Sunday, April 30, 2023

Theme:

The Christian faith is never theory. It is not about religious thinking. The Christian faith is about relationships in community and we develop those relationships in church. We Christians need the church because it is Christ gift to us and the world. We owe to Christ to love and sustain his bride.

Reflections:

This is a wonderful story about the early church. The early church at this point in the story consisted of Jewish people who had converted to the way of Christ. This may be the most perfect picture of the church before conflict and turmoil and change would begin to impact the church later in Acts. In Acts 2, we get a glimpse of the church in its earliest moments, and it is a beautiful thing to behold. The people are united, everyone is attentive to the teaching of the apostles, no one misses a service or a Bible study, there are enough volunteers for every task, folks are giving generously to support the church, and people are lining up to join. What a Pastors dream!

Christ does not depend upon the church, but the church is Christ ultimate tool to carry on his mission. Ultimately the Christian faith and the mission of Christ is about living in relationship and community and that is why one of the first acts of the Holy Spirit is bring together people into community. This faith of ours always brings us back to the same place—the church. What Jesus leaves on this earth to continue his work is the church. When we drive down the road and see a church, it is a visible manifestation of Christ in the community. It is a reminder that Christ is at work in the community by physically placing a community of believers in that space and at that particular time. It is no accident the church is wherever it is. The church is often called the “bride of Christ.”

Our faith is lived in community. Our faith is lived in relationship. This was the way we were created, and the way God created the world. And the church is Jesus legacy where we live in community and relationship. It is in community where we find support during times of need. It is in relationship where we find healing conversation, where we share, where we experience love in abundant ways, where we practice forgiveness and receive forgiveness.

The Christian faith is never theory. It is not about religious thinking. The Christian faith is about relationship. In the midst of the comings and goings of our lives, the risen Christ appears, community happens, and the church takes shape. Remember this the next time you are tempted to give up on church. If you want to experience Jesus, this is the place and the people, for in spite of their imperfections and idiosyncrasies, the church is where the living Christ lives.

Questions:

1. How has the church or a special relationship in the church impacted your life? Maybe during a difficult time?
2. Why do people not see the church as important? Why is it not a priority?
3. Have you ever left a church and why? What were your reasons?
4. How do you view the church in Christ’s larger redemptive plan for the world? Important? Essential?
5. What is your role in church?
6. I think in many cases the building, the physical church facility, can become a distraction or maybe even a burden to the mission and ministry of a church. There is no doubt that the facility is important but how could we do church without a building? Is it possible? Do some spiritual dreaming/imagination about what the church could look like without a building? Could we share with other communities?