What church is all about

What's the difference between church today and when it was 'invented'? Would the apostles recognize what they started? Would Paul be happy with us, or would we get an 'uncomfortable' letter, like some of the early chuches did?

Right after Jesus had left earth this is what the disciples did:

"They all joined together constantly in prayer..."

Acts 1:14, NIV

Other things you see in Acts are:
* explanation of 'the Bible' and of Jesus' life
* living by what is explained
* calling non-believers to faith (repent, turn away from your present life, be baptised, follow Jesus)
* sharing your possessions (so nobody is in need)
* performing of miracles
* worshipping God
* remembering Jesus' death
And all these things as well in special gatherings ('church-services') as in daily gatherings at peoples homes.

How do we see church today? For non-Christians it's mostly an institute that tells you what to do and what not. At best it's a place that is "maybe useful for others". For Christians the sermon and the worship time are probably the prime ingredients.
What about the other things? What about sharing our possesions? What about living by what is explained?

Maybe we don't 'do' church like they did back then, but how great to see that there is more to church than a building, a sermon and rules.
This is also church:


Last Sunday (June 19th) we had our first Vondel50. Church is not about a building. It's about being together. With God. It's about sharing the best things we have with others. That can be as simple as giving strange people in a huge park on a sunny day a flower and tell them that God made them even more beautiful then the flower.
It can be as simple as that. But it shouldn't be just that.

See also Eric's blog on Vondel50.