A Hope Filled Dream
James Rouse, the founder of Columbia, MD dreamed the following as he developed this new kind of city: “Does it uplift, inspire, stimulate and develop the best in people.” This may seem like an idealistic dream but as one who lives here you can experience at least a part of that dream. You see people and organizations working in community together inspiring and stimulating one another.
I have a similar dream for City of Hope Church. As I shared last night in my message (check out the sermon resource tab on our website, www.cityofhopechurch.net, sermon entitled Change Takes A Community), this is our hope for City of Hope: “that we are uplifting, inspiring, stimulating and developing mature and loving followers of Jesus Christ.” This may seem like an idealistic dream too. But you know what, we have a God who desires to see His church grow together in community. He himself is community as we witness this in who He is: One God, Three Persons. Moreover, he calls us as Christians to biblical community: a community where we learn to love and trust one another in the midst of our various differences and experiences; a community where we help one another see our sins and mess in a safe place; and a community where we point one another to Jesus who empowers us to take risks amidst the pain and rejection we have faced in the past. Being real, honest, and authentic in our relationships with one another is hard and feels intrusive and uncomfortable. And yet throughout God’s story of redemption, we see Him gathering a messy and diverse people for the purpose to grow together and live for His glory. He didn’t just call me into the family but He called all of you as well. We can’t and must not live alone in this world. We can move towards others in this way because as I said Jesus has provided us the way. Jesus gave himself on the cross for our sins and mess to free us from those sins that keep us from others and free us to give of ourselves as we live in community with one another.
What I want from those who read this blog is something that I only briefly mentioned last night and it is this: How do we apply in the 21st century the following passages?
John 13:34-35
Jesus said…A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Not only does our Compassionate Shepherd want our biblical community to affect one another in the church but it must also impact the local community in which we serve. How do we show those not yet in our church community or not yet a follower of Jesus that we love one another and how that love really impacts them?
I would love to hear from you!
Your friend and partner in loving one another and those in our broader community,
Pastor Jeff
posted by City of Hope Church @ 6:29 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
I love the focus on community. So much time is spent on learning how to relate to a postmodern generation. I firmly believe that at the heart of this generation is not a religion that accomodates postmodernism, but an alternative that offers hope, fellowship, and truth. True Christian community that actively seeks to invite others in--whether into homes for dinner, study, or a hike, or whatever--will, by it's very existence challenge the hopeless and baseless worldviews so prevalent in this world.
I think the world has to know us in order to see how we love one another. We need to live honestly before our neighbors. They have to see that we have needs. Then they can see how our brothers and sisters come along side to help. If my husband and I pretend to have a perfect marriage, our neighbors can't see that a pastor walks through the struggle with us. And they can't see us relying on Jesus, instead of ourselves, for our righteousness.
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