What Your Life is Missing

We Are the Church

Scripture References

Primary text

• Matthew 16:18
• Proverbs 31

Other references

• 1 Corinthians 13:13
• Ephesians 3:20

Overview

Life feels heavy, uncertain and “un-precedented,” yet one crucial piece may simply be missing: the Church. Jesus promised, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” We do not merely attend a building; we are the Bride He is building—called, equipped and sent to push back darkness with love, generosity and mission. If your life feels adrift, perhaps you’re disengaged from the very community you were created to embody.

Context

The message opens with a gym encounter: a man instantly confesses, “I’m so far from God—I had no idea how much I missed going to church.” In a season of fear, conspiracy theories and social tension, Craig Groeschel asks listeners to examine the role of the Church in their own lives.

Main Points

Life Feels Off: What Might Be Missing

• Many feel tense, hopeless, disconnected, sliding into old habits.
• Question posed: If life “isn’t working,” could it be because we’re detached from the Church, and the Church is missing us?

Jesus Is Building His Church

• Greek word ekklēsia: “called-out ones who assemble.”
• First mention—Matthew 16:18: Jesus calls it “my church.”
• His priority statement attaches warfare language: the gates of hell will not prevail.

Story: How the Church Shaped One Life

• Story: From childhood memories to pastoral calling, Craig lists milestone after milestone—salvation, friendships, generosity lessons, meeting & marrying Amy, launching Life.Church, raising six believing children—all catalyzed through local church life.
• Point: These blessings arrived before he was a pastor; they flowed from simply belonging to Christ’s Body.

The Bride of Christ in Proverbs 31

• Proverbs 31’s 22-line acrostic can picture the Church: strong, generous, wise, serving the poor, shining in darkness.
• Reading the passage aloud with “church” in place of “wife” stirs affection when we know we are that bride.

Shift Your Mindset

“We don’t just go to church; we are the church, and we are here for the world.”

• Church is identity, not destination. If you can “leave” it, you never grasped it.
• Spiritual consumers spectate; spiritual contributors engage.

Engage in the Spiritual War

• An unseen enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy; followers of Jesus push back darkness.
• Visual analogy: a college party scuffle that suddenly turns hostile—realizing you’re in a fight changes everything.
• Our battle is not against masks, votes or posts, but against spiritual forces.

How We Live as Church

• Community: iron sharpens iron; isolation dulls faith.
• Prayer: opens heaven and brings God’s will to earth.
• Spiritual gifts: every member functions; 70 % currently unused as people only “stream” services.
• Generosity: God loved, so He gave; we mirror Him when we give.
  • Examples of current impact:
    • Eliminated $6 million of medical debt for COVID-19 health workers.
    • Funding 100+ local mission partners.
    • Feeding millions in Central America.
    • 27,000 churches using the free Church Online Platform.
    • YouVersion Bible App—433 million devices.
• Evangelism: adopt a “search-and-rescue” mentality; invite anyone, anywhere—online or in person.

Key Truths

• Jesus personally builds and fiercely loves His Church.
• Church is who we are, not where we go; identity precedes activity.
• Disengagement from the Body often explains spiritual drift and despair.
• The Church exists to wage spiritual war with love, prayer, gifts and irrational generosity.
• We are not spiritual consumers; we are contributors sent to bless the world.

Response

• Re-embrace your identity as Christ’s Church—stop spectating.
• Reconnect with believing community for mutual sharpening.
• Pray daily for God’s will to invade earth and for lost people to be found.
• Deploy your spiritual gifts in some concrete ministry, online or in person.
• Give generously to meet needs and fund the gospel.
• Invite friends, coworkers and online followers to encounter Jesus.

Closing

Craig concludes that an anxious, divided world needs a united, mission-minded church. Perhaps what you’re missing is Church—and perhaps the Church is missing you. Engage the battle, serve with generosity, and trust the God “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than all we ask or imagine” through His power at work in us.

“We are not spiritual consumers; we are spiritual contributors. The Church does not exist for us—we are the Church, and we exist for the world.”

Prayer

Father, by the power of Your Spirit and through the truth of Your Word, help us discover what we are missing so we can know You intimately and serve You passionately. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Resources

• The Passion Translation (used for Proverbs 31 reading)
• Church Online Platform (free tool for 27,000+ churches)
• YouVersion Bible App