Community

As we come to Christ, we (the church) are like living stones being built in various ways into a spiritual house, with Christ as the cornerstone. Peter invites all to reflect on our identities in the eyes of God, and to respond with praise and witness.

The story of the ancient church in Corinth gives us a robust and compelling vision for what a modern urban church can be—engaging, resilient, and hopeful in the midst of a diverse, dynamic, and pluralistic culture.

For many, religious rules are comforting. But the gospel invites us into a radically healthy but utterly paradigm-shifting freedom from old rules and regulations. The church is meant to be the beating heart, the epicenter, of that message of freedom.

It’s understandable that today many have jaded views of the church. As we imagine the future of our church, what can we learn from the earliest days of the church? It was refreshingly dynamic, characterized by personal transformation, vital community, authentic spirituality, radical generosity, and contagious hospitality.

There are many ways to feel lonely—sometimes by ourselves and sometimes with others. The story of scripture honors both the dignity of solitude and the powerful purpose found in community.

Our “character,” meaning our integrity and personhood, exists because we are created in the image of God; through His redeeming work on our behalf, our characters can be transformed to reflect His.