Scripture
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Observation
This section neatly summarises the characteristics of healthy christian community:
* prayer and praise
* healing prayer
* forgiveness of sin
* confession to one another
* rescue of wandering brothers and sisters
There needs to be transparency, openness, love and respect for one another and all of it covered and upheld by prayer.
Application
How do we rate our church on this scale? I would rate New life at about 70%- well ahead of many churches in ministering and loving one another but still with a long way to go.
Each person needs to evaluate how they help to establish community. Do I pray with the sick? Do I help people experience the power of forgiveness of sins? And so on.
Prayer
Father you have come into the world tp do more than simply save sinners. You want to establish a community of followers who show such love for you and for one another that the world is transformed. Help us to grow in this grace. Amen.
That's a good question. I'm not sure anything is missing as such- just that there is always room for improvement. I think we are great on caring for one another and helping one another. Perhaps not so good overall on the prayer for one another. I believe our church is to be something really different in the way we experience life together, but what that something is I don't yet see clearly.
ReplyDeletewhen you say a long way to go... what do you think is missing?
ReplyDeletein my experience what is missing is sincerity. too much pretending tends to block inspiration.... copying behavior through admiration isn't working on the being necessary to have the true feelings of a practicing Christian. i pray that your church finds itself and clarifies its message. everything fails without a will of some kind. understanding would be the greatest aim. :smile:
ReplyDelete