Building Up the Church

The holy calling of coming together to worship God is a lofty mission. But even our churches could become a snare for us. One only has to look at the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Jesus´ day. We will need to tread lightly on this earth and stay close to our Savior. Let Christ lead us as we walk. That tie that grows between us and the Son of God is our hope and joy. Stepping where He steps and following where He leads is where our eternal joy will be. So let´s get really good at walking in step with Him!

Dear Lord, thank you for our churches. If we are found worthy, may we contribute to the fold and continue coming together to worship You. Only help us avoid the pitfalls of making our churches more important than You. Keep us focused on You so that our labor is not in vain. Amen

Matthew 23:1-39 ESV / Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, …

Matthew 23:23 ESV / “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Matthew 23:15 ESV / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Matthew 5:20 ESV / For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:25 ESV / “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Luke 12:1 ESV / In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Matthew 23:13 ESV / “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

Colossians 2:8 ESV / See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV / Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV / And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Acts 2:46 ESV / And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,