Comments on: Taking it further…

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:34:19 +0000

“Because God has created us in his image, we are relational beings who thrive best in community…(which is) an essential source of spiritual health and maturity.” -Boa

I most relate to the point the church is a community. We’re all hard-wired and programmed to be in community with each other. It’s simply how God made us. I’ve always loved the example of the early church and how they viewed community. This community thing was the backbone to everything they did as church. They didn’t just attend church together, they did life together. The Apostolic communities were rooted in faith, hope, and love and that is what made them so successful. The amazing thing is that those same attributes are what make communities of Christ-followers successful today.

Without first being “ecklesia” (called out ones) and latching onto community, there’s no way we can be effective in the mission, or cause of Christ.

By: adam

adam — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:46:52 +0000

I’m seriously starting to wonder if we don’t have a bunch of theologians at Elevate. You guys are dropping some knowledge – I love it.

Great insight from everyone – looking forward to what others have to add.

By: Katie Mullin

Katie Mullin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:06:50 +0000

The Bible verses listed in taking it furthur really remind me of the two great commandments Jesus gave: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. When taking these into application, God’s vision of the church becomes evident: Being called out, a community and a cause!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:44:14 +0000

I watch tv and see the commercials, I drive down the highway and see the billboards, I get on the internet and see the ads, I listen to the radio and they talk about it……CONNECTIONS…..It is all around us everywhere we turn. I guess Christians are not the only ones who need connections. The only difference is that we are connecting to Christ, not a dating service or networking website, etc. People will always look for connections in anything that is advertised but they will continue to search until they find Christ and the one and only true vital connections. Then and only then can they find vital connections with others and church (community). Truly connecting with Christ means being disconnected from ourselves.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:32:35 +0000

It is amazing thinking about church as just one of those.

Being called out – to a point where Hell cannot defeat it.

Being a community – working together to get things done and help each other out.

Being a cause – giving ourselves away for the benefit of others around us – OUTSIDE of the church, even when it is difficult.

Now putting all 3 of those together is mind blowing. It is the way church should be. A healthy balance of all 3 (hmmm, He seems to work in threes a lot…). What a great way to define “church.”