Are We the Church, or Just Going to Church? A Call to Kingdom Action

 Are We Too Focused on Ourselves? A Spiritual Check-Up  

Hey everyone, it's Conrad here from ConradRocks.Net! I’m fired up to be back with you, and today I’m sharing some thoughts that have been stirring in my heart and mind. We’re diving deep into a question that I believe is crucial for all of us as Christians.

A Question That Keeps Stirring

Lately, I’ve been wrestling with something, something that I believe is important for all of us to honestly grapple with. It’s a question that keeps echoing in my mind: are we as a church truly living out the Gospel, or have we become so hyper-focused on ourselves, so inwardly focused, that we’ve lost sight of the Kingdom we’re called to build? This isn't a criticism from some place of superiority, it’s a question of introspection, for all of us, me included.

You know, my passion here at ConradRocks.Net is all about helping you have a real, spiritual, and supernatural relationship with the biblical Jesus. Part of that relationship is following Jesus's commands, many of which focus on serving others. But are we really doing that? That’s what we're diving into today, and trust me, it’s not going to be a guilt trip. If we accept this challenge, I truly believe it will not only transform our personal lives but the lives of those in our communities. Let's dig in!

The Hyper-Focus Problem: Are We Missing the Bigger Picture?

I've been doing a lot of reflecting and praying lately, fueled by some pretty jarring experiences. We all know our focus can get skewed, our priorities mixed up. And honestly, I believe many of us are hyper-focused on ourselves when we shouldn't be. This self-centered thinking can lead to a sense of isolation, rather than genuine connection with others and with God. While personal struggles are important, and I’m not minimizing them at all, are we so caught up in our own personal breakthrough that we are missing the call to help those less fortunate around us? I think this is a major problem in our churches today.

We ask what God can do for me. Maybe we need to switch that question to “what can I do for you, God?” There’s that powerful passage that says those who seek to save their life will lose it, but those that lay down their lives for the Gospel will find eternal life. Maybe we need to apply this principle to our entire relationship with Jesus. We might see emotional moments at the altar, but is true transformation taking hold beyond those moments, impacting our community from Monday through Saturday? Jesus said that when we are filled with the Spirit, we’re imbued with power to be witnesses of Jesus. Is that happening in our lives, in our churches?

Digging Deeper: Selfish Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer

Let's be real, are our prayer lists simply lists of our selfish wants and desires? Are we neglecting the core of Jesus’s teaching in the Lord’s Prayer: "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," (Matthew 6:10). This isn’t just a formula; it's a posture of the heart! Our concerns often revolve around our comfort and our own spiritual growth. It sometimes feels like our churches are geared more towards self-improvement than actually impacting the communities around us. We need to remember Paul's plea in Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." I'm seeing it, you're probably seeing it, and if we're honest, we're all guilty of it. I think we get so caught up in personal fulfillment that we forget the pure joy that comes from service and sacrifice. Jesus himself said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Are we following *Jesus’*s example, or have we made the Christian life about "me, me, me," rather than about others?

My Own Battles with Depression and Shifting Focus

Let's talk about depression for a minute. I’ve been through it. It was a long battle for me, and like many knowledgeable voices say, depression often comes from being hyper-focused on yourself and your problems. I know that firsthand. We can get so caught up in our own struggles, our perceived lack, or our own pain that we become blinded to the world around us. I used to do that; get so focused on my problems that I'd let the devil steal my victory. He would start whispering those lies, and I would agree with them. Then, I found myself shut away, shutting out the world that God wants me to reach.

I think of my buddy Joseph. One day, he was feeling down, and instead of telling him to just pray about it, I decided we needed to do something. We went street preaching, prayed for people, and served those less fortunate. The shift in Joseph was almost immediate. Helping someone less fortunate isn't just doing God's work; it’s a Kingdom key to true fulfillment, a key to taking your mind off yourself. As Jesus said, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25). We find life when we give it away.

Jesus’ Kingdom: A Different Kind of Power

Jesus's Kingdom isn't designed like our worldly structures. It's not about building empires or accumulating power. Jesus taught us that “the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave," (Matthew 20:25-27). It’s all about "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done." We are meant to be agents of God’s will, and His will is always about the marginalized, the hurting, and the lost. When we shift our focus from our own needs to the needs of those around us, our perspective shifts. As Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). We realize the amazing gift we have in our relationship with God, and that spills out to change the world around us.

Love Your Neighbor: It's Not a Suggestion!

