Rediscover Church is a refreshing reminder of the importance of Christians joining and being active members in a local body of believers – for their sake, for the sake of that body of believers, and for the Lord’s glory. Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman discuss why church is essential for believers and God’s mission. Through biblical references and personal stories, they show readers God’s true intention for corporate gathering: to spiritually strengthen members as individuals and the body of Christ. They even go so far as to say that “your church and ours is where heaven touches down on earth – where our prayers begin to be answered: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
They define “church” as “a group of Christians who assemble as an earthly embassy of Christ’s heavenly kingdom to proclaim the good news and commands of Christ the King to affirm one another as his citizens through the ordinances and to display God’s own holiness and love through a unified and diverse people in all the world following the teaching and example of elders.” Each section of that definition is expounded upon chapter by chapter.
They point out that gatherings of people are powerful because the people are physically present. “Gatherings change lives, change cultures, change the world. They’re powerful. Like a political protest, the church gathering shapes a people. It shapes each one of us as individuals and shapes us collectively into a culture, a force, or a movement. It fashions us as the city of God. And like a protest, the gathering offers a visible testimony for the whole world to see. It tells the world that we are citizens of heaven.”
If your pastors are wondering if they should continue to emphasize the importance of gathering in person versus watching services virtually, I encourage you to commend Rediscover Church to them.
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
Quotable Quote: “Church membership offers the safety of the sheep pen, where Christ is shepherd. It offers the nourishment of being attached to a body, like an arm to a torso, where Christ is the head. It offers the love of a family, where Christ is the firstborn of many heirs. It offers the obligations and duties of citizenship in a holy nation, where Christ is the King.” Rediscover Church, p. 78
They point out that gatherings of people are powerful because the people are physically present. “Gatherings change lives, change cultures, change the world. They’re powerful. Like a political protest, the church gathering shapes a people. It shapes each one of us as individuals and shapes us collectively into a culture, a force, or a movement. It fashions us as the city of God. And like a protest, the gathering offers a visible testimony for the whole world to see. It tells the world that we are citizens of heaven.”
If your pastors are wondering if they should continue to emphasize the importance of gathering in person versus watching services virtually, I encourage you to commend Rediscover Church to them.
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
Quotable Quote: “Church membership offers the safety of the sheep pen, where Christ is shepherd. It offers the nourishment of being attached to a body, like an arm to a torso, where Christ is the head. It offers the love of a family, where Christ is the firstborn of many heirs. It offers the obligations and duties of citizenship in a holy nation, where Christ is the King.” Rediscover Church, p. 78