In his recent book “Salvation(2)”, Dr. Cobb asks the penetrating question: “What is the
(liberal) church doing that you can’t get without going to church (3)” (and he cites his own son as a example of someone who had a good church upbringing, but now sees no reason to join a church.)
In our Post-Pandemic season, each and every congregation needs to ask that very basic question.
“What are we doing that you can’t get somewhere else and so not be part of a church?”
Most churches are doing many good and great things for others, but are also surrounded by multiple secular and religious groups doing the very great same things.
The fellowship, music and worship may be powerful, but most of our efforts a clearly not unique in the world.
And in regard to preaching and teaching, we are facing a new major online challenge with so many choices now online. Great preaching and teaching is only a click away.
I hope we’ve learned our lesson with music and praise bands that no matter how good a “show” we put on, someone will always be able to do it better. (And that’s not even taking into account our own self-defeating goal of “doing next week even better !
So what is left for us as we follow Jesus and seek to live out our faith?
In “Salvation” Dr. Cobb helps us translate “God’s Kingdom” into the “Devine Commonwealth.”
This is a powerful term for Heaven. It is something that we can live right now.
While not denying the “Eternal Heaven” that is to come, it does let us know that with Jesus the Christ/Messiah, Heaven has become incarnate and living in our midst and that we are invited to be “Citizens of Heaven” (Phil 3:20)
The Gospel / “Good News” is simply that this “Devine Commonwealth / Heaven” is at hand.
Heaven is as near as a heartbeat.
It’s the “porch” of heaven offered with food and fellowship with God and each other.
And our part of the covenant is simply to stay on that porch! (Easy to say, but of course, much harder to do.)
Has your discipleship plan taken this into account? Do you challenge yourself and others to live as “Citizens of Heaven?”
Wesley’s small groups, intentional and faithful missions to those around us, deeper centering and quiet prayer.... these are all ways to help the local church live together on this “Divine Commonwealth” porch with God.
Three simple steps....
• Start with a renewed theology of the church.
• Add strong, passion based and faith accountable small groups.
• Design activities you can invite your close by neighbors to.
Start the process TODAY!
Other options are offered on our website: www.agapejourneys.com Let’s start a discussion that can transform your congregation, and so transform the world.
Pastor Terry
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(Additional resources to address these issues are found at: www.agapejourneys.com)
[1] Video discussion on “Salvation” found at www.cobb.institute/videos ,”Can the Local Church be Saved?” @ min 10:45, Oct. 17, 2020, 10 am – 12 pm PDT.
[2] Process Century Press (Oct. 8, 2020)
[3] Video discussion on “Salvation” found at www.cobb.institute/videos ,”Can the Local Church be Saved?” @ min 10:49, Oct. 17, 2020, 10 am – 12 pm PDT.
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