Message 5: The local churches: a church in the city expressing the one Body
In the New Testament there is one church in one city. This is what all Christians are, we just want to say what we are and live it out as the church in the city. The church in the city must be inclusive, possess the authority of the Spirit, and be able to define the truth (and sin). The church as such, is a vessel in which all of God’s riches can be contained. They should all be added to the church in the city. What our view is that we are here, in the city, to be inclusive of all the Christians. We welcome them, not with the thought of judging their opinions. If Christ has welcomed them, then we welcome them. We have no special name, if we were a restaurant, we would refer to ourselves as “food.” We have no special teaching; you do not have to believe a certain set of things to join in our “membership agreement.” Our goal is to live out Zinzendorf’s slogan, In essential things unity, in non-essentials liberty in all things charity (or love).
Revelation 1:11 - "saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”"
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 - "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,”a or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?"
Romans 14:1-3 - "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him."
Romans 15:6 - "so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Timothy 3:15 - "in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
Be the first to reply