Being the Church vs. Doing Church
- Article by Michael Sitko
Friends, there’s a truth stirring in the Spirit that demands our attention—a truth that calls us to realign our hearts, shift our focus, and rediscover what it means to be the body of Christ. It’s the difference between doing church and being the church. At first glance, these might seem like mere wordplay, but the distinction is profound. Doing church is about routines, programs, and replicating what’s been done before. Being the church is about living in vibrant, Spirit-led obedience to what God is doing right now. One can look godly but lack power; the other carries the very life and presence of God. Let’s unpack this truth, rooting ourselves in Scripture from the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and the Book of Acts, to see how Jesus and the early church modeled being the church. Through their examples, we’ll discover how to step out of empty religion and into a living, breathing partnership with the Holy Spirit.
The Heart of the Matter
The difference between doing church and being the church is like the difference between a photograph and a living person. Doing church leans on past knowledge—repeating what worked before, following patterns of ministry that once bore fruit. It’s comfortable, predictable, and often looks impressive. But without the Holy Spirit’s present guidance, it risks becoming a hollow shell. As Paul warned in 2 Timothy 3:5, it can have “the appearance of godliness, but deny its power.” Being the church, on the other hand, is about active partnership with the Holy Spirit—listening to hear what the Father is saying, seeing what He’s doing, and moving in step with His present will. This is where the power lies, where the life of God flows.
Doing Church Misses Present Obedience
Doing church often means leaning on what God did in the past—sermons, services, or ministries that once carried His anointing. It’s tempting to replicate these, assuming they’ll always work. But God is a living God, and His will unfolds in the present. Consider Saul in 1 Samuel 13:8-14. He made an offering to God, which seemed right based on past practices, but he didn’t wait for God’s present instruction through Samuel. His act looked godly but lacked God’s power because it wasn’t Spirit-led. It was a religious routine, not an act of obedience and in the end it led to him losing the throne because his heart was more about performance for the accolades of men than for obedience to God.
In the Gospels, we see a similar warning. In Matthew 15:3-9, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, saying, “You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition… Their worship is in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” Their rituals looked holy, but they were empty because they prioritized tradition over God’s present will. The Pharisees were doing religion, not living in relationship with God. In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira offer a gift that mimics the generosity of others in the early church (Acts 4:32-37). But their act wasn’t prompted by the Spirit; it was rooted in deception and self-interest. Their offering looked right, but it lacked God’s power, leading to judgment. These examples show the danger of doing church—it can look good but miss the heart of God.
Being the Church Requires Active Listening
Being the church means staying tuned to the Holy Spirit’s voice, seeking the fresh Rhema word for today. It requires humility, sensitivity, and a willingness to move when God speaks, even if it feels unfamiliar. Jesus modeled this perfectly, saying in John 5:19-20, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing.” His life was a constant flow of listening and obeying, not repeating past patterns but seeking present revelation.
In Acts 13:2-3, we see the early church embody this. While fasting and praying in Antioch, the believers hear the Holy Spirit say, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” They didn’t rely on a playbook of past successes; they sought and obeyed the Spirit’s fresh direction, launching Paul’s missionary journeys. This is being the church—a people who listen for God’s voice and move when He speaks, trusting His power to follow their obedience.
Jesus: The Model of Being
Jesus is our ultimate example of being the church. He didn’t operate on autopilot or lean on religious routines. His life was a living demonstration of hearing and seeing what the Father was doing, rooted in intimate communion with Him. Every miracle, every teaching, every step was guided by the Father’s present will.
Intimacy Fuels Obedience
Jesus’ ability to move with the Father came from His times of secluded prayer. Mark 1:35 records Him rising early to pray in a solitary place, setting the tone for His ministry. Luke 6:12-13 tells us that before choosing His twelve disciples, Jesus spent the night praying on a mountain. This wasn’t a casual moment; it was a deliberate seeking of the Father’s will. When He called Nathanael in John 1:47-48, saying, “I saw you under the fig tree,” He revealed divine insight likely received in those moments of communion. The Father showed Him who His disciples were, where they were, and what they were doing.
In Acts 10:9-16, Peter follows this same pattern. While praying on a rooftop, he receives a vision from God about including the Gentiles in the gospel. This wasn’t a recycled revelation but a fresh directive that shifted the early church’s mission. Intimacy with God—through prayer, fasting, and listening—fueled their obedience and opened the door to His power.
Obedience Reflects Present Revelation
Jesus didn’t just do good things; He did what the Father directed in the moment. In Mark 2:1-12, when healing the paralytic, Jesus first forgives the man’s sins, surprising the crowd. This wasn’t a standard healing script; it was the Father’s specific direction for that moment. His obedience to present revelation brought God’s power in a way that left everyone in awe.
In Acts 16:6-10, Paul and his team are “kept by the Holy Spirit” from preaching in certain regions, then directed through a vision to go to Macedonia. They didn’t assume where to go based on past successes; they followed the Spirit’s present leading. Their obedience opened the door to God’s work in a new region. This is the essence of being the church—moving with God’s present revelation, not leaning on what worked before.
The Trap of Doing
Today’s church is busy with good things—preaching, teaching, running ministry schools, hosting conferences, organizing camps, leading home groups, facilitating Bible studies. These are all valuable, but without the Holy Spirit’s direction, they become mere activities, lacking the life and power of God. It’s not about the activity itself but whether it aligns with God’s present will.
Good Activities Can Lack God’s Power
Even the best ministries can become empty if they’re not Spirit-led. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father.” Many will point to their works—prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles—but Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” Their works looked impressive but weren’t rooted in relationship or obedience to God’s present will.
In Acts 19:13-16, the sons of Sceva try to cast out demons by mimicking Paul’s ministry, using Jesus’ name. But they lacked His authority because they weren’t moving in the Spirit’s power or direction. The demon overpowered them, exposing their empty imitation. Good activities, without the Spirit’s leading, lack God’s power.
Tradition Can Eclipse God’s Voice
When we rely on how things “have always been done,” we risk missing what God is doing now. Tradition can drown out the Spirit’s voice, leaving us stuck in routines that no longer carry His life. In Mark 7:8-13, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for prioritizing their traditions over God’s commands, saying, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Their worship was in vain because it was rooted in habit, not relationship.
In Acts 15:6-11, the early church faced a similar challenge. Some insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised, clinging to Jewish tradition. But through prayer, discussion, and the Spirit’s guidance, they embraced God’s new direction to include Gentiles without burdening them with old practices. Tradition could have hindered the gospel, but the Spirit’s present voice prevailed.
The Call to Be
Jesus described the sons of the kingdom as being like the wind: “You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going” (John 3:8). We’re called to be a Spirit-led people, moving in step with God’s present guidance, not bound by past patterns. The early church lived this out, guided by visions, dreams, and prophetic words, and we’re called to do the same.
The Spirit Guides in Real Time
The Book of Acts is a testimony to real-time guidance. In Acts 8:26-29, the Spirit tells Philip to go to a specific road, then prompts him to approach the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot. Philip’s obedience to this present instruction led to a powerful conversion that spread the gospel to Ethiopia. In John 16:13, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth” and “tell you what is yet to come.” This is an ongoing, present-tense guidance we’re called to follow.
Obedience Brings God’s Power
When we move in sync with the Spirit, God’s presence and power accompany us. In Luke 5:4-6, Jesus tells Simon to cast his nets again after a fruitless night. Simon obeys, despite past experience, and a miraculous catch of fish follows. His obedience to Jesus’ present word brought God’s power. In Acts 9:10-19, Ananias obeys a vision to pray for Saul of Tarsus, despite his fears. His obedience leads to Saul’s healing and the launch of his apostolic ministry. When we obey God’s present will, His power follows.
Stepping into the Call
So, how do we live this out? It starts with intimacy—carving out time to seek the Father, listen to the Spirit, and obey His voice. We must press in for the fresh word, the present direction, and step out in faith, even if it feels unfamiliar.
Cultivate Intimacy with God
Like Jesus, make time to be alone with the Father. In Mark 1:35, Jesus rises early to pray, grounding His ministry in intimacy. In Acts 4:31, the believers pray together, and the place is shaken as they’re filled with the Holy Spirit, emboldened to speak God’s word. Our intimacy with God opens the door to His guidance and power.
Act in Faith on God’s Present Word
When the Spirit speaks, obey—even if it feels risky. In John 9:6-7, Jesus tells the blind man to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys, and his sight is restored. In Acts 12:6-10, Peter follows an angel’s instructions to escape prison, and God delivers him miraculously. Obedience to God’s present word unleashes His power.
Closing Exhortation
Friends, let’s lay aside the temptation to just do church out of habit or tradition. Let’s embrace the call to be the church—a people who hear the Father’s voice, see His works, and move in step with His Spirit. When we do, His presence accompanies us, His power flows through us, and His glory shines in us. This is the church Jesus is building—a living, Spirit-led body that carries His life to the world.
Prayer
Father, teach us to be Your church. Stir our hearts to seek Your voice and move with Your Spirit. Break us free from lifeless routines and fill us with Your present power. Show us what You’re doing today, and give us the courage to obey. Let Your glory shine through us as we walk in step with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.