A lil Church by TobyMac comes in at a time when the church is facing a cross-generational decline in America, and honestly, there couldn’t be a better time to shine some light on the significance of church to a believer.
Let’s face it, life’s tough – we all feel its burden every day, and now more than ever, we could all use a lil more hope, love, and peace. In nowhere else can these be found, apart from Christ, and His church.
“a lil Church” was inspired by the solace, love and sense of family offered by the church through worship, and the fellowship of believers. Here’s what TobyMac had to say:
“Its interesting that church is different things to different people.”
TobyMac speaks on the inspiration for his single “a lil church” on an interview on SiriusXM
“When the church is in its healthiest place is when its somewhere where we go to feel the love of God, to feel the family of God around you, as it should.”
Listening to this song, you ought to ask, “What does the church mean to me, and do I extend the same love, warmth, and gospel that I expect from church to others?”
Quick song facts
| Song title | a lil Church |
| Artist | Toby Mac |
| Release date | December 6, 2024 |
Facts for music nerds
| Song duration | 3:05 |
| Key | B Major |
| Genre | CCM |
| BPM | 80 |
Song review
Scripture check
The song a lil Church by TobyMac builds on one of the foundational purposes of the church – fellowship. Among others, this was one of the identifying characters of the first church:
- Devotion to the apostles’ teaching
- Devotion to fellowship
- Devotion to breaking of bread
- Devotion to prayers
- Unity – to the extent of having all things in common
- Generosity – selling possessions to help the needy
- Meeting in the temple courts every day
- Eating together
Acts 2:42, 46, NIV:
42: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
46: Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts...
Picture the kind of love and warmth one would encounter upon joining such a church, where believers would gladly dispose off their wealth to assist those in need. Its no wonder their numbers increased daily.
This is the kind of love and fellowship that anyone burdened by the pursuits of life seeks. We’re called to show such love, to be the hands and feet of God.
More than warmth and solace, the church has a greater role, that of sharing the Word of God. Believers in the first church were devoted to the apostles’ teaching – witnessing its message of salvation to unbelievers, and standing firmly for it in the face of persecution.
As part of God’s plan for salvation, the church must be actively engaged in sharing God’s Word to the burdened and lost.
Believers must also remember of the charge not to abandon the fellowship, as written in Hebrews:
Hebrews 10:25, NIV:
...not giving up the habit of meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - amd all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Audience
Feeling overwhelmed, or run down by life? “The song “a lil Church” might just be a reminder for you to run back to Christ, and find His love in the fellowship of Christians.
Have you listened to the song yet? Let us know what you think.
Check out more song reviews here.
a lil Church by TobyMac Lyrics
For years I’ve run the fast lane
And my treads are wearing thin
Left me on the shoulder, broken and pulled over
Alone in my skin
Some things weren’t my choosin’
Sometimes I led the charge
Chasing dreams or so it seemed
Down on Fools Boulevard
I could use a lil church right now
Love to have a lil family around
I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed
I could use a lil church right now
My cup’s about as empty
As this wilderness I’m in
I lost my way with the loss of love
That came to a bitter end
So far from running over
So close to giving in
It’s gonna take the hands that made me to make me whole again
I can almost hear the choir singin’
Back to when I was child believin’
That nobody’s too lost to get found
I could use a lil church right now
For years I’ve run the fast lane
And my treads are wearing thin
Left me on the shoulder, broken and pulled over
Alone in my skin
Some things weren’t my choosin’
Sometimes I led the charge
Chasing dreams or so it seemed
Down on Fools Boulevard
I could use a lil church right now
Love to have a lil family around
I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed
I could use a lil church right now
My cup’s about as empty
As this wilderness I’m in
I lost my way with the loss of love
That came to a bitter end
So far from running over
So close to giving in
It’s gonna take the hands that made me to make me whole again
I can almost hear the choir singin’
Back to when I was child believin’
That nobody’s too lost to get found
I could use a lil church right now
It’s not about the four walls or that steeple up on top
Ain’t talking ‘bout them hard pews or that torn up parking lot
It could happen on a dirt road or a crowded coffee shop
Yeah, the church I need is the hands and feet of a God who came to love
Lyrics adopted from TobyMac - a lil Church (Lyric Video) on YouTube
[Featured image credits: Facebook/TobyMac]