The Beauty of the Church Is a Wonder to Behold — Part 3

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

August 9, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

The Beauty of the Church Is a Wonder to Behold — Part 3

The beauty of the church is a wonder to behold.

It’s a miracle, it truly is.

When we gather together, we can expect the fullness of the manifest presence of Jesus Christ.

He gathers with us in a unique way to do business in our lives.

And there is work He accomplishes through the church that can be done no other way.

Scripture Focus

Ephesians 4:11–13

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…”

That FULLNESS awaits us when we gather.

Jesus, in all of His glory and Lordship, in all of His might and power to address, transform, and change our lives, is the experience of the church.

That is what Jesus said He would build.

A place—a physical place—and an atmosphere that we enter into where He is able to advance His will in our lives in a unique way.

When we gather together as the church, we benefit.

God benefits because He has us in a place—like clay on the potter’s wheel—where He can mold our lives.

When we dedicate the time and make the necessary sacrifice to be present, the transformative power of the Holy Spirit goes to work in us to perfect us and complete the good work He has begun.

In order to benefit from the ministry of a pastor, teacher, evangelist, and the other ministries God has given to the church, the church must gather.

The anointed preaching of God’s Word, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, must have a place to land as God intends in your life.

The very existence of these gift ministries tells us something important:

God intends for you to receive something through the church that you will not receive on your own.

You are not going to come up with every revelation you need by yourself.

God uses others to speak into your life when we gather together as the church.

What is the purpose?

Ephesians tells us:

”…for the EQUIPPING of the saints…for the EDIFYING of the body of Christ.”

If you could accomplish all of that on your own, there would be no need to gather.

But you can’t.

Others must contribute to the building and constructing of your spiritual life.

Equipping means to furnish, complete, and perfect.

Edifying means to build up, promote growth, and do what is necessary to complete.

So the question is:

Why would we miss church or treat the assembly casually rather than giving it the priority it deserves?

Perhaps our attitude toward the assembly needs to be adjusted.

If so, adjust it.

I love the assembly of the saints.

I wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to gather because I come with an expectation—to experience the manifest presence of God and receive more of what He has for my life and for all those who gather with me.

Today’s Challenge

Don’t merely attend church today.

Come expecting.

Expect God to speak.

Expect His Word to challenge you.

Expect the Holy Spirit to work in you.

Expect the ministries Christ has placed in His church to equip and edify you.

Place yourself on the Potter’s wheel and allow God to continue molding you into the person He intends you to become.

There is more of Christ for us to experience when the saints gather together.