Just because the word “church” appears on the outside of a building does not mean that it is the church of the Living God that Jesus died for, was raised for, and will come back for when he returns. His church was established to accomplish his mission on earth as ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world.

The mission of worshipping (Bride) our Creator and serving our neighbors (Body) can only be accomplished as the church abides in his presence (Branches) to bear witness as the living temple (Building) that he is building within us. When we live together in unity as a heavenly family (Brothers and Sisters) we are fortified by his truth (Bulwark) against the spiritually compromised world that surrounds us. We are called to reflect his light (Beacon) into our neighborhoods and among the nations.

These seven metaphors for the church were given to us by New Testament writers to set our “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” We hope church leaders today will reexamine these signs to evaluate the condition of their local church and to help clarify the Lord’s mission for their congregations.