Church vs. church

Church is a big word... but it is a word that we have misused both inside and outside of churches.

When Christ came to earth, He came to a world full of religions, temples, and ideas about worship. Going as far back as we can trace, people have had some ideas about God, gods, and religion. So it is important to understand that when we say "church" more often than not we are referencing a place. There is a Greek word, Kyriakon, which was used to describe the temples where both the Greeks and Romans worshiped their many gods. Unfortunately for us as modern Christians, we can often talk about church in the same way; as if the building is somehow holy, magical, even pagan.

However, there is another Greek word that is used to describe early Christians in the Bible, Ecclesia. This word means assembly. It is a word that talks about people gathered together.
This is what the Church really is... the people.

This means that Church isn't a place we go, or an event to attend, but a people we are, wherever we are. The Church is the very body of Christ. The body can not be separated. So we, the Church, are one body no matter where you live, what denomination you may be, or what gifts you may have.

This is what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12.

"He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy. Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body."
(1Co 12:25-27)

You don't go to Church. You ARE the Church. You are a part of the body of Christ.