As I read this verse (it's from Jeremiah by the way), it struck me that too much attention can be paid to the wrong thing too often in life. I guess you could rephrase this verse with regard to the church:
A beautiful building does not make a great church!
In our current series on Acts at church we took a look recently at what might make a great church. We read Acts 2:42-47, well known verses for those who’ve spent their time thinking about what church should be. Perhaps a great church is characterised by great teaching, great fellowship, great prayer, great worship, great reputation and great outcomes. The problem comes when you try to define greatness. What does great worship look like? Is it all about thundering hymns and big choirs or is it all about intimate contemporary worship songs? Or what about great service, what might that entail?
How do we define greatness in the church?
Perhaps, when we think of greatness, we think more about what Jesus said about doing greater things than these, than we do about what he said about greater love has no one than this, that he (or she) lays down their life for their friends. Perhaps our definitions of greatness are still a little upside down.
A beautiful building does not make a great church, but I know a great God who loves the church he’s promised to build and I’m praying that what he builds will be a great church that reflects his great character.
PS More worrying is that you could rephrase the quote: A great church does not make a great church leader. Now that is something to ponder.
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