V is for Visible Church

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Hey TJ, which are you up to?

Hey Tory, welcome home from school.

I'm just playing a little volleyball, while I was waiting for you to get home, I decided

to pull out this old volleyball from the garage and practice with it.

Oh cool, do you remember your mom sent me to that volleyball camp?

I kind of remember that.

It was really fun, and I learned how to volley the volleyball, which you need two people.

Wanna play it together?

Sure.

Okay, let me just sit down on my backpack.

There.

All right, can I show you how?

Yep, I'm ready to learn.

All right, first you'll put your hands together like this.

Just like that, very good.

Next you'll stretch out your arms and keep them nice and straight.

All right, done.

Very good.

All right, now your goal is to hit the volleyball to the other person using this soft place on

your arm.

But won't that hurt?

It's a little uncomfortable at first, but eventually you get used to it.

I remember the first time I hit the volleyball, it kind of stung, but now I can follow it really

hard, and it doesn't hurt at all.

It's mostly important to learn what to expect.

Okay, let me try that.

Want me to show you how to do it first?

Good idea.

Here's the volleyball.

Okay, I'm gonna toss the ball up and volley it to you.

Then you can try to hit it when it comes your way.

Just try to copy how I hit it.

Ready?

Ready?

Vuh!

I got it.

Vuh!

Very good, TJ.

Vuh!

I got it.

Oh, I don't got it.

I missed.

Should we start over?

Sure.

You want to start this time?

Okay.

Ready?

Ready?

Vuh!

Nice, TJ.

Vuh!

Got it.

Vuh!

Vuh!

It's coming your way, TJ.

I got it.

Aw, bummer.

I didn't get it again.

I'm not getting much better at this.

Hey kids, welcome home from school, Tori.

How's your day today?

It was a good day, Mom.

I was thinking about you when you were at school.

Did you know that?

Well, maybe you think of me.

Well, I was mending one of TJ's button-up shirts

because the button had popped off.

As I was looking for a new button to replace it

in my sewing supplies,

I found some scraps of violet velvet fabric.

It's so soft and beautiful.

Maybe think of you.

I guess I just thought you'd like the violet velvet

and maybe you'd have some very good idea

of what to create with it.

Oh wow, thanks, Mom.

One of my favorite colors in this violet

and velvet is such a soft fabric.

I wonder what I can make with it.

Well, you don't have to decide now.

Looks like you and TJ are already having fun

with the volleyball.

We were.

But, Mom, I'm not getting any better.

You're not?

Have you been practicing?

I have and Tori even gave me instructions

on how to hit the volleyball,

but I'm still missing it.

Well, there's a difference between what is visible

and what is invisible, TJ.

Visible?

Invisible?

What do you mean, Mom?

I mean, sometimes when we practice something,

it doesn't look on the outside

like we're making much progress.

But the practice or the habit of going through the motions

over and over and over again,

make what we're learning visible in time.

That's why it's important that we value

the change we can see, what's visible

and the change we can't, what's invisible.

So you think I'm getting better?

Even though what I'm practicing

doesn't seem to be making a visible difference?

Oh, I sure do.

Sometimes we don't know we're growing until bam.

We can see how we've changed right there in front of us.

It actually reminds me something

that's important about church.

About church?

Do we play volleyball at church, Mom?

We don't, Tori, at least not that I know of.

But did you know God has given us the visible church

as a way that we grow and change?

The visible church?

Does that mean?

I know exactly what you're thinking, TJ.

Mom, are you saying part of the church is invisible?

Well, actually, kind of.

But not in the way you're thinking.

In what way then?

When is the visible church?

A very good question, kids.

And you know?

No, I think I know what you're going to say.

What do you think I'm going to say, Tori?

That is the perfect question for an adventure.

You guessed it, Tori.

What do you say, up for an adventure?

Will it help me with my volleyball skills?

Probably, but it might just remind you

of how important it is to keep doing something,

even when you don't see immediate change.

Very intriguing.

Well, have fun and stay in the neighborhood.

And if you get stuck or need help, just come find me.

You know I'd love to help.

Hmm, the visible church and the invisible church.

What does that mean?

Hello, kids.

Mighty Find Day for a walk through the neighborhood.

What are you two up to today?

Hey, Mr. T, we're out on an adventure.

Yeah, and maybe it's one you can help us with.

Oh, man, I'd love to help you out.

But I'm actually on my way to play a concert with my friend Vivian.

If you want to walk with me, maybe I can help before we get there.

Okay, we're not sure where to start.

So as long as you're welcoming the neighborhood, that's fine with me.

I'm staying in the neighborhood.

In fact, we're not far from where my friend Vivian is setting up.

We're going to play a little neighborhood concert.

Well, let's see.

We're trying to understand that thing a little confusing.

You see, our mom told us that there's something called the visible church.

