Church… “Jesus style

In the Jewish culture that Jesus was raised in …. The record indicates that He attended “church” ….. well, “Sabbath school” …. in what was called a synagogue. “Synagogue” means an assembly of people, a congregation, …. a church. (I love my church.)
 
The New Testament records more than 10 occasions of the ministry of Jesus taking place in the synagogue. The Gospels record that “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues”.
 
The synagogues and the temple were the places of corporate worship for the Jews.
Prayer, sacrifice, bringing in their tithe and offerings, worship, study, friendship and community celebration happened in conjunction with the synagogues.
 

Clearly, Jesus belonged to the community of the synagogue, because when He visited Nazareth, He was scheduled to read. (Luke 4:16-19)

He healed some in the synagogue. (Luke 4:33-35; Mark 3:1-5),
It was in the synagogue that He often revealed His identity and purpose.
Yes; Jesus did the “church thing.”

The early Christians continued to meet corporately.
The truth is that Christianity adopted many customs of Jewish corporate worship:
singing, worship, praise, reading scripture, prayer, study, bringing in tithe and offerings,
preaching, prophesying, etc.
 
It is God’s instruction, plan, and will that His people meet together …in church …. as we know church. And yes …. in small groups …. in meeting places and in homes.
Note: both ….. not just in home groups .. publicly and house to house. (Acts 20:20)
 

We are to meet in similar custom as did the Jews in Nazareth, though with a new message… the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Apostles doctrine.

The community of Jesus believers were to become assemblies, not single individuals seeking God alone.

(I love my church)
 
Recently I was thinking about church names. For example; we had the privilege of a new church start so we chose the name Apostolic Life. Our thoughts were for identity:
• Apostolic to identify the doctrine – the Apostles doctrine.
• Life – Jesus is the life of all men. Jesus said, I am come to give life … Abundant Life
 
As I did some research on the names of some other churches … it was interesting for sure.
I’m just wondering …. and I’m not bashing… just saying … I would not have named a church
Broadway Christian Church. Reason; Jesus mentioned a broad way that leads to destruction.
 
Sometimes churches use the name of the city/area they are located in and you get ….
 
– Little Hope Baptist Church
– Boring United Methodist Church
– Half Way Baptist Church
– Battle Ground Baptist Church
 
Sometimes churches use other reasoning for naming the church????
 
Country Club Christian Church
First United Separated Baptist Church
Satan in Trouble Ministries Church
Undenominational Holiness Church
Waterproof Baptist Church …… I’m wondering; do they baptize or not???
Hell for Certain Church
First Church of the Last Chance World on Fire Revival Church (probably don’t get many visitors)
 
Here’s some of the longest names:
Praise All Day Church of the Redeemer Christ Our Everlasting King Church
Apostolic Faith Body of Jesus Christ of the Newborn Assembly Church
 
Sometimes churches just try to find what is trendy ….
 
Church w/ No Walls
The Spring
New Spring
The Brook
The River
The Overflow Church
The Flood
 
Outcast Fellowship
The Salvage Yard
North Pointe
Center Point
Ocean Point
South Pointe
West Point
East Point
Mid- Point Chapel
Cross Pointe
Grace Point
Life Point
Faith Point
Mercy Point
Bridge Point
Vantage Point
Cool Church
 
It really doesn’t matter the name on the sign/logo/branding, the website … or the marketing strategy. What really matters is whether we are doing church the way Jesus wants us to do church!
 
With all respect to traditions, cultures, trends, and personal preferences …
what really matters is whether we are doing church the way Jesus wants us to do church.
 
Jesus said …. I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 
Jesus said … church needs to be a house of prayer for all nations.
 
Jesus said …. If you’re gathered together …. it better be in My Name.
 
Jesus said …. Real church will be where the true worshippers are worshipping the Father in spirit and in truth.
 
Jesus said …. You’ll know you’re doing church My way when you find yourself loving everybody.
Let’s look at church … Jesus style.
 
It all happened early in the morning …. Jesus was teaching in the temple (church).
 
“ And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”
John 8:3-5
 
They are having church … early service in the temple in Jerusalem.
They brought the sinner to the altar and said, “she is guilty … judgment is …the consequences of her sin is …she should be put to death.”
 
This is the way these men had church. Sounds like “the first church of the last chance.”
But Jesus said, “I’m changing the order of the service right now.”
 
“Your style is to bind the sinner, judge the sinner, condemn the sinner, and punish the sinner.
Let Me show you how I want to do church.”
 
Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground and said,
“He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.”
 
Their style of church was to point out the awfulness of sin and the sinner, condemn, judge, and stone them to death … then go eat fried chicken.
 
Sorry to say that there may still be churches like this. The only reason they are happy to see an obvious sinner come to church is so they can condemn them, judge them, and stone them with hard words and actions and then go about acting like they are without sin.
 
Jesus said, “allow Me to show you how I like to have church.”
 
He wrote something on the ground…
Whoever is without sin … if there is one among you … go ahead and stone her. He stooped down the second time and wrote something on the ground …
 
“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”
(John 8:9)
 
Jesus spoke and conviction came.
Jesus then spoke to the sinner woman.
 
“When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
 
That’s church; Jesus style … that’s having good church!
 
Jesus Style Church is …
Anybody than comes into the house accused, they can find mercy!
“                                                          “ condemned, they can find grace!
“                                                          “ guilty, they can leave forgiven and justified!
“                                                          “ shamed, they can be released from that shame!
 
When that woman left church that day;
Jesus said, you are not condemned … go and sin no more.
 
His next statement was this:
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
 
That woman was brought to Me in the darkness of sin,
in the darkness of condemnation,
“                            “ accusation,
“                            “ guilt,
“                            “ man’s judgment;
 
but when she met Me, she found the Light of the World!
 
Now; she no longer has to walk in darkness.
Now; she can walk in the light of life … that’s church; Jesus style!
 
Jesus Style Church is mercy, forgiveness, restoration, go and sin no more!
 
Jesus style church is described in Galatians 6:1
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
 
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is made up of those who realize that if it were not for the grace of God we would still be lost.
 
Church Jesus Style is sinners being set free, souls coming out of darkness into His marvelous Light, miracles of mercy happening in our life, and being enabled by His Spirit to do what we think we cannot do.
 
Let’s have church… Jesus Style!
D L Rogers