Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
What is interesting about these two verses, as the writer is expressing a desire for us to live out the “new and living way” that Christ as made for us, is that the emphasis is not on what a believer gets from the church, but rather on what they can contribute to the church. As a result, we believe that church should be an intentionally intrusive, Christ centred, grace driven, redemptive community of believers.
INTENTIONALLY INTRUSIVE because we have been rescued from frivolous and superficial relationships into a family that is tied together by the blood of Jesus, God’s Only Son. Therefore, as we are born again into this family, we can no longer live in casual relationships and call them “fellowship”. We can no longer be restricted by the normal boundaries and expectations of Western culture. We need to think and talk in regards to covenant rather than convenience.
CHRIST CENTRED because all of our lives are for Him and to Him and because of Him. We should be consumed with the Creator of all things, who is creating us into His image and bringing all things under His feet. Therefore, church should be about bringing our sinful hearts into alignment with His perfect will – and the whole church should be active in helping each other do this, for his glory!
GRACE DRIVEN because there are no other offers for us to take! There is nothing better than a group of people who know they are fallen, and are relying on grace to satisfy their every need. There is no pretence. There are no fake smiles hiding broken souls. There is joy. Real joy. And nothing higher than this. There is nothing more superior than this, and it’s all free and totally undeserved.
REDEMPTIVE COMMUNITY because by grace we are being transformed into someone else. A redemptive community is one that says that those who have lived well, those who have lived long, those who have experienced life and those that love Jesus and know His word now have a duty to impart the wisdom learned to a generation behind it that is prone to make the same mistakes as it. Treating each other with grace, towards the same redemptive end, is not just a suggestion but a requirement of every Christian.
Calvary has chosen to live out this vision through small, weekly, co-discipling groups called Connect Groups. To be part of this vision and to see what God wants to do in your life through them please see Sabrina or Tony Dabner.
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