Does Jesus want His church to be like a fast-food restaurant?
Fast-food outlets want each branch to retain key features. This is to let the customer know that they’re in that establishment. It could be the way the food is presented, the way the restaurant is designed, the uniform of the staff. It’s all controlled, and it’s all pointing to how they represent the organisation.
Often, people’s experience of church might come across that way. They see it as positive that there’s a uniform approach to the church experience so that whenever you attend a certain branch of that church, you can expect things to be done similarly. What’s also reassuring is the sense of the order and the ability to sit and observe what’s presented to you from the front. That also reflects a given set-up of the church – a set hierarchy, clear programs and systems operated in such a way that gives the impression that Jesus set out a clear format and system.
Imagine, however, a garden where plants grow purposefully — each stem, leaf, and flower thriving because the soil, sun, and rain nurture life from within. This is the essence of Jesus’ will for His church: a living community where believers grow together through Christ’s life flowing among them. In the New Testament, Jesus defined God’s people as a family—a truth that still transforms how we gather today.
From Stones to Spirit-Filled Hearts
In the Old Testament, God’s presence dwelled in the temple, a magnificent structure with priests, sacrifices, and rituals. The Israelites approached God through mediators, following detailed laws about cleanliness, offerings, and holy days (Leviticus 1–7). This system, while God-ordained, was a temporary scaffold designed to point toward something greater. As the prophet Jeremiah foretold, God promised a day when His law would be written on hearts, not stones (Jeremiah 31:33).
The temple’s limitations became clear over time. By Jesus’ day, it had become a marketplace of corruption (Matthew 21:13), and the religious leaders prioritised rules over relationships (Mark 7:8-9). God’s people needed more than a building; they needed a living connection to their Creator.
When Jesus declared, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19), He wasn’t talking about stones—He was announcing Himself as the new meeting place between God and humanity. His death tore the temple veil (Matthew 27:51), removing barriers and inviting everyone into direct fellowship with God. No longer would worship depend on a physical building or professional priests. Instead, Jesus unleashed a radical vision: ordinary people filled with His Spirit, becoming His “body” on earth (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Key Ingredients to Jesus’ Will for His Church
The early church met in homes, shared meals, and relied on the Holy Spirit’s guidance (Acts 2:42-47). There were no sermons, stages, or schedules—just believers loving, learning, and leaning on Christ together. Paul’s letters to churches in Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome reveal three hallmarks of this model:
Christ as the Head
Jesus isn’t a figurehead; He’s the active Leader. Paul writes, “God placed all things under [Christ’s] feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:22). In gatherings, decisions emerge through prayer and communal discernment rather than top-down control.
Every Member Alive
Paul insists, “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation” (1 Corinthians 14:26). Whether a fisherman, a tentmaker, or a former prostitute, everyone contributes.
Growth Through Relationship
Jesus walked with His disciples for three years. Similarly, Jesus’ will for His church emphasises life-on-life discipleship. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another,” Paul urges (Colossians 3:16). Spiritual maturity flourishes in the soil of authentic relationships.
Why Jesus Champions His Will for His Church
It Reflects God’s Original Design
In Eden, God walked with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). Jesus’ church restores this intimacy. Jesus says, “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). No building, budget, or program can substitute for His tangible presence.
It Empowers the Marginalized
The early church included slaves, women, and Gentiles—groups often excluded. Paul declares, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28). Jesus’ church thrives on diversity, giving everyone a voice.
It Multiplies Naturally
Where some modern expressions of church often grow by attracting crowds, Jesus’ church reproduces like healthy cells. The gospel spread across the Roman Empire because believers shared their faith – over meals, in workplaces, and during travels (Acts 8:4).
Jesus wants to structure His community. Wherever you meet, the key is to:
- Keep Christ Central: Let Him lead through prayer, Scripture, and the Spirit’s promptings.
- Value Everyone: Encourage each person to share, serve, and grow.
- Love Outwardly: Be a community that blesses neighbours, not just itself.
Jesus’ will for His church is not to be like fast-food outlets. His heart is to develop a family committed to reflecting the Father in the image of the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a vibrant, dynamic, organic expression of the Body of Christ. This will be different from expression to expression. What they have in common is a priceless connection to the Father, a desire to glorify the Son, and total dependence on the Holy Spirit, who dwells in each and operates through each.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Next Steps
Reflect: Do my current relationships with believers resemble the early church’s love and mutual support?
Pray: Dear God, how can I better yield to Jesus as the head of His church and embrace my role in His body?
Act: This week, invite a fellow believer to share a meal and discuss how Christ works in your lives. Take one step toward Jesus’ will for His church.
