What does it mean to be a member of the Christian Church, to be a follower of Christ, to be a disciple of Jesus? Just a few of the ways we can talk about ourselves - those of us here in Church this morning whether actual or in the Spirit.

Are we members of a club? The thing about clubs is that they have something external that links and holds them together - golf at the Golf Club, knitting at the knitting club, football for Norwich City Supporters or which ever club or team they support and so it goes on the lust is endless. It is the external ‘thing’; golf, knitting, football that is the link for them.

So are we a club? What links us together? For some it can be something external the love of the building, the love of music, the love of ritual. But none of these things makes the Christian Church. At Baptism we are made one with Christ so that the Spirit can dwell in us. What binds us together is something we all share internally, the Spirit of God. When we come to worship, we are looking outwards to Almighty God but also inwards to the Holy Spirit which dwells in all of us.

That is the challenge that we are all trying to live up to. As Paul also says in the first letter to the Corinthians the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is quite a challenge, is it not? ‘But’, there’s always a ‘But’ the greater challenge is as I look at you, can I look beyond the frail human body to the body which is the temple of God? This is what makes us a community and not simply a club - anyone is welcome, because all have the Spirit of God in them.

How do we make disciples? We don’t. All we have to say is ‘Come and see’ at one level they will see a motley crew but do they, do we go beyond this and see the God who loved us so much - he was willing to come to this earth to live and die for us and now through his resurrection dwells in each one of us.

Praise and thanks to our God. Amen

Andrew SSL