The church is not just a place that knows ABOUT Jesus, but it is a place where Jesus moves ABOUT.
The church is not only a BUILDING (brick and mortar) for our BODIES, but a BODY (redeemed souls) He is BUILDING in godliness.
The church is not simply an ORGANIZATION or non-PROFIT, but it is a congregation of people ORGANIZED to PROFIT the souls of all who interact with it.
The church is not simply a place that has received GRACE, but it is also a place designed to give GRACE to each other.
Over the past 6 weeks at Wildwood Community Church, we have been exploring a series called “Finding a Place of Grace.” We have seen that we are looking for grace, that Grace (embodied in Jesus Christ) is looking for us, and that Grace justifies, sanctifies, and ultimately glorifies all who receive Him. This Sunday, in our final installment of this series, we will talk about how Jesus wants the culture of His church to be a culture of grace. Through His church, Jesus wants to seek and save the lost, sanctify and shepherd the found, and bring to glory all who are connected to Him by faith. And the hallmark of the grace-filled church is the LOVE that we have for one another … but not just any kind of love. The kind of love that Jesus gave to us first.
“But God shows His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
So, make plans to join us this Sunday, September 15 at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship service as we reflect on how we can see Jesus love one another through us in our church. We have been called and equipped to be a place of grace, so if you are seeking a place of grace, may you join us this Sunday as we seek to love in Jesus’ name. Join us for worship, communion, and a study of John 13:31-35 in the sixth and final part of our “Finding a Place of Grace” sermon series at Wildwood. See you there, and bring friends!