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To Build a Church…

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it” (1 Cor 3:10 KJV).

Through the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit gives us many metaphors in trying to describe the multi-faceted wonders of the church. So many different metaphors are absolutely necessary when discussing something as living and organic as the Church. He refers to the church as a field to be farmed, a building to be built, a flock to be tended, a body that is grown, and a bride to be wed. Each of these illustrations reveal a unique perspective of what God has intended for the Church for whom Jesus “gave Himself” (Eph 5:25). “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph 5:32).

There is a crucial difference between merely having a burden for building and having a true passion for people. In reading through Paul’s epistles, he gives many clear instructions, guidelines, and warnings on building the church, but it is easy to see he driven by his passion for people. Paul explained that he was “jealous” over the church. but it was a “godly jealousy” based on sacrificial love for the precious souls for whom He was laboring.

My wife, Marietta, and I long both for ourselves and for those who are and who will labor by our side that God would creatively grow within us a sincere passion for people that would motivate and move us in our burden for building what He has entrusted to us. We believe that building without passion for people would end up as nothing more than “wood, hay, stubble” (1 Cor 3:12 KJV) which will never survive the testing by fire. Whereas, work accomplished by people who will give of themselves out of agape love for people would be a work which Paul likened to “gold, silver, precious stones” (1 Cor 3:12 KJV) which will only become more precious and pure when tested by fire. Paul says:

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Cor 3:13-15 KJV).

Living Connection Church/Iglesia Conexion Viviente must be all about loving people and seeing them be connected with Christ, and then connected with one another, and also connected with the community where God has strategically placed them. All else we do as members individually and corporately must purposefully and creatively serve this purpose. While utilizing the many methods available to achieve this goal, we feel that because we are working with living and growing people, our approach should be more organic than methodical.

Utilizing some of the Apostle Paul’s metaphors concerning the Church, we see the following five aspects of this work along with organic ways of evaluating success:

  • A Field to be Farmed. Field preparation is required before seed can be sown. Intercession and prayer together with the anointing and gifts of the Spirit are necessary to see that the “field” of our community is properly prepared. God gives the promise that if we carry the “precious seed” of God’s Word and sowing with tears, we will “reap with joy” and bring our “sheaves” with us (Psalm 126). A successful field is evaluated not merely in quantity of crop produced, but also in quality.
  •  Building to be Built. A building needs a foundation based on how tall the building needs to be. Paul’s goal for height is “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13 KJV). With a building of that “stature,” the foundation must be sufficiently deep and laid “on the rock” (Luke 6:46-49 NKJV). Hebrews discusses the importance of foundational teaching which must be firmly laid (Heb 6:1-3) in order to “go on to perfection (maturity NASB)”. To this end, we will work to ensure that each member has these foundations properly laid through individual discipleship, and teaching corporately. Evaluation of a building would be its ability to face the storms and stand the test of time.
  • A Flock to be Tended. Sheep need so much more care than cattle. They need loving shepherds who will lead with their lives. Likewise, personal discipleship is required and must be based upon life examples and experiences. Evaluation of successful shepherding is based on healthy sheep that know the Good Shepherd’s voice and follow Him (see John 10:1-30).
  • A Body to be Grown. Hands, feet, eyes, ears, the inner organs – the many parts of the body all need to grow and mature together. Key to growing a church is assisting people not only to discover their purpose and function within the Body of Christ, but also their dependence upon one another (see 1 Cor 12:12-27). A body of believers would be evaluated in both their maturity in function and their love and commitment to each other and how they bear witness in the community around them. “…that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23 NKJV).
  • A Bride to be Wed. Paul’s zeal had nothing whatsoever to do with “marrying” a group of people to himself, but to Christ: “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Cor 11:2). Ministry goals must, above all else, seek to wed people to Jesus Christ. The Church is His Bride. She is the one for whom He gave Himself. He is the one washes her in the water of the Word, cleanses her from spots, and dresses her in unwrinkled, fine linen (see Eph 5:25-27 and Rev 19:7-8). “Simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” is how the preparing of the Bride should be evaluated. The Church must have as its heart-throb cry: “Come quickly, Jesus! Marantha” (see 1 Cor 16:22; Rev 22:17,20; 2 Tim 4:8; 2 Peter 3:12).

It is a great work to which God has called us. Though he referred to himself as a “wise master builder,” Paul knew it was only by the grace of God (1 Cor 3:10). He cried out, “…who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor 2:16 KJV), and then he promptly answers his question in the very next chapter: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers…” (2 Cor 3:2-3 KJV).

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Forward, Yet Looking Back

Looking back over my life always produces deep gratitude for the leadership role models who have touched my life since I first came to Christ. There are many, so since I am unsure of which one to write about, I’ll just start with the very first one.

“Remember your leaders who taught you the Word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith” (Hebrews 13:7 NLT).

About a month after I was born again, there was a man and his wife (Leo and Doris) with whom I became closely connected. He was a very unique and gifted Bible teacher and I was hungry to learn more. Right from the beginning, he told me: “This house is your house. The door is always unlocked. Don’t knock! Just come on in! If I showed up while they were eating, they’d have me sit down at the table with them. That’s the way it always was – not just for me, but for many others.

After school hours (my senior year), I would go to Leo’s house as many times a week as I could. I don’t ever remember them telling me he was too busy! He always had a teaching or a testimony to share with me. Water baptism and the baptism in the Holy Spirit were the first things he taught me about. It was the first I had heard about it. I wanted it! Within a few weeks Leo baptized me in a neighbor’s swimming pool, and when I came up out of the water, Leo and another man laid hands on me, and I began speaking in tongues. Afterwards, the group of us went straight to his house. We all sat on the floor and Leo said, “Let’s all sing, “Amazing Grace.” Then after a couple verses, he said, “Let’s sing ‘Amazing Grace’ in our prayer language.” And that went on for another hour!

He always had some visual that he would use for his teachings (no PowerPoints or computers back then!). My favorites were a “felt board” with a large map of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan, and another large felt of Moses’ Tabernacle (ones he drew and painted by himself). He also had a 10-foot wooden pole fastened horizontally in his living room from which he taught about God’s Eternal Purpose (something not heard about very much back in the 70’s!). Seeing the bigger picture in Scripture secured within me a solid foundation and deep respect for God’s Word, the Bible.

There were several youth and young couples that met at Leo’s house frequently. It seemed like there was always someone new there. His teachings were quite casual and we would often interrupt to ask questions. He always encouraged us to take what we were learning and to share it with others. I did just that and would take my lunch and break times to share with others at school.

In January of my senior year, the doctors found cancer in my dad. When I got back from school, my mom and grandparents told me the news, the first thing I did was to drive to Leo’s house. It was late at night, but their door was unlocked as usual. They shared and prayed with me for a long time that night.

During the next four months, Leo spent time with my parents. They both got saved, baptized in the Holy Spirit and Leo baptized them in our bathtub (my dad was too sick to leave the house). Leo was always encouraging us to believe for healing and taught us many healing promises in the Bible. He spent long hours praying with us. During the last hours of my dad’s life, Leo spent the whole night next to Dad’s hospital bed in prayer. Seeing Leo’s passionate faith and prayer life during those times deeply impacted my life.

There always seemed to be someone at Leo and Doris’ house. People in need of counseling, people in need of prayer, and people hungry for the Word.  Amazingly, many of the young people that passed through Leo’s house ended up leaving the area to be involved in a full-time ministry somewhere…and I am grateful to say that I was one of them!