Week 15
Five Minute Friday: This weeks word: Look
We can look at all the ways we want things to be different. We can look at all the ways things are wrong. And like I’ve said before, you often see what you are looking for.
But we can’t really make any progress unless we are also able to evaluate the things that are right and good and worthy to pursue and cherish. So with eyes that want to be open I will tell you some things that the church is mighty good at. Some things that may need work but are worth working for and some things that make it essential.
1.) Being two or more gathered. There is something beautiful about voices raised together in worship, prayers lifted to the heavens, and arms open wide. Only the church can join people as a body. Only Christ can make them unified as one. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20 NASB
2.) There’s no better place to practice love. Christians are supposed to know better. We’re supposed to have the Holy Spirit, so when we get it wrong in church it’s often easier to judge that person. When we practice love here, we’re offering up a chance to embrace and pour out the grace we’ve been granted.
3.) God tells us to. He says not to forsake the gathering. So there it is. Obedience. He said so. Good enough reason for me. Hebrews 10:24
4.) It is an outward expression of an inward love and dedication to God. When we gather, it says something to the world. It says we value being together. It says we join to worship one God. It bears witness to our convictions, faith, and trust in His church. It says we push beyond the petty to answer to a power that can mend the brokenness and bind hearts together.
5.) It builds up our spiritual strength. How can we stir up love and good works if we reject the gathering of believers? God wants us to encourage, exhort, and elevate each other in His body. We are to serve each other as we serve Him.
6.) It gives us accountability both to our spiritual leaders and also for our spiritual leaders. We speak the truth in love. We don’t water down, we don’t jump ship, we wade through and look for ways to love even as we are loved. Sometimes that means hearing the hard stuff.
7.) There’s power in numbers. One person praying=awesome Two=super awesome A multitude praying=We enter His throne room with power. He says that, “if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19 There is power in unity and there is power in prayer when hearts pour out and flow up to Him in chorus.
8.) We need to hear the gospel on repeat. We wander so easily. Our hearts turn to this gospel or that. We need to hear that we are saved by grace through faith. We need to hear and see what the good news is. We need to witness it with our eyes and radiate it with our lives. When we do that, church is a mighty fine place to be. And part of the gospel message, is that grace can, will, and does cover a multitude of sins. His love covers it all.
I wrote this as part of the wonderful Five Minute Friday Extravaganza happening every week over at Lisa Jo’s place. The most friendly place on the web where we all gather and write our hearts out for five minutes with no over thinking, no major editing, no major stress. We just let out our thoughts to the clicking of keys and push publish with abandon. Then we gather round and spur each other on. Wanna join in? We’d love to have you.
Also, with that being said, this is in no way an exhaustive or even complete list.
It is a brain dump of the ways I feel God shows us the value of church and I’m sure I missed a lot of them but hey, I’ve only got 5 minutes. And for full disclosure, this took almost 8. Whoops.
What do you think I missed? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be talking more about each of these areas later in this series.
Sweet Alia Joy!!! You have no idea how excited I was when I saw that you were the one linked up right before me! I loved getting to meet you and sharing dinner with you. I’ve been thinking about you a lot these last few days. I hope we get to see each other again (IRL).
Absolutely love: “We need to hear the gospel on repeat. We wander so easily.” Um, did you write that for me?
Love your heart and so happy I can visit you here whenever I want
xo
Amber recently posted..Five Minute Friday: LOOK
Hi Amber,
I tried to leave a comment on your post, but I cannot, for whatever reason, access your site… (I hope you don’t mind, Alia… that I’m hijacking for a sec here…)
I just wanted to say thanks for what you shared. Here’s what I originally tried to comment: “Convicting thoughts. I know I fight those tendencies all of the time. I’ve tried, very intentionally, to build some things into my blogging habits to stop me from heading down that road, but it still a struggle, most every single day.
thanks for this call to authenticity!”
And how cool is it that you’ve gotten to meet each other IRL!
Blessings!
richelle @ “our wright”-ing pad recently posted..A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 19} – Five Minute Friday ~ Look
Hijack away. I love that you guys are meeting here and there and connecting. The body at work.
Alia Joy recently posted..Some Things to Love About Church
I know, you’d think we’d get it by now. But yes, I do need to hear it so so often. I’m loving getting to know you a bit more each day. And I just saw your instagram hair do. Whoa lady. That’s amazing. I remember when I had short hair and I never knew what I was going to wake up to.
Alia Joy recently posted..Some Things to Love About Church
Love this thought… “When we practice love here, we’re offering up a chance to embrace and pour out the grace we’ve been granted.” You’re dead on!!! How are people suppose to know us? By our love…
Oh, I see you are also going to Jumping Tandem. I’m thinking about it:))
Can’t wait to meet next week!
