Pastor Ritter ~February
Let Them See the Church!
It’s the month of February, the shortest month of the year, yet for Immanuel this will be the biggest month in years. This month, we will be transitioning into our new permanent home for Immanuel’s ministries as we dedicate our new sanctuary and church building. This has been a long time coming. When I first arrived at Immanuel in 2011, the members of Immanuel were deep in conversation about building their new church home. That effort, however, failed as had other efforts prior to that and even others that follow. Many of our members began to believe that they would never see the day when our new building would be built. Sadly for some, that was true, but if you are reading this now, you made it. The day has come!
The first conversations of building a new church home go back as far as 30 years ago. It was 20 years ago when the congregation purchased the land where our church building sits and it was just three years ago when we once undertook to build what is now built today. Through it all, God has been present guiding us and shaping us into the people we are today. We are the church and when people enter into our buildings, we want them to see you…the church.
In a recent conversation with a couple of our members, we were talking about just this. The new buildings that sit on this land, not the building that was our former church home nor any other building that we may ever possess is the church. The church is the people, the people of God, the body of Christ…it is you and me.
I am reminded of when Jesus was in Jerusalem just days before he was crucified, there are some Greeks who were seeking Jesus. Greeks were Gentiles, these had come to Jerusalem to worship. John chapter 12 records: verses 20-26. “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
Sir, we wish to see Jesus. As we prepare to open our doors to our new church home, may we be reminded that Christ came for you and for all people. We the members of Immanuel are part of the local church which is a part of the universal church, the body of Christ. It is through the church that people outside of the faith will see Jesus and come to know him as their Lord and Savior. It is through the church that people who are struggling in their faith will see Jesus and be encouraged. It is through the church that lifelong faithful followers of Christ are renewed and inspired to good works in the name of Jesus.
So when people enter our buildings this month. Be excited to show them around and welcome them into our new home, but remember a building is not what we want them to see. We want them to see the church…we want them to see Jesus through you. Amen.