There's a pizza place in Times Square that used to be a vibrant, mission-driven church called Gospel Tabernacle. Now, instead of a pulpit, there's a brick oven. It's a sobering reminder that while being part of a local church is a gift, it's a gift that must be protected.

In Hebrews 10, we're called to "stir one another up to love and good works", to be a church in action through mercy (relieving pain), justice (righting wrongs), and beauty (displaying God's glory). When we do this, we offer a compelling witness to a watching world, bring a glimpse of heaven to earth, and give people the purpose they're desperately searching for.

May we always be a Jesus place and never, on our watch, become just a pizza place.