And we're trying to understand what that means.

And also, that probably means there's an invisible church.

And what in the world does that mean?

Oh, wow.

Your mom asked you some very good questions.

What do you think the answer is?

Well, visible just means something we can see.

An invisible means something you can't see.

That's a good start.

Now, what about the church?

What does that mean?

The church is where we go every Sunday.

Almost.

I know we all go to church on Sunday, but that's really just the place where the church gathers.

The church isn't actually the building.

The place where the church gathers will all of our friends that follow Jesus go there on Sundays.

So does that mean the church is the people?

Exactly.

The church is the people of God in every time and every place.

In every time and every place.

So like, pour back into history.

That's right.

And into the future?

Exactly.

The church is God's people who have lived at any time and in any place.

It's like people who live here and people who don't.

Very good.

People across the street and people who live across the ocean.

You're getting it.

Church is God's people in every time and every place.

Whoa.

The church is very big.

I wish I could see how big the church really is.

Instead, I can always see a little church in this neighborhood.

And in this time, we can't see people who have worshiped here before us

or who will worship here after us.

You got it, guys.

I think you're about to discover what the visible church is.

The visible church is the church we can see.

The churches we worship with when we gather together on Sundays.

God's church is so much bigger than what we can see.

There are even people who follow Jesus.

We might never meet or know our following Him.

But God knows.

God knows every person who's ever been part of his great big church.

You might even say the size of God's great big church is invisible to us.

But God can see what we can't.

And God gives us our local churches that we can see.

So we can see what it's like to be part of his church.

The visible church is how God lets us see it experiencing being a part of the people of God.

The visible church that worships on Sunday morning is likely made up of people still

asking hard questions about who God is and whether or not they will follow Jesus with

their whole lives.

And that's good.

We want those people to worship with us on Sundays and continue to ask those great

big questions.

Every time we gather together as the visible church, we're reminded that God's church

is bigger than we can even imagine.

And the only God sees our hearts.

Maybe He knows how big his church really is.

Oh, hey look, we're here.

Hi Truman, I'm just getting us set up for our concert.

Hi Vivian, thanks for getting this all set up.

Hey look, these are my friends, TJ and Tori.

Hi TJ and Tori, are you going to be joining us for our concert today?

We'd love to.

Say, we were just talking about the visible church on our way over here.

Mind if we start with a song about that?

Very good.

Let me just grab my violin.

Oh, that's going to add so much of vava voom to our song.

TJ and Tori listen in while we play.

This song is all about the visible church.

All of a sudden, a morning boy says, Christ, we gather together and sing to Christ.

The church lifting up, their joy fill Christ.

The visible church is right before our eyes.

The visible church is what we see when we worship.

Joyful lead with voices loud and hearts so glad.

We thank our God for all we have, but there's a church so vast and wide.

The visible church God sees inside from every man and every race.

God sees his people in every place.

God sees every heart that is, no matter where that person lives.

We can't see all but God sure can.

He's had this vision since time again.

The visible church is what we see when we worship.

Joyful lead with voices loud and hearts so glad.

We thank our God for all we have.

But there's a church so vast and wide.

The visible church God sees inside from every man and every race.

God sees his people in every place.

So that's what my mom meant by a visible church, huh?

Yeah, I think I get that now.

But what did she mean about practicing?

About doing things again and again?

Even when you can't see how they change you.

Hmm.

I wonder if she was still talking about the church, TJ?

How so, Tori?

Well, you know how sometimes I complain about going to church on Sundays.

Yeah, I complain sometimes too.

Sometimes I just want to watch cartoons.

We're playing the backyard.

I did too, TJ.

But that has always reminded me that going to church changes us over time.

Not right away.

But as we make a habit of going to church, we grow and change.

So even when we can't see how we're growing by going to church.

To the visible church.

Right.

Even when we can't see how we're growing by going to the visible church.

As we make a habit of it, we're growing.

Well, I thought I was getting it.

But now I have so many other questions.

Like, what is worship?

Is there visible an invisible worship?

Oh, my head is going to explode.

How about just one of the different today, TJ?

Hmm, sounds like another adventure is right around the corner.

Tiny Theologians, did you love going on the Jesse Tree adventure with TJ and Tori at Christmas?

Well, guess what?

They're back.

And this time, we're celebrating Easter.

TJ, Tori, and the whole neighborhood are getting to walk you through the true story of Holy Week.

From the very first events, all the way to the resurrection of Jesus and beyond.

Here's the best part.

We've created a beautiful, felt banner for you to hang in your home with one symbol for each day of the podcast.

Plus, a matching card set to open your Bible, guide family discussion,

and help you see exactly what Jesus has done for you.

The He is risen banner and card set launch soon, and the podcast series begins March 28th.

Visit tinytheologians.shop to learn more.

We can't wait to celebrate Easter with you.