(Hebrews 3:1-6 NIV) "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast."

(Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV) "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

(Romans 15:1-7 NIV) "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

(Romans 12:1-6 NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith."

Digging Deeper

1. Do you tend to think of the church as a place or a people? As you answer consider how often you equate the “church” with “people”. Do you feel like CrossPointe is a community to which you belong? Why or why not?

2. Consider the following passages and consider the following question: How is the church described in them? Then consider how you might need to change your thinking about how you “do” church. Isaiah 62:5, Ephesians 5:25-27 & Revelation 19:7-8; 1 Corinthians 12:27 & Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 2:19-22 & Hebrews 3:3-4; John 15:1-8; Psalm 95:6-7 & John 10:7-16; Ephesians 3:14-15 & Galatians 6:10; Revelation 1:4-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10 & Deuteronomy 7:6-8.

3. Which of the word pictures in question 2 do you “like” the most – which are you drawn to? What are you doing in and with the community of CrossPointe to help make that picture, or any of the others, a reality in our church family? What could you start doing? Will you?