Building a Kingdom, Not a Club

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 When you think about your church, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the style of the music, the quality of the coffee, the programs for your kids, or perhaps the social circle you’ve built there?

   I must confess when I was in basic training for the army I looked for a church that served the best junk food or had the longest service. I did that so I could get away from the drill sergeants for just a little bit and eat a donut or two without my drill sergeant noticing. 

     In our modern world, churches can easily become "lifestyle hubs." We look for a place that fits our schedule, matches our political leanings, or provides the best "performance" on a Sunday morning. 

    However, there is a subtle danger in this: we can become so focused on the features of the church that we forget the Foundation.

    Historical data suggests this isn't just a "feeling." According to a 2024 study by the Pew Research Center, while 68% of Americans still identify as Christian, the reasons for church attendance have shifted significantly toward social community and "feeling like a good person" rather than specific theological devotion. 

    When our focus shifts from Christ to ourselves, the church inevitably suffers from division, legalism, and a loss of purpose.

The Biblical Prescription

    The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae because they were facing this exact crisis. They were being pulled away by "do’s and don’ts" and external influences that made their faith more about their own performance than about Jesus.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."-  

Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Understanding the Center

    Paul’s message is a "re-centering" of the heart. He uses a specific phrase—"the word of Christ"—to remind us that every part of Scripture, from the opening of Genesis to the end of Revelation, points directly to Jesus. Paul understood that all of Scripture is about Jesus and we need to read it and understand it in that light. 

    Think of a church like the construction of a great cathedral. There is a famous story about Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He once asked three workers what they were doing: The first worker said, "I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day. The second one said, "I’m putting in 10 hours a day. The third worker, however, said, "I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.

    The first two were focused on the task and the toil. The third was focused on the vision. When a church loses its focus on Christ, we become like the first two workers—complaining about the "hours" or the "pay" (the rules and the preferences). 

    But when Christ is the focus, every song, every sermon, and every potluck breakfast becomes an act of worship. That is the kind of perspective Paul wanted this church to have and that is the kind of perspective we need to have as well. 

How to Stay Christ-Centered Today

    How do we practically move from a self-centered faith to a Christ-centered one? Paul highlights three key areas:

  • Our Teaching: It’s not about "5 steps to a better life." The primary message of the church must always be the Gospel—that God loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place. 

Sometimes we might think that a church needs to have some variety in their spiritual diet. Some may say "I know the preacher needs to preach the gospel, but he does not need to do it every Sunday!"  Or someone might say "we need a series of messages on how to have a better marriage, or 4 ways to be a good steward of your money".  None of that is bad, but what we need most is the bread of life, the living water to continue to nurture our souls. 

  • Our Singing: Paul doesn’t care about the "worship wars" between traditional hymns and contemporary songs. Whether you are singing a 400-year-old hymn or a song born out of the 1970s Jesus Movement, the focus must be the direction of the song: "to the Lord." It should not be how the song sounds but rather who the song is talking about. The focus of our singing should never be about talent, the composition, or the instruments that are being used. In stead the focus of our singing should be about Jesus Christ. We sing about Him and we sing to Him. That is true worship. 

  • Our Service: Everything from redoing a church kitchen to hosting a community block party should have one goal in mind: reaching people for Jesus. If we do it for our own "club," we’ve missed the point. At Ashmore Baptist Church we are actively trying to open up a food pantry at our church. The goal of our food pantry is not just to meet the physical needs of our community. Our goal is to meet the physical needs of our community that we might be able to meet their spiritual needs as well. The focus of all that we do in both the church and in our own lives should be focused on seeking to Glorify God in all that we do. 

Moving Forward

    If you find yourself frustrated with your church or your walk with God, ask yourself: "Who is at the center of my focus right now?"

    It is easy to get caught up in the "shillings and hours" of religious life, but we are called to something much greater. We are called to be a people who are Complete in Christ and free from the weight of performance.

    Today, I challenge you to look past the "jars" of secondary issues and look to the Savior. When He is the focus, the divisions fade, the complaining stops, and the church truly becomes the light it was meant to be. Are you building a club, or are you building a kingdom?

What would change in your life this week if every word and every deed was done "in the name of the Lord Jesus"?

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

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