We have been talking for a couple of weeks now about being a part of this famous group called "church people". The world has a tendency to make fun of, persecute, or just ignore our illustrious little group. There might be a few times we deserved it. But whatever we have been or are now, we will be the last ones standing. We are conquerors in Christ. We conquer not with guns and bombs or even with politics, and not for land or rule; but with love and good news and for the souls of men. That would make a good recruiting line? Is that what we are doing though? What do church people do? Maybe the bigger issue is what does God believe church people are to do. Let's see if we can figure this out.

In Jesus we have a Savior and a Friend. We come into this new relationship with Him and for most of us our first thoughts are how do we live for Him. What is right and what is wrong? Sometimes we will go to the Bible for answers. I think a lot of times we just kind of end up taking our cues from other believers or the church we attend. Church people have a big impact on how we understand and live the faith. That can be very good and not so good.

In Jesus we have a Savior and a Friend. We come into this new relationship with Him and for most of us our first thoughts are how do we live for Him. What is right and what is wrong? Sometimes we will go to the Bible for answers. I think a lot of times we just kind of end up taking our cues from other believers or the church we attend. Church people have a big impact on how we understand and live the faith. That can be very good and not so good.

There is growing attitude in America that it is okay to love Jesus but hate the church. Biblically that is impossible, but it doesn't feel impossible to them. They must have had the same problem in the first century because the rest of Romans is about how to be church people without ruining the Gospel. The Church is made up of more diversity than any other group of people on the planet, and there is the expectation from Jesus that we will not only get along, but actually love and care for one another, and these chapters tell us how.

There is growing attitude in America that it is okay to love Jesus but hate the church. Biblically that is impossible, but it doesn't feel impossible to them. They must have had the same problem in the first century because the rest of Romans is about how to be church people without ruining the Gospel. The Church is made up of more diversity than any other group of people on the planet, and there is the expectation from Jesus that we will not only get along, but actually love and care for one another, and these chapters tell us how.

We always talk about what is great in our lives. Always. Listen to people this week. Listen for what they talk about and what they talk about with excitement. What do they go on and on about? So here is the question: Is God as great to us as that which we go on and on about?

We always talk about what is great in our lives. Always. Listen to people this week. Listen for what they talk about and what they talk about with excitement. What do they go on and on about? So here is the question: Is God as great to us as that which we go on and on about?

Kris shares about the journey that he and his family have traveled with the Lord as they learned at Christmas 2008 that their daugher, Gracyn, had a virus that attacked her heart, and left her clinging to life needing a heart transplant. (Gracyn's song used by permission.)

Kris shares about the journey that he and his family have traveled with the Lord as they learned at Christmas 2008 that their daugher, Gracyn, had a virus that attacked her heart, and left her clinging to life needing a heart transplant. (Gracyn's song used by permission.)

It feels so good that the start of football is in sight. What an exciting time of year. The days of August are about conditioning, learning, training, and practicing. Why do they do that? So they can play the game and play it well. Now, think of coming to church as conditioning, learning, training, practicing. When we leave practice, when we break from the huddle, where is our line of scrimmage? The answer is people. People, relationships are where we live for Christ.