Reflecting back on the 1st Century Church - do we struggle to understand what the "Church" is apart from Sunday and Wednesday services like they struggled with what a Church was outside the temple building?
I think the answer is YES!
I believe programs become the identity of the church and thus it doesn't portray the real Church or body of Christ. Some have called the Church "a shallow place of sound-bite greetings"..."where pride separates us from the real issue of confessing and weeping over the sin in our lives."(1)
Discipleship is a life-engrossing process not just something that happens Sunday at 10:00 and Wednesday at 7:00. I can offer to you that this is what Karen and I long for at LifeTree. We don't want the life-changing message of the Gospel to be reduced to some hypocrisy because others don't see us the same way - because we won't "walk the talk".
A few weeks ago we had a staff and family meeting at the home of Steve and Missy Perry (part of the core group and staff). We had a great time eating, rolling down Steven's awesome front lawn (the kids mainly did this - see picture above), but also had a great time meeting the neighbors. The purpose of LifeTree is not to segregate ourselves from our children in fellowship but to integrate them and others whether they are single, divorced, or whatever. We will not have age segregated activities - the family will be the basis for everything we do - teaching, learning scripture, and most of all discipleship. Sounds strange huh?
Well, I plan to write more on this subject as the time draws near to our launch date on Easter of 2008. Please continue to pray for us, the core group, and the community of Paulding County, GA.
Blessings,
Brian
(1) Uniting Church and Home, Eric Wallace
I think the answer is YES!
I believe programs become the identity of the church and thus it doesn't portray the real Church or body of Christ. Some have called the Church "a shallow place of sound-bite greetings"..."where pride separates us from the real issue of confessing and weeping over the sin in our lives."(1)
Discipleship is a life-engrossing process not just something that happens Sunday at 10:00 and Wednesday at 7:00. I can offer to you that this is what Karen and I long for at LifeTree. We don't want the life-changing message of the Gospel to be reduced to some hypocrisy because others don't see us the same way - because we won't "walk the talk".
A few weeks ago we had a staff and family meeting at the home of Steve and Missy Perry (part of the core group and staff). We had a great time eating, rolling down Steven's awesome front lawn (the kids mainly did this - see picture above), but also had a great time meeting the neighbors. The purpose of LifeTree is not to segregate ourselves from our children in fellowship but to integrate them and others whether they are single, divorced, or whatever. We will not have age segregated activities - the family will be the basis for everything we do - teaching, learning scripture, and most of all discipleship. Sounds strange huh?
Well, I plan to write more on this subject as the time draws near to our launch date on Easter of 2008. Please continue to pray for us, the core group, and the community of Paulding County, GA.
Blessings,
Brian
(1) Uniting Church and Home, Eric Wallace
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