June, 2007 

MY Church 

"I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18)

Author and church planter Nelson Searcy says that a person who occasionally attends a church will refer to it as "the church I go to." But a member refers to the same church as "my church." Can you hear the difference in ownership? Which person do you think takes more interest in the growth and health of the congregation? Author and Pastor John Maxwell says a similar thing when he makes the distinction between people who are "interested" in seeing your church grow and those that are "committed" to the same goal. There clearly is a difference in the degree of commitment and dedication, isn't there?

Since hearing Searcy and Maxwell, I have taken note of how people refer to Saving Grace in conversations with me. I must say that on more than one occasion I've been surprised to hear people who attend Saving Grace, say something like "I'm glad to hear that you've gotten land for your church!" While they may be expressing interest in the congregation of Saving Grace, are they actually committed to seeing this ministry and its goals carried out? Or by their words are they showing themselves to be more or less just interested bystanders?

What about our Lord Jesus? I'm glad he took ownership in HIS Church (Matt 16:18)! How much more committed could He be than do give up His life for HIS Church? I'm glad that He took responsibility for the life and salvation of HIS Church. And I'm glad that He has promised to grow HIS Church and is not sitting on the sidelines just watching with interest.

What about you? How do you refer to Saving Grace? Do you call it "MY church" in conversation? I hope you do. Do you think of it as Pastor Augie's church? Or do you see it as your spiritual home – the place where your fellow family of believers belongs? I truly believe that what people are searching for when they first darken the doors of any church, is a place to belong, a place to grow and a place to serve. All that can be found only with commitment. The very depths of meaning in relationship that you are searching for in a church, may simply be the difference found in these two little letters “M-Y.” If you haven’t already, make the switch today. Make Saving Grace YOUR Church, not just the church you go to, and let God begin to build His church through you.

Pastor Augie