Hi, Pastor Bob here. Welcome back to the Men of Valor podcast. The verse for today is from 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 9. And it states, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,...”

Any day now, the local fire truck will drive by our houses with Santa Claus announcing that Christmas is coming. When you look closely at the truck, the red paint, and all the chrome, and the tires shine as if they're brand new. Sometimes in the parades, the shining trucks even have people throwing candy for the parade spectators, with the fire sirens blaring or playing Christmas music as they go by. They absolutely look great and cause excitement as they buzz by. But in a short time, everyone goes on with their day and quickly forget about that truck passing by.

But the real question is this: What purpose were the fire trucks created to perform? Was the purpose to look good, impress people and carry Santa Claus? Or...is the real purpose that they were created for to save lives? If you were ever in a fire, and you were rescued or your house saved, I believe you would think about that event every time you saw a fire truck.

In many ways, the fire truck is sort of like the church. Many churches have become places that have beautiful buildings. Some churches get people excited, but in a short time, many people go back to their lives and forget by Sunday night what even happened on Sunday morning at the service. And some churches have become social gatherings. Or some are places that people feel required to go to every Sunday so they get that checkmark on their imagined behavioral report card that God has.

"The church was created to continue to do the work the Lord Jesus did...Save dead, sinful men from going to hell!"

But the question is: What purpose was the church created for? The church was created to continue to do the work the Lord Jesus did when He was on Earth! That work? Save dead, sinful men from going to hell! It was created to do the same work Jesus instructs His disciples to do in Matthew chapter 28, verse 19 and 20. “...Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded.” And in Matthew 10:8, Jesus tells His disciples, “Go! Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

Hmmm...Get people saved from going to hell? Get people healed? Teach obedience to the Word of God? And cast out demons through the power of the Holy Spirit? Wow! That sure doesn't sound like most churches I've ever experienced in my life!

"The true church is...a family of individuals with different giftings that God uses to be His hands on earth..."

You know the true church is the pillar and foundation of the truth of God. The true church is not a building. It's a family of individuals with different giftings that God uses to be His hands on earth - to set the captives free of the bondage of sin and darkness that is so prevalent in this world. Since coming to United Faith Church and hearing the truth of God's Word, many people have been rescued as the Lord Jesus Christ has touched them. Just as remembering being saved from a fire every time you see a fire truck, the true believer will remember the Lord’s grace and mercy every day, when they open the Bible, when they sing a praise song, or when they meet the real church family that is doing what the church was designed to do, which is: Walk as Jesus walked.

Heavenly Father, thank You for gracing us, that we see our need for a Savior. Thank You for gracing us with the power to say no to sin. And thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, that You fulfilled Your purpose by dying on the cross and rising from the dead for Your true church family. What an amazing God we serve. God bless you all.