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The Church should be the answer, not a problem!

March 13, 2024

Hey Clawson Family,



Song:




Scripture:  


Matthew 16:13-20


13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d]loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.



Devotion:


 The church should be the answer to the world, not another problem the world is having to deal with. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always seem that way.


There’s a book called Church: Why Bother? Phillip Yancey asks the question: Why are there way more people who say they are Christians but don’t go to church? Is it because something is wrong with the church? He takes you on his journey from skepticism to wholehearted participation in the church. He tells a story in his book about a prostitute who had hit rock bottom. She was desperate and did not know where to turn.


Someone told her she should try going to church. Her response was, “Why would I do that? I feel bad enough about myself already. They’d only make me feel worse.”


According to a recent survey, 75 percent of people today say, “Why bother with church?”

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This is heartbreaking! Church should be the answer! 


In the scriptures we read today That Jesus promised us that He will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. 


 The church is built by Jesus Christ! The church is the body of Christ. Belonging to the church is a privilege! It shouldn’t feel like a burden.

The church should be a people of Power where the supernatural is happening. When Jesus’s church steps on the scene, the darkness should tremble because of what is about to go down. People should receive freedom and healing from the church, not get hurt.


The church is here to continue Christ's work on earth and build God’s kingdom. You and I need the church in order to be equipped for service, to enjoy the fellowship of other believers, and to honor our Lord through faithful worship.


Journal:


In your journal today, write your view of the Church. Is it mostly positive, mostly negative, or “meh”? How did you come to this view?


Training:


Yesterday, we talked about being the Church. How does this play out in your life? 

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