Most people understand being a “good Christian” as following Jesus, knowing Jesus, and relating to Jesus. This has led many people to the (wrong) conclusion that they can be a “good Christian” without being connected to a church. Today, 80 percent of Americans say they can be what Jesus intended them to be without being connected to a church, a body of believers. The truth is, Jesus lived and breathed and did everything He could to create a community of people called the church. 

 

- Ephesians 1 says He rules all things for the church. 

- John 17 says He sanctified Himself for the church. 

 

The church is a big mess with all kinds of craziness, but we can’t get rid of it, because Jesus died and rose for it.