Rethinking Church

00:41  What does the word of God say about the church?

Chan offers 4 things that embodies the church of the Scriptures. They are...

1. Love. Family/sacrificial love
2. Getting the message out (a priority)
3. Gathered - focused on communion and community
4. Equipping and Training took place

Is that the church you see today? 

I love when he compares the church of today verses the church of the Scriptures, saying it is like going to the movies instead of going to the gym. (around 03:50) 

Is there a better way to do church? As one who struggles with the institutional church, I am always interested in hearing new ideas. And I have a deep respect for Francis Chan. But is this a viable answer? Is building house churches and then regularly splitting them up better than what is in place now? The jury is out for me right now. Any thoughts?

Diamond in the Rough

Galatians 4:8-11

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

I just read a chapter in Francis Chan's, "The Forgotten God," that referred to this verse. He talks about the fact that it is one thing to know God, and quite another to be known by God. Just like it is one thing to know Brian Urlacher, and another thing to be known by him.

God knows me. The creator of the universe knows me. That is humbling. Who cares about the trivial things anymore. It is no longer about me reaching out for God, but God reaching out to me. I might fail in my pursuit, but He will not fail in His.

What a hidden gem of a verse!