All of us feel alone sometimes. And this is not God's plan. The church is God's instrument for community.
Paul says there are some things that serve as stumbling blocks (such as divisive opinions), while there are other matters that serve for mutual upbuilding (righteous, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit). Our challenge as a church will be to center the things that matter most to God while not giving in to the temptation to force our specific viewpoints on others.
Jesus says that the definition of building a house on the rock is hearing his words and putting them into action. But which words? There are around 51 instructions in the Sermon on the Mount. When we practice them we build on the rock.
Old churches can be a lot of work. But they are worth it. How can believers fix up the church? We do it when we use our words, gifts, and habits to build up the body.
The church is not a building; it is people. But the people must come together to be built up into what God imagines the church should be. This message considers how an old house like the church can be reinvigorated in the new year.