What is church?

11/3/2020

In our recent talks, we have been looking at John 13-17 and we have, quite separately, been asking the question, 'What is church?' This passage and that question combine so the plan is for anyone who wishes to share the results of their study, from an article to a simple thought, to do so. We will also be able to comment on what is written. Please add your thoughts and comments below:

5 Comments

Catherine Penniall

13/3/2020 11:11:23 am

When I think about my experience of church I can't get away from the account of Jesus washing his disciples feet John 13;4,5. It must have been a sublimely loving and humanly comforting thing to do. Having experienced that sort of Christ-like, yet human love myself as a church member, I wonder if what Jesus was wanting for his church was for each person to be prepared to 'wash one another's feet'. Something like giving all of who we are away to another and letting the Lord do the giving. Perhaps on the other hand being prepared to recognise and receive the precious gift being offered.

John Sparkes

19/3/2020 08:44:09 pm

Thank you for those thoughts, Cathy. The foot-washing was a foreshadowing of the cross to come. We are not asked to literally go to a cross but figuratively - 'take up your cross and follow me' - and what does that look like? Serving, however mundane or lowly.

Laura Bailey

26/3/2020 09:59:46 am

Part of my reading yesterday was Ephesians 3:10-11. It says:

'His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord’.

In an earlier reading in Ephesians (1:10) it says that God’s ‘eternal purpose’ is to ‘bring unity to all things on heaven and on earth under Christ’.

So if we put those verses together, God’s intent is that the church is to make God known (not just on earth, but to the heavenly realms too!) by bringing unity - bringing things together. The commentary I am reading said this:

‘How does the church witness to the powers? Not by shouting slogans in the streets (since the powers are neither deaf nor afraid of noise!) but by it’s existence as an inclusive community.’

This made me think of several churches I have experienced in the past who unfortunately have missed the point. One thought it was all about rules and therefore was very exclusive. One was trying to reach a target of 1000 conversations about God and was getting the congregation to log them online so they could keep track. One went out onto the streets and did prayer walks in a particular area (not wrong in itself, but there was no attempt to interact with the people on those streets). As the commentary mentions, some people go out on to the streets and shout! But actually, the most powerful witness of a church is seeing a group of people living together in an inclusive community. That way we are living out Gods ‘eternal purpose’ to bring unity, people will see that and will want to be part of it.

John

26/3/2020 02:36:39 pm

Thank you, Laura. It is quite a thought that God's wisdom is seen at its height in the church. That makes sense as Jesus is called 'the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24) and the church is called to continue his ministry on earth by the Spirit. We should be known as being the wisest and most effective when it comes to relationships. God's wisdom is seen in that within church all the odds stacked against people being drawn together in unity are overcome because of the cross and resurrection.

Nicky ailleris

29/3/2020 02:44:34 pm

What matters most for me in church is to be able to feel we belong to a famiy with the same values; to be able to give and receive unconditional love, in the image of God's love for us and for people to be able to be real and to grow, surrounded by kindness, with others' best interests at heart and God's word at the centre. I feel that once that is established, we are then ready to be an example for others outside the church.

What is church?

Leave a Reply.

Author