The Church is the Body of Christ. Each person is a member of that body, brought together in Christ to help one another reach maturity in the faith. When each member gives him or herself to the other members of the Church, the Body of Christ grows healthy and strong.
The gospel is not an easy message to receive. It confronts the worst of who we are and it calls us to change. At the same time, the gospel, when received, is powerfully at work in us. It shows us the best of who God as and gives those who believe new life in Christ.
Jesus has given his church clear instructions about what it is to do. His people are to make disciples. To be the church is to participate in the work of disciple-making.
The church is the counter-cultural people of God who make God’s name great in the earth by participating in what he is doing to restore humanity to himself in Jesus Christ. Believers don’t go to church, we are the church.
Love without action is dead. Jesus secured God’s love for us through his action. To follow Jesus is to be a people who love through action.