God has been at work @ my Church. Since I became a member 3 years ago, we've grown from ~100 to ~900 attenders; many of whom are non-believers who need to hear the Gospel. The Journey just got a new buildling - actually, our first (we didn't own the previous one) and it is quite a match with who we are.
A Church, as you may have heard, is the people & not the building... but... if our Church were to somehow magically transform into a building - this would be it. It's amazing to me how God has gifted us with a place that reflects in everyway who we are as a body of believers. True to the word / identity of God yet working to demonstrate how Jesus is not a God of the past but lives on even in today's culture.
I'm grateful for Jonathan's message this past Sunday on being a Church for the city; that we should be cautious to avoid being 'the new cool Christian group' but be committed to God's work in reaching those not like us. I'm reminded of how I heard small groups described at Intervarsity's New Staff Orientation: "[community] IS NOT a safe house for our well-being; rather, IT IS a residential home, a gathering place for the neighborhood where all are welcome to be part of the family".
Sadly, our culture has grown accustomed to churches saying, "You must look like we look and think what we think, not do what we don't do, and come to our building. Only then will we welcome you in to our community." The Journey is proud to stand against this attitude and engage people wherever they are with whatever they think. And since pubs and coffee shops are where people meet and hang out, it is the natural place for Midrash conversations.
1 comment:
I agree with today's sermon. :)
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