Paul now changes his analogy for Christians, from a family and kingdom - to a building. Today the great city skylines around the world are dominated by iconic structures, each intended to glorify the architect and the occupants. The church is all that and much more. The Lord is the architect and builder, but He is building with ordinary people like many small stones in a massive construction. Each person is an individual module in the construction (1 Peter 2:4-8), but together we become 'something else'. Jesus, of course, is the stone from which all others are measured; and with the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:19-20), establishes the church's foundation.

The building is a temple. A place for worship, a place where God is seen to be resident. In the early days of the church it was numerically small. But piece by piece, as souls were saved, the building grew. Each new believer is structurally keyed into the foundation, to be secure in Christ as they grasp the teaching of the apostles and those who proclaim the gospel. Each stone is designed to lock into the adjacent stone. It is a picture of strength in fellowship and service.

Paul makes clear that the church (that is all the people who trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation and sanctification) is an organic and dynamic structure. It grows 'in' Christ, it is joined together 'by' Christ, and it grows to be the place where Christ is seen to live. It is Christ who builds us into the church, as He has done in every previous generation. The purpose of the church is that the Spirit of God will live within it and be at home in us. As we cooperate with Him, the world will see Jesus in action!

The church does not always get a good press, but Jesus is still building it: it is His only plan for the spreading of the gospel and the salvation of all who will receive the truth. But the media do not understand that. Christian charity in the UK is the largest available source of free welfare support to the society; and that is its principal perceived function. But its real function is to be the people who host the living God in themselves and in their midst. Two or three people are enough to function as 'church' in the workplace or neighbourhood (Matthew 18:20). In their fellowship, the truth and love of Jesus lives and breathes. So, don't stop meeting together (Hebrews 10:25); and if you do not have a regular meeting of believers at your work - why not start one?