In our last series, we talked about loving our neighbours, and stepped through six shifts. From stranger to neighbour to acquaintance to partner to friend to becoming “like family”.
It’s possible to become like family with a focused group of people, where you practice loving your neighbours within that small group, and see that spill over to others outside.
This series looks specifically at this stage of being “like family” with other followers of Jesus. It’s called the church, believe it or not. Important that explore what church means as we prepare to launch a new church in Ajax in 2014.
You probably have all sorts of preconceived notions of what that word means. Attached you’ll find a video of some people on the street who were asked about what they think of when they hear “church”.
You can find the video here:
Question: When you hear the word “church” what do you immediately see, or think? Make a list, there may be several. What experiences have informed you?
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CloseRyan Sim - May 29, 2014
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Practices
This week we’ve studied four practices of the first church community. Should we copy them? Some try – indeed sell everything, gather daily, etc. just like in this book. But most don’t. Most Christians agree this sets a pattern and principles, and those principles are what is meant to be emulated, not the exact circumstances. Churches in our world today will take on these practices in various ways. The Apostles’ Teaching and Fellowship Some churches have many readings from the Bible, a short sermon. Some have one short reading, and a very long sermon about it. Some focus on studying the bible in groups at home, others in groups at church, others in groups on GO Trains like us. What matters is continuity with the apostles’ teaching. Breaking of the Bread Some do this weekly, others less frequent. Some have one common cup, or even a precious chalice, while others have individual portions in smlall cups. Some consider it a symbol and reminder, others see it as a precious moment of heaven touching earth when God’s actual presence is made tangible. Prayers and Worship Some churches focus on common prayer – many people praying the same things at once. Others focus on individual prayer, everyone praying using their own words and thoughts. Common Life Some churches try to live this out verbatim, but not many. I know some people building a co-living building, where many families will live in their own spaces, but share eating and cooking areas, playrooms, etc. They are trying as much as possible to share life in this way. But others see this as a practice of generosity – retaining ownership, but sharing as others have need. There is lots of variation within each practice. What matters most is that the practice is preparing them for their mission…living and telling the good news of Jesus in the world. These practices are essential to being a church, a community of people following Jesus. You might have been surprised, many of the most visible elements of modern church life are missing! But for any church, these are the principles they need to continually recover and refocus. Our church is going the opposite way – starting with these practices, preparing us for our mission in the first place, and then our challenge comes later in maintaining this focus. Challenge: With whom can you gather to start adopting these practices? As a small group, and as a large group. Which of these four would you find hardest, and easiest?
Related Topics: Discipleship, Generosity, Practices, Prayer | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Pioneer Story"
We read through the Book of Acts as a Pioneer Story for the church.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Friday - Reflect - Structured Rest | September 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Structured Rest | September 10, 2015 | Interview | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Structured Rest | September 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Structured Rest | September 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Structured Rest | September 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Inner Rest | September 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Inner Rest | September 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Inner Rest | September 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Inner Rest | September 1, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Inner Rest | August 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Finding Rest | August 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Finding Rest | August 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Finding Rest | August 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Finding Rest | August 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Finding Rest | August 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Rest | August 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Rest | August 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Rest | August 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Rest | August 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Rest | August 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Working Well | August 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Working Well | August 13, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Working Well | August 12, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Tuesday - Study It - Working Well | August 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Well | August 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Working Badly | August 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Working Badly | August 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Working Badly | August 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Working Badly | August 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Badly | August 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Work | July 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Work | July 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Work | July 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Work | July 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Work | July 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Friday | July 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Thursday | July 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Wednesday | July 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Tuesday | July 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Monday | July 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Friday | July 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Thursday | July 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Wednesday | July 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Tuesday | July 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Monday | July 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Friday | July 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Thursday | July 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Wednesday | July 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Tuesday | July 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Monday | July 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Friday | July 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Thursday | July 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Wednesday | July 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Tuesday | June 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Monday | June 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Friday | June 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Thursday | June 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Wednesday | June 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Tuesday | June 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Monday | June 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Friday | June 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Thursday | June 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Wednesday | June 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Tuesday | June 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Monday | June 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Friday | June 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Thursday | June 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Wednesday | June 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Tuesday | June 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Monday | June 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Friday | June 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Thursday | June 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Wednesday | June 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Tuesday | June 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Monday | June 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Friday | May 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Thursday | May 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Wednesday | May 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Tuesday | May 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Monday | May 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Friday | May 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Thursday | May 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Wednesday | May 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Tuesday | May 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Monday | May 18, 2015 | Gladwell | Watch | Listen | |
EPIC: David Anointed King - Friday | May 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Thursday | May 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Wednesday | May 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Tuesday | May 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Monday | May 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Friday | May 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Thursday | May 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Wednesday | May 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Tuesday | May 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Monday | May 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Friday | May 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Thursday | April 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Wednesday | April 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Tuesday | April 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Monday | April 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Friday | April 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Thursday | April 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Wednesday | April 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Tuesday | April 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Monday | April 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Friday | April 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Thursday | April 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Wednesday | April 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Monday | April 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Friday | April 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Thursday | April 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Wednesday | April 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Tuesday | April 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Monday | April 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Friday | April 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Thursday | April 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Wednesday | April 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Tuesday | March 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Monday | March 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen |