Today’s Verse—Matthew 16:18
[Jesus told Peter,] “Here is what I tell you.
You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church.
The gates of hell will not be strong enough to destroy it.”
There are many amazing churches around the world. Some kids in Iceland attend a church that’s almost as tall as a football field. Some in Colombia go to a cathedral built in salt caves. The caves were created when the salt was removed by miners.
Our United States Capitol was used as a church from 1800 till after the Civil War. The persecuted church in ancient times may have carved stones into places of worship in the Cappadocia Valley of what is now Turkey. Then there’s an Ethiopian church in the shape of a cross. It was carved out of stone underground, so its roof was even with the ground.
Jesus could have told His followers to go to special buildings, like the church in France that’s built on top of a volcano like a plug. Or like the church in Rome that’s made out of titanium dioxide and cement—a mixture that destroys air pollution.
But He didn’t. In Matthew 16:18, He told one of His disciples, “You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church.” Later, the apostle Paul wrote, “The church is Christ’s body” (Ephesians 1:23), and Jesus “is the head of the body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:18).
The buildings we call churches are places for God’s people to gather. God’s church is a living, breathing, and active group of people who believe in Jesus.
In the Odyssey episode* “Tuesdays with Wooton” (album 44), Seth didn’t understand that he was a part of the church. Instead of showing God’s love to Grady, Seth brought Grady to a building. Fortunately, Wooton understood and showed Grady God’s love to Grady.
Loquacious Learning with Eugene
The venerable institution of the church is mentioned seventy-seven times in Scripture. The word churches is mentioned thirty-five times and is translated from the Greek word ekklesia. In three distinct places, the word ekklesia has been translated as assembly instead of church. It is clear that the word church is used to describe the people who make up a body of believers. It is not the building that houses them.
As a Christian, you are a part of the body of Christ, which is the church. So going to church is meeting together with other believers. And if you do it in a beautiful building, that’s fine, too.
Daily Challenge
Draw a picture of your church. But instead of drawing a building, write the names of the people who make up your church and arrange them in the shape of a church building.
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Going to Church Theme Memory Verse— 1 Corinthians 12:27
You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.
* Want to know which episodes feature Wooton? Or Connie? Or Whit? Visit www.whitsend.org/vault and find the area called “Browse by Character.”