The word translated "church" in Greek is 'ekklesia' which means an assembly of people called out. It is as if God calls people out from the world and they assemble together as the Lord leads.

Now as Christians, we are called by God to "love one another", "serve one another", "exhort one another" and so forth, and these things cannot be done in isolation. You can't live out the Christian life without developing committed relationships with other believers.

A lot of people like a religious system where they go to a meeting place, sing some nice praise songs with excellent musical accompaniment, hear an inspiring message hopefully drawing on the Bible, and go home. Once home, they can get on with the things they need to do to maintain a reasonable level of physical existence - such as eat, sleep, get educated and work, and then perhaps spend some time on their personal interests - watching sport, playing computer games, browsing the internet, or listening to popular music, for example.

The religious system will offer a few more activities catered to various age groups, and can keep people quite occupied. This is "average Christian living" as I see it practiced in the western world.

Its pretty well established that if you can create an organisation which meets people's needs for personal encouragement, entertainment, friendship and good music, if you are a good event manager or can hire someone who is, you can get a lot of people involved in your "church".

But really, is this what it is all about?

I suggest that we should never lose sight of some key facts. These facts should always be before our mind no matter what we are doing.

FACT # 1.

God's purpose is that I become like Jesus Christ.

What does that mean? It means, amongst other things - that I care for the needs of others, that I trust God for material provision and the provision of everything else I need, that I can hear and obey the voice of the Spirit of God, that I value truth above expediency and that I live to please God and not myself.

It means that I should be committed to destroying the works of the devil, reconciling people to God, and living a pure life.

THEREFORE,

If a church is not seriously aiming at helping in God's purpose of achieving THAT - then that church is seriously MISSING THE MARK and it is better to find a church, if possible, that at least AIMS for this.

FACT # 2.

We are commanded to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and our neighbour as ourselves. This means that both our thought life and our deeds should always be glorifying to God and seek to please God. We can do that while through loving our neighbour - seeking their spiritual, emotional, physical and mental good in such ways that reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit - love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

FACT #3

We don't know HOW to do the above properly and we don't have the power in ourselves. We need therefore first to connect with God and then "a

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