The back of my 'business cards' read, "A Congregation in Christ; Christ in Congregation." It is way more than a saying for me and, I hope, for all of Churchtown - and in many ways we have been exploring exactly what it means for the past 14 months.
The Gospel of John teaches us much about our relationship with Christ - and with our God through the Christ - and it is this model of relationship that I choose for myself and to teach to others. It bolis down to this, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remainin me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remainin His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." That is John 15:5-12 from the NIV, and that about says it all.
I teach from the pulpit that I have two initial priorities as a pastor. First, I serve to help every individual edify his or her relationship with Jesus Christ. Second, I seek to help nurture relationships between members of the congregation by the power of the Holy Spirit. If we as individuals are right with the Lord and right with each other, then Jesus is "free" to do what He does - and what only HE can do.
Love God / love each other. If we never get beyond that, so be it.
We do not lead with "ministries" and then pray for Jesus to "come along side" and bless our efforts - how arrogant is that? We seek only to be a branch in Christ and allow Him to hang the fruit. MInistries of a church are fruit of the Spirit - and fruit of the Spirit is formed when the branch is healthfuly attached to the vine. And that fruit is forming at Churchtown in a big way.
A congregation in Christ (If you remain in me) and Christ in congregation (and I in you). That is the alpha and omega - beginning and end - of every body of Christ.
The Gospel of John teaches us much about our relationship with Christ - and with our God through the Christ - and it is this model of relationship that I choose for myself and to teach to others. It bolis down to this, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remainin me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remainin His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." That is John 15:5-12 from the NIV, and that about says it all.
I teach from the pulpit that I have two initial priorities as a pastor. First, I serve to help every individual edify his or her relationship with Jesus Christ. Second, I seek to help nurture relationships between members of the congregation by the power of the Holy Spirit. If we as individuals are right with the Lord and right with each other, then Jesus is "free" to do what He does - and what only HE can do.
Love God / love each other. If we never get beyond that, so be it.
We do not lead with "ministries" and then pray for Jesus to "come along side" and bless our efforts - how arrogant is that? We seek only to be a branch in Christ and allow Him to hang the fruit. MInistries of a church are fruit of the Spirit - and fruit of the Spirit is formed when the branch is healthfuly attached to the vine. And that fruit is forming at Churchtown in a big way.
A congregation in Christ (If you remain in me) and Christ in congregation (and I in you). That is the alpha and omega - beginning and end - of every body of Christ.
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