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When we hear the word "church," we often think of a building or structure. But the original meaning had nothing to do with a building—it had everything to do with you. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said He would build His church upon the foundation of truth that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

You are the church. That's why during the pandemic, when buildings were locked down, the church doors were never truly closed—because you were still open. If we want to shift our region into the kingdom of God, we must understand that we are the church. We're not just members of a legal community, but actively engaged parts of the body of Christ, 24/7.

What Does It Mean to Be the Body of Christ?

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul uses the metaphor of a body to describe the church. This wasn't just clever imagery—it was a profound truth about our identity and function:

  • The church is not a static institution but a dynamic, living organism
  • Each member has a specific function, and no part can claim superiority or insignificance
  • There is beauty in the diversity of the body
  • The gifts are distributed by the Spirit for the common good, not individual glory

When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, they were struggling with division and spiritual immaturity. They excelled in spiritual gifts but used them selfishly. The prophetic ministry was never designed for building personal platforms—it was given so that we could grow up and ultimately look like Jesus.

Why Do I Feel Like I'm Not Important in the Church?

Stop thinking you're not important. Stop thinking you're not worthy. Also, stop thinking you're too important. We need each other.

Many people think, "The pastor doesn't need me, so I can go missing." But that's not true. The work God has given us to do as the local body of Christ cannot be done by one person alone. Every member matters.

Some are afraid to engage because they see the same people serving every Sunday. They think, "I don't want them always expecting me to be on the door or doing praise and worship, so I'll just sit in my pew." But there are no more bench warmers—everybody's getting in the game.

What Is My True Identity as a Believer?

1 Peter 2:9-10 tells us who we really are:

  • A chosen people (picked out or selected by God)
  • A royal priesthood (given authority and access)
  • A holy nation
  • God's special possession

Nowhere does Scripture say you are "just damaged goods" or "the scum of the earth." You are God's choice—not a backup plan. This means you have authority and access. You don't need to wait for the pastor to pray for you—you can pray for yourself and see God answer. You don't need to wait for someone else to take dominion over demons—you can do it yourself.

Our primary identity is found not in what we do, but in who we are: God's chosen people called to live holy lives and proclaim His glory in the world.

How Has Humanistic Thinking Affected the Church?

Too much humanistic thinking has flooded the church, creating a form of humanistic gospel where we preach too much self-care and focus too much on ourselves. "I gotta protect my peace" has become a common phrase, but Philippians tells us that if we put God first and have a heart of gratitude, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds—not us protecting our own peace.

In Galatians 5:13, Paul had to confront this mindset: "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to freedom. But don't use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."

The word "serve" literally means "to be a slave to"—emphasizing total submission to others' needs out of love, not reluctant duty or prideful obligation. Jesus modeled this in John 13:12-17 when He washed His disciples' feet.

How Do I Stay Connected to Christ When Life Gets Hard?

John 15:4-5 reminds us: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit by itself but must remain in the vine. Neither can you produce fruit unless you remain in me."

When life gets crazy, our tendency is to pull away from God and go into hiding. We stop praying, stop reading Scripture, and disconnect ourselves until things get better. But Jesus calls us to remain connected, especially during difficult times.

The branches on a vine go through all types of weather—extreme heat, cold, wind, and rain—but they stay connected. Similarly, we can't disconnect from the body just because we're going through rough times. It's during those times that we need to stay connected and draw strength from the rest of the body.

What Role Does the Holy Spirit Play in My Christian Life?

Acts 1:8 tells us: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold witnesses for Christ, regardless of our personality type. Whether you're shy or outgoing, introverted or extroverted, the Holy Spirit can empower you to share your faith.

This promise of power underscores our dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than human ability. The Holy Spirit teaches us and reveals the way of Jesus to us, but this process takes time. We've gotten so used to everything being instant that we expect spiritual growth to be the same way. While God can do things instantaneously, most spiritual growth is a process that we must patiently walk through.

Life Application

Being more than a church member means embracing your role as an essential part of Christ's living body. Here are some questions to reflect on this week:

  1. Am I contributing actively to the life of the church, or am I just a consumer?
  2. Do I understand my spiritual gifts and use them to serve others?
  3. Am I staying connected to Christ even when life gets difficult?
  4. How can I be a bold witness for Christ this week, regardless of my personality type?
  5. Am I serving others humbly in love, or am I focused primarily on my own needs?

This week, challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone. If you've been sitting on the sidelines, find one way to actively engage in the body of Christ. It might be greeting someone new, praying for someone in need, or using your unique gifts to serve others.

Remember, as Billy Graham said, "The church exists by mission as fire exists by burning." Let's be the church that burns brightly for Christ in our community.