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?

Ryan Sim - May 6, 2013

Monday - A New Idea - Self Denial

One of the major news stories in Canada earlier this year was Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike. She willingly gave up food, other than fish broth, to protest and pursue what she considered a greater good. She's one of many stories of people giving up something good, in order to pursue an even greater good. In diets, people give up foods they love, for greater health. Or they fast before surgery, again for better health. Parents give up money, time, independence, much of their lives, for the good of a child. Many a professional has given up opportunities, promotions, raises for better work-life balance. One man I know gave up his career as a rising star in a major legal firm, to study and become a pastor. The list goes on. Maybe even includes you! Question: What would be important enough to make you give up food?

From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"

Discuss the Daily Challenge

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