religiousaffections

October 13, 2009

I had the privilege of preaching this past Sunday. We are in a series right now where we are working through our Mission & Values. This has been a rich time of study as we have laid out the mission of Covenant Life and show the values that must flow from it.

“We exist to display God’s glory by becoming a gospel-centered community that works for the gospel-renewal of the city and all nations.” And so this week we looked at biblical community or gospel-centered community from Acts 2:42-47. Over the next few days I will post a series of excerpts, quotes, and other encouraging stuff that I came across during my time of study. Coming to understand the implications of the “fellowship” in vs 42 is a wonderful process.

I want to warn you as we begin: Learning about, and learning how to apply living in biblical community has been one of the most shaping, joyful, difficult, and rewarding roads I have travelled and still travel each day. Biblical community as we’ve defined it in our values:

The gospel creates a new community. The gospel transforms our relationships with one another. It creates a new community where we as the church grow together in the knowledge and wisdom of God (Eph 4:11-13). The restoring power of the gospel makes us family regardless of all cultural, social, ethnic, and political preferences (Eph 1:4-10; Eph 2:13-22). As family we seek to guard one another against the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13), always considering how to stir up one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24-25). The presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer. Therefore, we daily pursue authentic life together (Acts 2:42-47).