"Love your neighbor as yourself." It’s not just some nice saying; it's the core of everything we’re called to do as Christians (Matthew 22:39). It’s not a suggestion; it's Jesus’ second greatest commandment! I believe the Spirit is calling us back to the core of this. The Lord isn’t filling us with the Spirit for a religious party. We’re filled with the Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus, empowered to be His hands and feet on earth. As Jesus said right before His ascension, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” (Acts 1:8). We’re empowered for a purpose, and it's not meant to stay contained within the walls of our church buildings.

The Powerful Example of the Salvation Army

Have you ever studied the Salvation Army? They started with William and Catherine Booth in London in the late 1800s, not as a typical church, but as a mission to the unchurched and the marginalized. They stepped into the needs they saw. They didn't just preach the gospel; they lived it out in tangible ways. They fed the poor, offered warm beds, and created practical paths to recovery. They understood that meeting physical needs is often the first step in sharing the Gospel. They built shelters, soup kitchens, and job training programs. Their local centers became beacons of hope, places of refuge and assistance. The Salvation Army is a powerful example of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities. This model reminds us that we've been called to do the same. How can we profess to love Jesus and simultaneously step over the wounded and the neglected? Are we so wrapped up in our programs that we miss the point of being the church, not just going to church?

A Powerful Encounter: The Lady on Highway 90

A few years ago, the Lord woke me up and put it on my heart to go out and interview people about the state of the church. So, my buddy Joseph and I were driving down Highway 90 in Ocean Springs on a Sunday, and there was all this traffic, headed to churches. Then we saw this lady, in her seventies, walking along the side of the road, walking past the churches, and past thousands of people. We turned around and helped that lady out. We learned that she had walked SEVEN miles down that very busy highway. Everyone was driving past her to go to their church services, all focused on their personal worship. She had her little chihuahua with her and was exhausted. This profound encounter burned into my soul. How can we profess to love Jesus and step over the wounded? Jesus didn’t just talk about love, He acted it out, touching lepers, eating with outcasts, and healing the sick. Have we forgotten that example?

A Paradigm Shift: We Are the Body

Jesus said He leaves the 99 to seek the one. But what if we are Jesus? We are His body! Think about that. There are people who can’t get to church; maybe we can give them a ride? I'm totally guilty of these things. I'm preaching to myself here. I'm guilty of thinking we're doing God’s work when we’re just checking a box. It feels hollow when there are people suffering right outside our doors. I can't solve the whole world’s problems, but we all need to do some serious self-introspection about this. It's not about shame, it’s about waking up to our true purpose, seeing through Jesus’s eyes and acting with His hands.

Action Items: How Can We Be More Like Jesus?

So, what can we actually do about all this? It’s time to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. We can’t sit back and do the same old thing. We need to get out of our comfortable Christian bubble. We need to remember we’re filled with the Spirit to do the work, not just to feel good. So, here are a few things I've been thinking about:

Reevaluate Our Prayer Life: Is it primarily about my needs, or am I interceding for others, for us? Let’s focus on the needs of those around us and watch what happens.

Look Outward, Not Inward: What are the practical needs in our communities? Are there homeless shelters that need volunteers, elderly people who need assistance? Let’s be intentional in looking for ways to serve. We go to rest homes and pray for people. They are often neglected and forgotten. I can hear the echo of "I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me" (Matthew 25). Our hearts should break for the forgotten, these people are not a project, they are beloved by God and waiting for us to show up.

Be a Witness: We’re filled with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus and His love in our communities. We need to share our faith, not just through words, but through acts of service. Walk the talk.

Rethink Church: Are we more focused on going to church than being the church? Are our services structured to truly reach the lost, or are we just focused on self-help? Our question shouldn't be, "What can God do for me," but "What can I do for God?".

Abide in Jesus’ Teachings: The greatest action is to abide in Jesus Christ. The more we abide in His words, the more His words abide in us (John 8:31-32). It becomes natural to step into the world and seek the lost.

Stepping Out of the Pews and Into the Streets

This isn’t about condemnation; this is about opening our eyes and waking up to what's really going on. It's about stepping into our true calling as disciples of Jesus, where we are a light to the world. We cannot hide from those who are struggling. It's about stepping out of the pews and into the streets where the real work of the kingdom is done. So, I encourage you, go find the one. Pray about it. God will show you. Go be the hands and feet of Jesus.

When you find yourself asking what God can do for you, shift that focus and ask God, "What can I do for you today? Here I am, send me!"

If this message has inspired you, please share it with your friends and family! Also, please leave a comment! Nothing is more rewarding than hearing from you and knowing that something I said had a profound effect on you. It drives me to keep going.

God bless you, and thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Until next time, dig deeper and go higher!