Thank you for this (which my wife found). It’s amazing how “industrial” and urban congregations can be in a town of 11,000. God is leading us to build a fellowship of, by and for the people on the outskirts, who are still tied to the land and animals. We’re not entirely sure how it will end up, but God is impressing on us how His sheep need worship, fellowship, and discipleship, which are all rooted in relationships … NOT projects and programs!
Thanks for this! I relate with a lot of what you wrote. I hope you develop more on that closing thought about shepherds having become the leaders of institutions. It really is noteworthy how the change in the role of shepherd in the Church has mirrored that of the agricultural shepherd in its industrialization and centralization. Would love to read you developing more on that idea!
"...why I was still hosting fellowship dinners at our home..."
“Because I refuse to let the sheep scatter again.”
The nation of Israel established at Sinai, into which we have been grafted (Rom.11) IS a covenant community. The Covenant begins with Elohim calling the person to Him = He will be their God, they will be His People. The Covenant then extends to the People = committing to live together according to His ways. Book of Exodus. This is how the "Early Church" lived. Book of Acts.
Utilizing Christianity, Constantine "unified his restored Roman Empire" by making it the state religion. This turned the local assemblies into an INSTITUTION.
Institutions corrupt, hence the revelation to Martin Luther about Father God's grace. The Institution had obscured and corrupted the simplicity of Father God's love. Then followed the printing press and the Bible in the common languages again.....no commoner spoke Latin.
The power struggle between a state controlled religion and the Biblical pattern of covenant communities living according to His ways resurfaced. (Notice there is a pattern of restoration here.)
New England settlers came from England and the Institution with the expressed purpose of living according to the Scriptures: in covenant communities. The expression of that is still visible in the old towns' architecture and layouts.
They were brought here by Father God's hand for this purpose. This is the American heritage: living in covenanted communities, with all that means.
The in-bound Restoration is to this standard ...and all that means.
"We’ve been through this twice, and the sheep that “scattered” from the first church split are strung to-and-fro."
Perhaps such persons are Seeds for creating covenanted communities? American history teaches it is possible.
Thank you for this (which my wife found). It’s amazing how “industrial” and urban congregations can be in a town of 11,000. God is leading us to build a fellowship of, by and for the people on the outskirts, who are still tied to the land and animals. We’re not entirely sure how it will end up, but God is impressing on us how His sheep need worship, fellowship, and discipleship, which are all rooted in relationships … NOT projects and programs!
Thanks for this! I relate with a lot of what you wrote. I hope you develop more on that closing thought about shepherds having become the leaders of institutions. It really is noteworthy how the change in the role of shepherd in the Church has mirrored that of the agricultural shepherd in its industrialization and centralization. Would love to read you developing more on that idea!
"...why I was still hosting fellowship dinners at our home..."
“Because I refuse to let the sheep scatter again.”
The nation of Israel established at Sinai, into which we have been grafted (Rom.11) IS a covenant community. The Covenant begins with Elohim calling the person to Him = He will be their God, they will be His People. The Covenant then extends to the People = committing to live together according to His ways. Book of Exodus. This is how the "Early Church" lived. Book of Acts.
Utilizing Christianity, Constantine "unified his restored Roman Empire" by making it the state religion. This turned the local assemblies into an INSTITUTION.
Institutions corrupt, hence the revelation to Martin Luther about Father God's grace. The Institution had obscured and corrupted the simplicity of Father God's love. Then followed the printing press and the Bible in the common languages again.....no commoner spoke Latin.
The power struggle between a state controlled religion and the Biblical pattern of covenant communities living according to His ways resurfaced. (Notice there is a pattern of restoration here.)
New England settlers came from England and the Institution with the expressed purpose of living according to the Scriptures: in covenant communities. The expression of that is still visible in the old towns' architecture and layouts.
They were brought here by Father God's hand for this purpose. This is the American heritage: living in covenanted communities, with all that means.
The in-bound Restoration is to this standard ...and all that means.
"We’ve been through this twice, and the sheep that “scattered” from the first church split are strung to-and-fro."
Perhaps such persons are Seeds for creating covenanted communities? American history teaches it is possible.
Be blessed.
So good
I’m so sorry. Your words carry wisdom though.