Church is not about a building

Yesterday I shared a little bit about the vision for Life Church Franklin’s move to our new portable location. On August 23^rd we will begin meeting at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts for our worship experiences. The kids experience will take place at the same time inside the Fun Factory right next door. While I have to admit that both of these buildings are flat out amazing, the buildings really aren’t the point.

Here’s the point…Since starting Life Church Franklin last year with 9 people we have see weekly attendance grow to over 150 or more. At our current location we have completely run out of room for our kids and adult worship experiences. We have seen almost 20 people give their lives to Christ and we have baptized many people too. Our community Life Groups continue to grow and discipleship groups are sprouting up or being planned as I write. All this is said because, well, it’s not about stuff. It’s not about me. It’s not about a building. It’s about the fact that God is doing His work through Life Church Franklin…and that’s you. You see, the church never was and never will be about a building. There are people in Africa having “church”, worshipping God around a tree. That’s where they have “church”. There are people in China having “church” anywhere safe they can find. THEY are the church. YOU are the church. I am the church. WE are the church. As followers of Jesus Christ WE all make up God’s church.

So, that’s why it’s not about a building.

This is what it’s all about:

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

This is our message. Not that we have a great big, cool building (and it is big and very cool), but that the hope and salvation for the world is found in Jesus Christ. Let’s take that to the streets!

P