Meal with Pastor

I. INTRO

A. Sml talk:

a. How’s the meal?

B. House Keeping

a. doors being left unlocked

b. Ray & Andrea

1. Leave o absence:

i. We love ‘em

ii. Meeting w/’em again

2. Filling the void (not replacing people)

C. I’d like 2 begin our conversation 2day w/ a question:

a. What is the Church?

1. The Organization??

i. the systems, the 501c3 office & staff?

2. The building??

3. The gathering on sunday where we listen 2 great songs & a guy who talks too long?

4. The People??

II. BODY

A. The Church is

a. The Church is individuals gathered 2gether in community around the person, presence & leadership o Jesus

1. This community is so nit 2gether (in Jesus’ eyes) that Paul commonly referred 2 us as a body

i. Community is: a social/relational group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government (leadership), & often have a common cultural and historical heritage, w/ a common purpose.

-shared local: Bennington

-shared leadership: Jesus

-shared culture: God’s Kingdom (where we get our agreed conduct, mission, vision)

-shared heritage: Pentecostal/AG

-shared purpose: Making disciples (growing the community)

b. So, when r we the church?

1. When do we stop being the church?

2. What does that look like practically?

Acts 2:44–47 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:444-47

i. shared life

ii. Generosity & contribution

-my needs r ur needs vis a versa (not a call to communism/socialism)

3. This looks like:

i. Common ownership o the building, property it’s on & everything on it’s property (not talking about every1 owning Bob’s truck)

-we share the burden of fixing, picking up after, cleaning

-we share the tools: the mic

repentance/forgiveness

ii. opening up our homes to 1another

-not invading 1’s space, but inviting 1 in2 his/her own space

iii. repentance/forgiveness

-trouble w/living in community is bumping up against ea. other

*a forgiven people must b a forgiving people

iv. a few common causes our community’s involved in:

-Fallapalooza

-Green Mountain Christmas

-Treasure Seekers room renovation

-Sunday mornings for mutual building up & growing in Christ

-Tuesdays same as Sundays (the more we’re 2gether, the more & closer we grow 2gether)

-shared local: Bennington

-shared leadership: Jesus

-shared culture: God’s Kingdom (where we get our agreed conduct, mission, vision)

-shared heritage: Pentecostal/AG