Stefanie Brown (@stefanieybrown) recently posted..Five Minute Friday :: {Look}…
Right? We forget that the Bible says to practice love. That it’s something that we need to truly practice to get good at. I can’t wait to meet you next week and I’d love to see you at Jumping Tandem. There are some amazing women there and I know God is going to do big things, I just feel it.
Alia Joy recently posted..Some Things to Love About Church
i love how you’ve been focusing on the importance of corporate worship and being a part of a church. sometimes it seems like things are going the other direction.
missing my church back home is one of the hardest part of being on the mission field.
obedience and your last three reasons all really spoke to my heart today. Thanks Alia… and thanks for popping over to say hi today.
Thanks Richelle, It’s a journey I’ve been on my entire Christian life. Coming to the place where I can honestly say that I love the church because I really didn’t. And when I hear that those on the mission field miss their church home, it makes me melt gooey inside because that is how it should be. Connected and sent out. Obedient and faithful. And yes, in many ways we are a culture of individuals not community. We definitely lose something when that happens.
Alia Joy recently posted..Some Things to Love About Church
Your heart shines Jesus, bless you.
denise recently posted..Five Minute Friday/Look
That’s the best compliment ever! Thanks Denise.
Alia Joy recently posted..Some Things to Love About Church
There is power in unity and there is power in prayer when hearts pour out and flow up to Him in chorus. <—love this. I also love that in church our children gather to learn more about Jesus. There really is nothing sweeter to me than seeing these little hands lifted in praise and prayer each week. I am so enjoying this series Alia! Blessings!
Oh, I know. I love to hear the littles talk about Jesus. The ways their little hearts demonstrate that they are growing in Him and how they worship with trust. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing that, I love that too.
Alia Joy recently posted..Some Things to Love About Church
#3 is so important. I see so much being written lately about so many reasons a person is stating out of church and their problems with local churches. Healing will never fully take place in disobedience. Being obedient in whatever the task is not always easy, but it is always the right thing to do. Thank you for your boldness in truth!!
Amy Tilson recently posted..Behold the Glory
So true! And honestly I have been that person for years. In and out of church, growing and floundering but this past year God has been really convicting me of this and I know that I have not always been obedient but I’m realizing each day the importance of obedience over objections. And on a more lighthearted note Squuuuueeeeee! I get to meet you next week in real life!
Alia Joy recently posted..Some Things to Love About Church
I think you covered it well! Wow, even in 8 minutes you covered a lot. I like #3. “He said so.”
Laurie recently posted..Day 19 ~ LOOK
Thanks Laurie, well I’ve been writing this series for 20 days in a row now, even though I missed a few days so it’s all stuck in my head. Yeah, #3 is kind of the clincher for me.
Love this! I don’t know what I’d do without the support and encouragement of my church family. I have friends who don’t see the value in church, and won’t go even though they say they are believers. They have NO IDEA what they are missing out on. Thanks for visiting me earlier!
Nancy @ Pilgrim Wanderings recently posted..#FiveMinuteFriday: Look
I love hearing that! I have experienced and know others who feel that church is something that they want nothing to do with so I really love when I hear people talk of the beauty of their communities and how they love and value their churches. And thanks for visiting here too, I love Friday’s and all the new blogs I get to visit.
I really loved the list. I spent about six months outside the church due to transition in life and it felt so great getting back into the church. I had missed it dearly and found myself not feeling right after just a couple of weeks. I loved the moment the church had a time of prayer, and it filled up with people asking for prayer…I missed it so much
phill recently posted..The New Reformation Is Liberalism
Thanks. I’ve spent a lot of time, most of my Christian walk not really committed to a church. We’ve done a lot of church hopping and I’m only recently seeing how God has called us to be in fellowship with each other and the importance of a church community. Isn’t that the best, when you can step back in and with one prayer be joined instantly? I love that.
What a great write, Alia!
I’ve read it over and over hoping I could give you something to add…I’ve got nothing. #3 says it all ; )
Hugs to you, friend!
Nikki recently posted..Stop. Look. Listen. ~ Five Minute Friday
Thanks Nikki, yup, #3 is where God has really been convicting me lately. In the area of obedience in regards to His church. Hugs and I can’t wait to see you next week.
Man, girl, profound. Just outright profound. I love how you are preaching it.
Ashley Larkin recently posted..Five Minute Friday: Look
Ashley, I just love you. You are the bombdiggety of beautiful prose and I love to visit your site but I seriously have to do it when I have time to read because I always want to stay awhile. Thanks friend, your encouragement means a lot to me.
# 3 for me, and def the gift of praying with others is one of God’s best gifts…Praying you are blessed with His joy at Allume
Dolly@Soulstops recently posted..Five Minute Fridays: Look…
I am looking forward to it, wish you could be there this year. I’ll give hugs to everyone from you.
Thanks for stopping by.