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Where?
Series: Q
Pastor: Mike Krause
Date: January 24, 2010
Ask people what they think of when they hear the word “church” and from many you’d likely hear about a building with stained glass, pews and a steeple (or an old school building with none of those things!). To many people, church is where you go to meet with God, at a specific time of day on a specific day of the week. It is a place where people dress up and speak in hushed tones because it is God’s house, the place where God lives. Is that really true? If not, where can we go to truly encounter God?
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I have been attending Southridge since I came to Brock, but being a student means moving around a lot. Recently I started a co-op position in Toronto that requires 12 hours a day, plus the commute. I just wanted to thank Southridge for having their services online, so that in this time of great change, there is some continuity and forever a focus on Christ.
Thanks Southridge.
Posted on January 27, 2010
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Wow! I just got to listen to this and I can’t even describe how it affected me.
Posted on January 30, 2010
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Great message on who the church is.
One point that I have a difference of opinion is, not naming the building that the community of believers does gather, a church.
How do new people in the neighbourhood discover where the churches are in their specific community? We can hope that they meet someone and are personally invited, but it does happen that new persons in the neighbourhood may not meet someone that will invite them, and may instead look for a building. What about the hurting in the community, those in deep despair who are looking for an answer and might decide to look for that answer in a community of God. How would they find our community?
Let me tell you a story about my nephew who was raised in a very loving Muslim family. In his late teens he made some wrong choices and got involved in a lifestyle of gambling and drugs. This spiralled into a lifestyle of criminal activities to support those addictions. Far from home and hitting rock bottom he called out to God. Miraculously God provided a bible that had been left on the bus and my nephew began reading it. He continued to search for answers. Again, out wandering the streets he sat down at the side of the road and asked God to reveal himself. My nephew looked up and saw a cross not far off. The next day he went to that church and met the pastor of that congregation. This pastor and others in that community established a relationship with my nephew. He came to know Christ and became a Christian. He was able to leave his old lifestyle and become active in the church and I certainly don’t mean the building. I will always be thankful that that community of believers were willing to have a sign marking the spot where they gathered and who were willing to reach out to a young man that was in deep despair.
Posted on March 09, 2010
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Hey Marlene,
Thanks for your feedback about the January message and the issue of the church sign. I too am extremely thankful that God guided your nephew into faith and into a community of those who follow Jesus, into a church. ;) God was obviously VERY providentially involved in helping your nephew find his way to Christ, something that I assume is true of God’s interactions with everybody who is seeking him (Jeremiah 29:13 - You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart).
Personally, I’m not sure whether the lack of the word “church” on a street sign could hinder God from drawing people to himself. The reality that for more than 250 years the church didn’t even have buildings, or names, or signs (as is currently true of each of our other locations). Yet, people still found their way into relationship with Jesus in droves.
At any rate, most of this is beside the point. This has nothing to do with whether or not the word “church” is on the sign or whether we call the building a “church”. It has to do with whether or not a building can be identified by outsiders as a place where the church gathers and a cross out front, for example, would serve that purpose equally well, without misguiding our community to think of these bricks and mortar as a “church” (which it is not, biblically).
For that matter, and MUCH more importantly, like the early church it is the reputation of the community is ultimately intended to draw people into the community and into seeking Christ (Acts 2:47 - enjoying the favour of all the people led to people being added to their number daily). And in our case, there are many who find us by asking around where they can find a “church” or who walk in off the street looking for help despite the lack of “church” on the sign.
The bottom line, though, is that, though we may disagree, I am so thankful for your perspective on why the word matters at all: for OUTSIDERS to faith. This isn’t usually the mode in which people in our community have had this conversation. So far, very few have cared about the plight of outsiders and have had other, traditional values in mind. Thank you for being sensitive to those who have not yet found Christ. And keep inviting them to join us and to search for Christ. THAT’S how the lost were meant to be reached!
Let’s keep partnering together to see that that happens… LOTS!
Posted on March 17, 2010
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I have been attending Southridge Community since the launch here in Welland. I thank God for making this happen. There are times when my boyfriend and I have not been able to make it. I know you can view the service on line. I veiwed Jan 17th when I was sick and this weekend my boyfriend was sick and we both tried searching the podcast but were not successful. Would you be so kind to help us with this tech question. I am truly enjoying the service. I am praying for my children to come and join me as well. I would like to ask for prayers of salvation for my boyfriend Doug, my children Keri, Allan and Laura and for myself that I keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and do His will. I thank you all and love what Jesus is doing in the lives of people at Southridge. May our Father continue to bless you all.
Posted on January 25, 2010