When Does Church Start?

At the church where I am a member, we use screens to display announcements, song lyrics and just before the beginning of the service, there is a countdown clock to let people know when the service will begin.  Last week, I was thinking about that countdown in terms of the question, "When does church start?"

Church doesn't start when the praise and worship leader plays the opening notes of the first song.  It doesn't begin when the pastor walks into the room or when the ushers close the doors between the lobby and the sanctuary.  

Church starts in each one of us from the day we are born again because we are the church - people are the church - the building is only a place where we gather - the service is only an appointed time we join together.

So when does church start?  It starts at home when you open your eyes each day and walk out into a world who needs to see Jesus in you.  It starts when you are in prayer for your pastor during the week so he might have a timely word for you and your brothers and sisters when the church next gathers.  It begins when those who serve on a Sunday morning in various ministries of the church are preparing for the needs of the people.  It begins in thousands of ways through millions of believers all over the world.  

So if you gather with other believers on Sunday, make sure you are being the church - not just attending a meeting.  There's so much more to this Christian life than putting in an appearance for a couple of hours in a building with a church name on the front.