{ go vs. be }

I want everyone to stop going to church
No, that’s not a typo – stop going to church.

Mark 7:6-7 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” God is not impressed with your attendance.

Paul tells us that because of who Jesus is and what He did on the cross, a Follower of Jesus Christ is not condemned to keep on sinning.

Jesus died and was resurrected so that we CAN live the righteous life that the Bible tells us we must live.

How do you fix yourself? You don’t.

The secret is focus. You focus on God and choose to respond and let God’s Spirit give you the strength to obey.

So – we start with the GOSPEL
The GOSPEL is simple: Jesus Christ obeyed His Father and died on a cross so that we would not have to suffer the consequences of our sin. He rose from the dead to destroy sin and death. He did all this first for God’s glory and second, so that we can live a righteous, holy life.

If you’re bored with church….
If you’re not excited about hearing God’s Word,
Then you’re doing something wrong.

Ask yourself the question: “Why am I here?”
• Are you here for yourself?
• Or are you here to empty myself and seek God?

So what does all this have to do with the first sentence “stop going to church?”
Everything.

If the truth of the Gospel is something that is a part of your life. If you have become a Follower of Jesus Christ. If you are a Disciple.
Then your call is clear.

Stop going to church and start being the church.

Read Acts 2:42-47 - They were together.

Read I Corinthians 12:12, 18, 19, 27 - We’re called to serve. To BE the church

That’s why you must stop going to church and start being the church.
Because if you’re headed to Immanuel, or some other church building on Wednesdays or Sundays, it’s going to be one or the other:

{ go vs. be }

If all this makes sense to you, then your next question should be “Okay, so how do I go and be the church?” Good question. You find out where you can serve and how you can help. It is the call of every Christian to not only be involved in a local church, but also to be in a place of service.
In the High School Ministry at Immanuel, there are many places and ways to serve. Just find a signup card on the back table, fill it out, and drop it in the mail slot or give it to Rob.

The Process of Growth:
• Attract
• Connect
• Grow
• Serve

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… for in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed…”
Romans 1:16-17a