The church was never intended to be a building. When Jesus spoke of building His church, He was referring to a living temple made of people, not brick and mortar. His design was for His Spirit to dwell within a community of believers, founded on the revelation of who He is. This understanding shifts our focus from maintaining a physical location to nurturing the souls that will live forever. We are the house of God, a temple not made with human hands. [04:45]
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
Reflection: Where in your daily life have you most often equated "church" with a building or an event, rather than seeing yourself as the living temple of God? How might this shift in perspective change the way you interact with people outside these walls?
God commands His people to gather together for a vital purpose. These gatherings are designed for encouragement, strengthening, and realignment. However, the primary goal of coming together is to be equipped and sent back out into the harvest field. The storehouse exists because there is a harvest to bring in. Our time together should fuel our mission to reach the lost, not become an end in itself. [18:47]
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)
Reflection: As you prepare to gather with other believers, what is one specific way you can intentionally prepare your heart to be sent out? Who is one person in your harvest field—your workplace, neighborhood, or family—that you feel God is asking you to engage with this week?
There is a subtle danger in spending excessive time and energy perfecting our internal church functions while neglecting the external mission. Hours spent practicing music, maintaining buildings, and perfecting performances can create a imbalance if they are not connected to the ultimate goal of reaching souls. Our pursuit of excellence inside should always serve the purpose of effectively ministering to those outside. [24:28]
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Matthew 9:36-37 (KJV)
Reflection: Consider the various activities and responsibilities you have within the church community. Which one, if any, has become more about perfecting the practice than fulfilling the purpose of reaching the lost? What is one practical step you could take to reconnect that activity to its missional purpose?
The moment you step outside the building, you do not leave the church—you are the church. This truth transforms every environment into a potential mission field. Your workplace, the grocery store, your vacation destinations, and your daily routines all become places where God can use you as His representative. You carry the presence of God and the mission of the church into every interaction and every location. [46:09]
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 10:14 (KJV)
Reflection: As you go about your routine this week, what specific place or context (like your workplace, gym, or favorite coffee shop) will you intentionally recognize as your personal mission field? How will you prayerfully prepare to be the church in that environment?
When we understand that we are the church, we begin to recognize the divine appointments God orchestrates in our ordinary moments. These are not random encounters but intersections where heaven wants to touch earth through our obedience. From cruise ships to retail stores, God positions His people to minister to those hungry for truth. Our availability to the Holy Spirit's prompting turns everyday situations into eternal opportunities. [56:41]
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10 (KJV)
Reflection: Think back over the past month—where might God have arranged a divine appointment that you may have overlooked because you weren't looking for it? What practical habit could you develop to become more aware of and responsive to these everyday opportunities to minister?
Matthew 16:18 frames a central truth: the church stands on the revelation of who Jesus is, not on architecture or programs. Scripture and history show the tabernacle and temples served as temporary signs pointing toward a permanent temple made of people; the true dwelling of God now exists in redeemed lives. A persistent danger arises when attention shifts from being the church to maintaining a building, polishing performance, or refining programs while the harvest fields sit neglected. That imbalance creates two errors: isolating individual spirituality from community responsibility, and turning corporate gatherings into incubators of perfection that never leave the parking lot.
God intends corporate gatherings to equip, not replace, daily mission. The storehouse has purpose only because people go into the harvest, gather fruit, and bring souls back. Prayer and outreach operate together; focused nights of prayer and regular outreach days form a rhythm that fuels evangelism, discipleship, baptisms, and Holy Ghost encounters. Vivid stories—an obedient traveler who followed a sudden call across the country, a cruise-ship encounter that led to the gift of the Holy Ghost, a chance conversation at a store—illustrate how readiness to obey turns ordinary places into sites of salvation.
Measuring "good church" by worship feel or program polish misses heavenly priorities: heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. Practical recalibration asks for more knockings on doors, more Bible studies in living rooms, more willingness to baptize and pray publicly, and more presence among the unsaved at work, stores, auctions, and restaurants. A healthy congregation keeps the meeting place orderly and beautiful, but treats that place as a storehouse for souls gathered from the harvest field. The call concludes with an urgent mandate: become the church everywhere, let gatherings rearm and refocus, then go out and bring people into the kingdom.
If someone didn't get the holy ghost, if someone didn't get baptized, that's not good church. You see, we call good church. Wonderful. I felt it from the top of my head to the sole of my feet. Oh, this is wonderful. We had a great church. I mean, pastor Jones, amen. He was on fire. He prophesied three times, cast out nine devils out the choir director. Reconverted three, four members. We had charge and I know what we say when that happens but god is working me over trying to help. That's not good church.
[00:35:52]
(45 seconds)
#ChurchEqualsSalvation
Something is wrong and what I've seen in the apostolic church is we're putting way too much time in the church house and not in the harvest field. I need someone to preach with me right now. It is the will of god that there is a storehouse. But the storehouse is only there. It's because you've been out in the harvest field and you have something to bring into the storehouse.
[00:18:20]
(29 seconds)
#HarvestOverHouse
I'm just saying, I believe god's trying to wake up the church and say, church, this is not the church. We're the church and we are the instrument that god has called to get people into the kingdom of god. When's the last time you taught a Bible study? When's the last time you knocked the door? When's the last time you had somebody sit beside you in church?
[00:24:52]
(27 seconds)
#BeTheChurch
You know what he was doing the other three hundred and sixty two days? Work in the fields. And those three times a year, those men are required to come bring sacrifice, bring offerings to show god we coming. We're traveling all the way to Jerusalem to show, to bring tithe into that storehouse, to show how good you've been in our harvest fields. I wonder what would happen if we spent more time in the harvest than we did inside the house of god.
[00:22:22]
(37 seconds)
#WorkTheFields
Just wonder if we don't have some things a little bit out of balance, amen. I'm all for perfection but whatever happened, amen, to getting back out there and getting the old, rough sinner off of drugs, off of crack. Last Sunday morning, we had an atheist pray through the gift of the holy ghost in the water. I don't know about you. That stuff still excites me. Watching god set people free. Watching god do a mighty work in people's lives.
[00:23:36]
(31 seconds)
#RescueTheLost
This week, I was in Showto, Oklahoma picking some stuff up, ran smack dabbed into all this guy. And got his number. Lord, will I be following up within this week via text? If you'll start looking, don't let this be the church. If you have more church friends and sinner friends, that's the dangers of the church. Now, I want my worldly friends for your pleasure. Jesus, he spent time with sinners. He got accused for spending time with the publicans and the sinners. Is anyone accusing you of that?
[00:56:46]
(42 seconds)
#ReachBeyondChurchFriends
First of all, when god created the church, he did not have buildings in mind. Want that to sink in. He did not have, amen, pews and chairs and carpets and TV screens and drums and piano players and that was not his concept when he created the church and all of us us pastors say, thank you, Jesus. Because it seems like there's so much attention. I'm a pastor. So, I'm not throwing stones at him or me or you or us.
[00:09:05]
(35 seconds)
#ChurchNotBuildings
You've got, amen. Come on. You better be spending more time reaching the lost than you are inside this building. You better spend more time teaching Bible studies than you are inside this building. You better be spending more time. Amen. Knocking doors. Calling people. Checking on people. That you are inside this building. Place is going to burn up one day but every soul that you can reach, amen, can have a place in heaven because you understand, I'm not going to be destroyed by the dangers of the church.
[00:33:45]
(32 seconds)
#SoulsNotStructures
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