Devotion

What is Church? Paul's journey and teachings

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

As we looked at last week, if you asked a child to draw a church, they would probably draw a building with a steeple, a door and a cross on top. It is a good picture, but Paul’s journey invites us to see something bigger.

Paul began as a man determined to stop the church. He believed that following Jesus was dangerous and wrong, and he set out for Damascus to arrest believers. On the road, Jesus met him and asked, “Why are you persecuting me?” Notice that Jesus didn’t say “my followers.” He said me. From the very start, Paul learned that the church is not a place or an institution. It is people, joined so closely to Christ that what happens to them happens to him.

Paul never forgot this. He travelled thousands of kilometres by land and sea, was shipwrecked, imprisoned and opposed, and he planted communities of believers wherever he went. Many of them met in ordinary homes, like Lydia’s at Philippi. Those communities were the church, with no building required.

In his letters, Paul describes the church as a body with many parts, all different and all needed (1 Corinthians 12). The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” Each gift is given for the common good, to build up the body of Christ. And Paul reminds us that without love, even the most extraordinary gifts, the greatest sacrifices and our finest efforts amount to nothing (1 Corinthians 13).

We saw this picture come to life on Sunday.

Before the first stall was set up or the first sausage sizzled, we gathered in the courtyard to worship together. There were no pews and no steeple, just a church and school community sharing in song and prayer, asking God to bless the day and the people who would walk through our gates. It was a reminder that before we serve, we worship, and that church happens wherever God’s people gather in his name.

Then the body got to work. So many volunteers gave their time and energy, from those who set up early to those who packed down late. Church members, parents, staff, students and friends all played different parts. Some were up front, and many worked quietly behind the scenes, but every part was needed, just as Paul described. We are so grateful, and we are blessed to belong to a community that serves with such joy.

Best of all, the gates were open. Paul’s whole life was about taking the good news of Jesus beyond the walls of his own community, and on Sunday we had the joy of doing the same. As visitors came through to enjoy the fete, we were able to welcome them, share conversations, show them hospitality and talk about the love of Christ that shapes our school. It was a privilege to share the Christian message with our wider community in such a natural and happy way.

So what is church? It is a gathering of imperfect people who have been found by Jesus, just as Paul was, who worship together, serve one another and welcome others in. If Sunday is anything to go by, that is exactly who we are called to be.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of community and for every person who gave their time on Sunday. Thank you that we could worship together and welcome others into our community. Help us to keep serving with gladness and to share your love wherever we go. Amen.

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal