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The Witness of the Community

Re-Imagining Evangelism Book Discussion

 

Chapter 3
The Witness of the Community

 

When I read through the stories of the early church, I'm struck by the communal nature of everything Jesus' followers did.  They ate together, celebrated together, mourned together, served the poor together, were persecuted together, commended their faith together... This may come as a shock to us post-enlightenment, Western, individualistic, self-actuated folks who think: "My spirituality is between God and me..."

 

Christianity is inherently plural!  Faith is personal but not private.  And there's power in the witness of the community.

 

This is a strength of our City Church DNA: We're a church in the city and for the city, always seeking to remember what it's like not to believe...  A community to invite our friends of all backgrounds to experience, hear, consider, and respond to the gospel of grace.

 

There's power in inviting our friends into community gatherings like Sunday worship, community groups, and other church gatherings.  At City Church, we don't designate one Sunday a month as "bring your friend Sunday," because every Sunday is a day to bring your friend!  Since we launched City Church in the Mission one year ago, I have been thrilled by the experience of meeting someone who is new to church every week!

 

We can also invite our friends to efforts and events that serve the poor and work for justice and reconciliation. As I noted in the training at City Church Leadership Network, often our friends need to be exposed to Christians working toward the justice, flourishing, and wholeness (shalom) of the Kingdom of God, before they are open to meeting the King himself.

 

In community, we get to play a role, contributing our talents, passions, abilities and resources to a mission much greater than ourselves.  On page 58, Richardson notes a series of gifts with which we may contribute in the witness of community, as well as questions to ask:

  1. Organizing and leading: How am I helping the whole community advance in sharing the gospel through my gifts of leadership?
  2. Equipping: How am I helping others get in the game?
  3. Hospitality and encouragement: How am I reaching out to people outside the church through hospitality and encouragement?
  4. Pastoring and teaching: How am I using my relational and teaching gifts in the lives of my seeking and skeptical friends?
  5. Prayer: How are my prayer gifts being used in ministry to my friends?
  6. Service and mercy: How are my gifts of service and mercy helping build trust for the gospel with my friends who don’t follow Jesus?
  7. Giving:  How is my giving helping the whole church reach those who are not yet a part of the church?

 

As you read this list: with which attributes do you identify? What is your place in communal witness?  Please comment below, and never hesitate to let me know how I can help you grow in knowing Christ and making him known!

 

It's your turn: Please comment on the third chapter! And if you haven't already, order the book! Check back next week as we discuss Chapter 4: The Art of Spiritual Friendship.

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