by the grace of God, we grow from that and become more like Jesus.

Basically, to borrow from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, we do Church by doing life together.

Finding a Local Community

Okay, well, what if you aren't currently part of a church but, after reading this, you’ve been so struck by my awe-inspiring words (joke) that you now want to join one?

What then?

Well, you certainly have no shortage of churches to choose from, that’s for sure.

In my experience, when it comes to choosing one, I’ve realized something.

What’s important isn’t small church or big church, wealthy church or poor church, traditional church or modern church - it’s what’s at the center that’s most important. 

What is the community built on?

If it’s the teachings and person of Jesus, my friend, you’ve found a winner.

Look for a community that actually feels like a community. Not a Sunday event with rock music and a lecture or an ancient liturgy with robes - these things are secondary to the authentic, communal experience.

Look for people who model Jesus, who are welcoming, and who make a place for you.

Also, be aware that no church will meet all your specifications.

The beauty of denominations is that they give a diverse world diverse ways of engaging with the same Gospel, but no denomination will check every box. And that’s good. The Church isn’t a consumeristic playground meant to appeal to our every last preference. 

It’s a place we go to encounter God together and live alongside one another as His people.

Don’t look for the perfect community, you won’t find it.

Instead, settle for loving, grace-filled, and flawed people. These are the ones through whom Jesus does His best work. And they are the ones who make the Church the hope that it is.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter