...
Why are the places and groups I’ve experienced that were the most like the CHURCH that I see in the Bible adamant about saying “We are not a church!” and the churches that I’ve been to that say “Come to church” aren’t anything like what I see in the Bible? Why is this basic unit of Christian people such a hard thing to pin down, and why is it so warped today? I’m going to focus on what really stands out in a few groups I’ve been in that made it more like what the Bible says than what people say. Community One element is a sense of community. There is a difference between hanging out for the sake of the Lord and having a bunch of activities. Times that I’d say I experienced real church would be the times that people came together often with no agenda or goal, but only to be together and as a result talk about Jesus. When Jesus...
I get to be a guest speaker at a church this morning. Here is my sermon. I. A lot of people jump to the end of Acts 2 and talk about the church: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV) And then they give a few more details later in Acts 4: Now the full number of...