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Key Bible Verse:All of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27).Bonus Reading: 1 Cor. 12:22-28

Many communities have several churches that preach the Word faithfully and experience the work of the Spirit among them. People joyfully declare, "This is my church home."

But in these same communities, a sickness—the Church Hopper Syndrome—runs rampant. If you asked one of those infected, "What church do you attend?" they might answer, "Well, I go to Church A to hear my favorite preacher, but I go to Church B for my small group because they have a great program, and then I like to visit Church C for their fellowship activities, and I go to concerts at Churches D and E." If you asked, "So, which is your home church?" you might hear, "I'm actually a member of Church F, but I haven't gone there for years!"

If you got personal and asked, "Where do you put down your spiritual roots? Where do you serve? Where do you give? Where do you invest yourself in the lives of others?" you'd probably get a confused stare. These people actually believe that the church exists to provide them with what they want from the experience. And that's precisely why most are so miserable and empty!

—Kevin Harney in Seismic Shifts

My Response: Am I a consumer of religious services or am I contributing to my spiritual community?

Thought to Apply: It is no good supposing that membership of the universal church of Christ is enough; we must belong to some local branch of it.—JOHN STOTT

Adapted from Seismic Shifts (Zondervan, 2005) by permission.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

In my community, Lord, help me to be a functioning part of Your body as You intend.

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