The saving work of God in the world today is exerted through the church. Nowhere does the New Testament describe a saving work of God outside the church.
Do not say, God has not called the church to greatness. It’s not enough to be great when God has made it possible for the church to do incredible things by his power. But God’s incredible work must always be focused in the church. Do good things in the name of Jesus, but remember that Jesus condemned some who did good things. If you would imitate and obey the Lord, don’t neglect the importance of building up the local church. Value doing God’s eternal will above all. Kingdom people want to reflect the compassion of the King, but Jesus did not give his life to meet physical needs. Jesus gave his life to purchase the church, to purify the church, to empower the church. That is the big picture of our salvation.
This should cause us to rethink the how and why of much of what we do. Simple but significant. Do not make it harder than it is. It is time for innovative analysis and thinking about what we do, how and why. In a conversation at the workshop, a brother lamented the tremendous fallout rate of new Christians. Assimilation is not possible unless there is a local church into which people are baptized. Healthy churches can assimilate; unhealthy ones seldom will. Spiritual leaders are a part of God’s shepherding plan. We are trying to do God’s work without one of the primary tools—a healthy, vibrant local body.
Here is what keeps me going in strengthening churches, encouraging spiritual growth, developing leaders and teachers. Every day is a special gift of God—going to bed with a dream and waking up with a purpose. God’s purpose is nowhere seen more clearly than in the church.