[Thanks, Adam, for sharing your thoughts below]
This morning I read one of my favourite passages from the Bible, which gives an insight to how the first church lived:
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47
N.T. Wright asks this question based on the passage: “what does church mean to you?”
Right now, while we can’t get together as we normally do it’s a good time to ask that question of ourselves. What does church mean to me?
If all church is to you is going to the building, sitting down, singing songs and listening to the sermon then maybe not much is different right now. Yes, the sermon is online and you’re sat in your favourite chair at home rather than the ones we normally put out in the school for a Sunday service, but what church means to you hasn’t really changed.
Yet this passage shows us that church is so much more. Fellowship. Breaking bread together. Sharing. These things need us to participate together, jointly and to contribute together and jointly.
Church isn’t about the building, the place, and it’s not all about the singing and the preaching. We, the people who get together with Christ in our hearts and contribute together to the life of the church, are the church. And in the current times we are facing, we can continue being the church by continuing to keep in contact with each; continuing to grow in our relationships through talking to each other; continuing to share with each other what God is teaching us through the Bible; continuing to pray for each other.
What does church mean to you?
How are you continuing to be a part of the church, even when we can’t physically meet together?
Adam