The Beauty of the Church Is a Wonder to Behold — Part 9

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

August 15, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

VFA ANNOUNCEMENT: Monday I will have an announcement regarding a special guest contributor to The View From Above. Stay tuned!

The Beauty of the Church Is a Wonder to Behold — Part 9

The beauty of the church is a wonder to behold.

It’s a miracle, it truly is!

The church is a place to go—but more than that, it is a place to look forward to going.

Why?

Because of what Jesus created her to be.

In the Old Testament, they didn't have the revelation of the church that we have today, but they relished the opportunity to go to the Temple with others.

They gathered for worship.

They heard the Word of God.

They enjoyed fellowship with one another.

They brought their sacrifices before the Lord.

There really is something special about singing together, praising together, and gathering with one another for fellowship and encouragement.

The Sons of Korah were worshipers, musicians, and gatekeepers in the House of God. Psalm 84 is one of the Psalms attributed to them.

Scripture Focus

Psalm 84:1–4

"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You."

I think that says it all about how we should approach our own house of God—our local church.

It's a place we love.

It's a place we long to be.

Why?

Because of the unique, life-changing power that awaits us there and because of the people with whom we gather.

When Renee and I were born again in May of 1975...

WE FOUND A HOME.

Just like the sparrow and the swallow mentioned in Psalm 84, we found a place where we belonged.

That home was in our church and at the altar.

A home is where you belong.

It's where you live.

It's where you're nurtured and fed.

And the church is where our God reveals Himself in His mighty glory and power.

Our home—the church—is a place where we are accepted, welcomed, loved, valued, and appreciated.

We gather there to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives.

Our God and King is given His rightful place.

Church, then, is about much more than asking:

"Should I go to church today or not?"

Our faithfulness to the church is one of the ways we acknowledge His Lordship by arranging our lives around what we have determined matters most.

One of the best decisions Renee and I made after arriving home at our local church—The Door Church in Tucson, Arizona—was that we would be in every service, no matter what.

We arranged our lives around being faithful.

That decision has borne fruit throughout our lives.

And if you make that same commitment, it can bear much fruit and pay rich spiritual dividends in yours.

Today's Challenge

Don't think of your local church merely as a building you occasionally visit.

Think of it as home.

It's where you gather with God's people.

It's where you're fed by God's Word.

It's where you worship.

It's where you pray.

It's where you serve.

It's where God continues shaping your life.

Arrange your priorities accordingly and determine to be faithful.

We are destined to grow together and advance the will of God on earth together as His church—His beloved church that Jesus Christ is building and of which you are a part.