Why Consider Getting Outside the Walls of Your Church?

By Rev. Jim Menke

Why consider going Outside the Walls of your church? Because of Jesus, our Savior. Our Savior gave us His 1) Great Commandment and 2) Great Commission.

1) "Love the Lord your God with all your heart...and love your neighbor as yourself."

2) "Go and make disciples of all people..."

When we love God, who first loved us, we'll seek to obey and do what He says (John 15:10). He says, "Go and share the Good News to all creation" (Mark 16:15).

The church doesn't have a mission; Christ's mission has a Church that loves Him. And Christ says to the disciples in His Church, "Go!" into the towns and villages (Luke 10:3). Love your neighbor. "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you" (John 20:21). "You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea..." (Acts 1:8).

It is good to love and care for one another inside our church. The Lord knows we need His love, care, and fellowship with and for one another. But the Lord never intended for us to keep His love inside the walls of our churches just for ourselves.

Could this be why many of our churches are dying? So many of our churches are plateaued, declining, and dying while we love and care for one another inside the walls. Could one reason be that we keep His love just for ourselves inside the walls of our church?

Love God by loving your neighbor! Do what Jesus did and said to do! Get Outside the Walls!"