CVS Pharmacy is one of the leading pharmaceutical retailers in America. When you walk into one of their stores there are certain things you have become conditioned to expect – basic groceries, greeting cards, minor electronics, and of course, hair products, toiletries, and pharmaceuticals. I frequent their stores often.
Here is one thing you may not know about CVS locations – not all of them contain pharmacies. They are rare but some actually do exist. In fact, one such location is shown above. In essence, it is actually a small grocery store. The sign says CVS but if you walk in expecting to get a prescription filled, you will be disappointed. I should know. I walked into this particular CVS today.
This reality reminds me of some churches. The sign may say “Church” but not all really are. Many people visit one on a Sunday morning expecting the Gospel message, to hear the Word taught, and to be told about Jesus. These people want something real and lasting. They need an eternal prescription filled. And much like my experience at this particular CVS, they come away disappointed. The sign fooled them. They are attending the wrong church.
Let’s take a look at 1 Corinthians 15: 1-8:
“Now I would remind you, brothers,of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (ESV)
Based upon the passage above, a New Testament church, a church you should be attending, is a Gospel-centered church. Paul said in verse 1, “the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand”. The Gospel message can be summed up in these four statements:
- Christ died for our sins – “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” verse 3
- Christ was buried – “he was buried” verse 4
- Christ rose again – “he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” verse 4
- Christ appeared to many – “he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” verses 5-8
If you do not hear these four truths of the Gospel message almost weekly, you have wandered into the wrong building. The prescription your soul desperately needs will not be filled there. Without the Gospel message, your weekend experience may have candy, bells and whistles, and things which provide temporary relief. However, there will be no long-term healing for you. The sign may say “Church” but much like my recent trip to CVS, you will ultimately be quite disappointed.
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