The Way Church Should Go

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

The whole purpose of the Holy Spirit coming into this world and the Word has been given in a Book like the Bible is to build, train and lead the Church.

Jesus said, “when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).

Every living thing has a way to move. Every man made body or establishment has a pattern and a way of work.

You take any community- they have a set rules to follow.

But look into the so-called ‘churches’- they move in different ways. Their path is not identical. Their doctrines are not the same. Their ideology, path, and mode of operation is very different from each other.

How do we identify the true, genuine Church?

Before we answer that question, we must know what the Church is. It’s not the building. It is the community of people, who are redeemed by Christ through His sacrifice, who are rooted in His Word and guided by His Spirit and walking exactly as what was commanded by the Master.

Now, we answer the first question- what is the genuine Church?

A community of people following the Lord Jesus Christ, in faith, guided by the Spirit on the road that He has told in His Word to walk- which He, Himself has walked.

The church must be led.

The church must be taught.

The church must be trained in the way it should go.

1. The Church Should Go the Way of Christ

Not the way of culture or tradition- culture is of the world, no uniformity

Not the way of convenience or easy go- it’s the way of the flesh, not willing to pay a price

Not the way of popularity- doctrine of majority, acceptance, business

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

If He is the way, then the church must walk His way- this way is the narrow way, which is explained in Matthew 7:13-14.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

That means:

Loving like Jesus- selflessly- Philippians 2:6-7

Serving like Jesus- Washing the feet/feeding the poor- taking the lowest position always.

Forgiving like Jesus- the woman caught in adultery John 8:1-11

Sacrificing like Jesus- bearing the sins of the world/ bearing loss to bless someone (Apostles & missionaries)

Speaking truth with grace like Jesus- Every single person should hear the truth without compromise

The way the church should go is not a mystery—look at Jesus, and you see the path.

2. The Church Should Go the Way of the Cross

The cross is not just our symbol; it is our direction.

It’s not just where Jesus died; it is where we learn how to live.

Our Lord said, “if anyone wishes to follow me he has to deny himself and carry his cross daily and follow me”- (Mathew 16/Luke 9/Luke 14)

The way of the cross means:

We surrender our preferences.

We die to selfishness.

We carry burdens for one another.

We give instead of only receiving.

We stand for righteousness even when it costs us.

A church that avoids the cross loses its power.

But a church that embraces the cross finds resurrection life.

3. The Church Should Go the Way of Love

Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

Is this the way, we see around, among the church leaders, believers?

Not by our buildings.

Not by our music.

Not by our programs.

Love is the real evidence of the church.

The church should go the way of love that:

Welcomes the broken- compassionate

Listens to the hurting- find time to listen

Lifts the fallen- encourage to stand up

Forgives the guilty- be patient with others

Walk with people until they develop a personal relationship with the Lord.

A church without love is a church going the wrong way.

We need to show a love that is never experienced elsewhere.

A love that blesses others, a love that suffers loss and rejection, a love that prays for the enemies. A love that never expects anything in return.

4. The Church Should Go the Way of Mission

The church is not a museum for saints; it is a hospital for sinners.