Become Mature

This isn’t a VBS picture. This is our Monday morning staff meeting.  

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“…become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” ~Ephesians 4:13

In the context of Christian unity—one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father—Paul tells us what it means to be mature in Christ. Christian maturity, according to the apostle, is understanding the body of believers as Christ calls it to be: a corporate body that exists to serve others.

Paul says Jesus gave each of us our spiritual gifts, “some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” And the purpose of those gifts, the very reason for our existence in the Church of God, is to “prepare God’s people for works of service.”

The preachers and the ministers and the elders and the church staff don’t serve the members. They prepare the members to serve others. They encourage and equip the members to serve other people. Paul says when, and only when, we have that mindset will we “reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

So many of us view the Church as established to serve “me.” How can the Church meet my needs? How can the Church take care of me? How can I be served, how can my kids be served, how can my needs be met at this or that church? What if more people said, “I see a need here at this church I can meet. I’d like to help.” What if more people looking for a church home came in with an attitude of service? Instead of “how can I be filled here?” it’s “how can I serve other people at this place and build the body up?” Paul’s mindset is this: all my needs are met through my resurrected Savior Christ Jesus; now how can I meet the needs of others?

Until we reach that point, Paul says we’re infants. We won’t grow up until we realize that it’s not about me, it’s about the Body of Christ. What can I do to build up God’s Church? And not just my corner of the Church, not just my ministry or my area of interest. The whole Church of Jesus Christ, all of it, big picture. How can I encourage? How can I serve? How can I edify? In what ways can I sacrifice my own interests and needs in order to put others and the Lord’s Church first?

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Day 2 of Legacy’s VBS and the Moses Musical is in the books.

Cameron killed as Pharaoh’s first-born son. His rendition of “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” with Gary Giles was the high-point of the night. And that’s high praise considering last night’s acts contained a burning bush, a shepherd’s staff that turned into a very tall snake, water turning to blood, and a tribute to the Village People’s “Y-M-C-A” (There’s lots of blood in the N-I-L-E!).

 Ashley and Jaylana were amazing with “God Loves Israel.” Carrie-Anne threw in a little crack about Gershom and Eliezer being the only two sons we’ll ever have. And, in the burning bush scene, Doug Deere, the voice of God, got in some shots of his own regarding Moses’ lack of speaking ability. “One Day More” is in the rearview mirror. It’s all downhill from here.

Most of the VBS pictures I’m posting are taken by David Branson. He’s posting a couple of hundred each night on his website. You can see all of them by clicking here.

Night Three this evening at 7:00.

 Peace,

Allan