A while back I shared at a seminar how we welcome people to our Gatherings on a weekly basis in order to remind them that they ARE THE CHURCH...Here's what we generally say...
"Welcome to Soma's Gathering. We believe because of what Jesus has accomplished through his life, death and resurrection that we have become His Church saved BY His work FOR His work. We no longer GO to church because we ARE the church. In fact, we believe that We, the Church, go to the world as God's sent people to bring the good news of Jesus in word and deed so others might believe and become Jesus' Church.
If you don't yet believe in what Jesus has accomplished on your behalf to make you right with God, then you are GOING to church today. You're welcome to attend this gathering as one who is GOING to church as long as you need to...our hope is that you will one day come to believe and become part of Jesus' Church.
If you have already believe this Gospel of Jesus, then we're calling you to stop GOING to church and join us in being equipped and sent to Be the Church today."
Good Stuff Jeff, Thanks for the post... this will be a great help to me for Sundays... I try to say something similar everytime, but this definitely adds some new depth. You guys keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete-Theophilus
I love that you reiterate it here in writing Jeff. Thanks! It is so true. I do sometimes wish that the folks in my own church understood this concept more. Our pastors reiterate this often...but people are so tied to rote, liturgy, tradition, the "coffee hour" to compare notes on how big their house is, their typical social rhythms...stuck on the hamster wheel. We don't SEE, we just move through life waiting for the miracle to happen TO us, when in reality, that miracle has already happened TO us, we ARE the miracle and just need to get out there and spread that word. Keep up the good work! :)
ReplyDeleteJeff,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to get your take on the KJV’s translation of Ephesians 4:11-12 that is in contradistinction to the view that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are to equip the saints for the work of ministry. It states,
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
In a 1994 article for the Journal for the Evangelical Theological Society, T. David Gordon defends the older interpretation of Ephesians 4 as such,
Given the implied subject of all three clauses (“gifted ones”), the use of katartismon (“gathering or ordering into visible communion,” not “equipping”), and the use of ergon diakonias (“the work of ministry”), there is no basis for the notion that Paul sees the ministry’s importance in terms of preparing the laity for the “real work” of ministry. Furthermore, this flies in the face of the many passages that clearly distinguish the calling of a minister from the general Christian calling that belongs to all believers. Rather, ministers are given by Christ so that they can build up the flock by exercising their office faithfully.
This view is defended by Andrew T. Lincoln in his Ephesians Commentary and echoed by Michael Horton in multiple places.
Just wondering, as I don’t know what to think on this issue.
Thanks.