This post is Day 21 in a series of studies about “Jude”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Jude – Day 21

If you have been a believer for any length of time you will have heard that the word church in the original Greek is ecclesia and means a body of people. It was never meant to refer to a building as it tends to for much of the world today.

Matthew 16:18

I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.

The Thought

Because Jude wrote his letter to “the church”, although we have no indication of which “church”, it seems appropriate to spend at least one day looking at what we mean when we talk of “the church”.

We read the verse above at the end of Day 2 of this study. Here’s what we said. “Remember that Jesus never told us to build churches, He said I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18) and He was not talking about building a physical church on Peter the man or the rock, but rather the rock of truth that Peter had just declared. You are the Messiah, the Son of The Living God” (Matthew 16:16).“

If you have been a believer for any length of time you will probably have heard that the word “church” in the original Greek is “ecclesia” and means a body of people. It was never meant to refer to a building as it tends to for much of the world today.

Not long after giving us the verse above, Jesus talked of problem people in the church, suggesting that one person should go and talk to “the sinner”. Then, if he or she won’t listen take a few others along. If that doesn’t work either, then we read Matthew 18:17. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church.

It serves no purpose to tell our problems to a building although it might make some of us feel better temporarily!

Acts 8:3 tells us about Saul, before his conversion. But Saul began to destroy the church going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Paul was not destroying buildings, he was destroying people.

Action

Pray today for the people you count as “church”. Bless them and give them a word of encouragement if you can.