The purpose of a movie trailer is to give highlights of a forthcoming movie, creating “buzz” about it. And the ”buzz” compels people to see the movie. For example, the trailers for Avengers: Age of Ultron were incredible. They were so enticing that I couldn’t wait for the movie to arrive in theaters.

The church is a movie trailer

Did you know that the local church is to be like a movie trailer for the eternal church? The apostle John describes the eternal church in Revelation 5:6–12:

“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, reach holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

’Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.’

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

’Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!’” (ESV).

The eternal church will be a reconciled, unified, multiethnic community reigning on the earth, adoring Jesus. The church today is to be a movie trailer, enticing and drawing people to take part in this future reality. The apostle Paul taught the church at Colossae how to be an enticing foretaste. He wrote:

“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:11–17, ESV).

A local church that is a reflection of this is:

• Not colorblind, but color-blessed. It’s multiethnic (v. 11).
• Socioeconomically diverse (v. 11). Love and acceptance is based on the cross, not social standing.
• Holy, compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient (v. 12).
• Forgiving and forgiven (v. 13).
• Loving and living in harmony (v. 14).
• Peaceful and in one body (v. 15).
• Centered on the word of Christ, wise, and full of praise and thanksgiving (v. 16).

How can such a beautiful church be possible? Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:1-4:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (ESV).

When God’s people set our minds on Christ, who is our life, we are empowered by the Spirit to progressively mature and reflect that great day in the future. May the church be the most epic movie trailer ever so that everyone will want to see that day come.

Marinate on that.