We go to church, or worship in our homes, and this is good.
We conduct ourselves as He commands, sort of.
Is the body of Christ growing in numbers?
Are we, as a community, as involved in evangelism as the body of believers was 50, 100, 150 years ago?
I see a lot happening within churches, and some organized outreach, but individual evangelism seems to me to be lacking..
I have been surveying some of the less familiar (at least to me) books of the Bible, and came across Haggi..
Chapter 1 talks about the temple being in disrepair, while the people of God simply go about their daily business, attending their daily cares:
Now this passage specifically relates to the temple. But it also relates to winning new believers, building the body of Christ.
I am reminded of Matthew 9:36-38
The Lord and His kingdom should be on our lips as we go through the world, as well as in church.
This doesn't have to be the button-holing wearing Christ on our sleeve, but those around us should be encouraged by example and exhortation to commit to the Lord.
This is not something for the future, when all our other cares have been solved.
The time is always now.
We conduct ourselves as He commands, sort of.
Is the body of Christ growing in numbers?
Are we, as a community, as involved in evangelism as the body of believers was 50, 100, 150 years ago?
I see a lot happening within churches, and some organized outreach, but individual evangelism seems to me to be lacking..
I have been surveying some of the less familiar (at least to me) books of the Bible, and came across Haggi..
Chapter 1 talks about the temple being in disrepair, while the people of God simply go about their daily business, attending their daily cares:
[2] “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”’”
[3] Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “
[4] Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”
[5] Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!
[6] You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”
[3] Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “
[4] Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”
[5] Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!
[6] You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”
Now this passage specifically relates to the temple. But it also relates to winning new believers, building the body of Christ.
I am reminded of Matthew 9:36-38
[36] Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
[37] Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
[38] Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
[37] Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
[38] Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
The Lord and His kingdom should be on our lips as we go through the world, as well as in church.
This doesn't have to be the button-holing wearing Christ on our sleeve, but those around us should be encouraged by example and exhortation to commit to the Lord.
This is not something for the future, when all our other cares have been solved.
The time is always now.