In the church

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. - Ephesians 3.21

What is the purpose of the church? Is it to win souls? Is it to go into all the world to preach the gospel. Is it to go and teach and make disicples? Is it to feed the poor? 

Sure, it is all of those things and more. 

We are the agency through which God has chosen to work in the world today. He works exceedingly, abundantely above all we ask or think according to the power that is at work in His church. 

And we are to give Him the glory. 

There are two ways to look at this challange to the church of course. The first and foremost is the church as the body of Christ. This is the church that has existed since the day of Pentecost, continues today, and will continue until the day we all gather together in heaven. 

Our job as His body and our job as local churches are to bring glory to God in all that we do. He didn’t design us and it is not His plan for us to go it solo. In His body He works visibly through local churches. We need to be careful to examine the priorities and purposes of our local churches. 

It is easy for our churches to get busy on all sorts of distractions. We need to be careful that we keep our true purpose, that of bringing glory to God im mind. Our churches can be busy about making a name for oursleves and having all the nice amenities and buildings and programmes and forget about our true purpose. 

Are we, The Church, seeking to glorify God in the world around us. And are we, as the church in our local assemblies, truly seeking to glorify and Him alone?