church

a friend of mine is searching for a church. as we talked about it, i started to think about what my priorities in a church are, and if i were looking now, would i choose the church i belong to now? when i first came to winnipeg, i had some criteria for a new church, but it was actually quite limited: i wanted to find a church that operated in the gifts of the spirit consistently, but not as an experiential thing only, or as a show. i found that, but i also found other things.

a couple of things stand out to me about my church:

1. community - i have met some of the greatest friends at my church, and been (and continue to be) mentored by some amazing women, and even though you'll never be "friends" with everyone, i feel this camaraderie and commUNITY every time I walk in the doors.

2. outreach - my church is dedicated to sending and supporting missions, overseas and in winnipeg. that matters.

3. leadership - the more time i spend there, the more i realize the wisdom of my pastors and leaders, and the more i admire the way they have structured the church with accountability and godly counsel

but still, knowing what i love about my church doesn't mean i have it all figured out.

what SHOULD a church be?

well, thanks to a long weekend, i woke up slowly this morning and had a chance to read (for fun!), and this is what I read:

"The local church is a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. In obedience to Scripture they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly for preaching and worship, observe the biblical sacraments of baptism and communion, are unified by the Spirit, are disciplined for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as missionaries to the world for God's glory and their joy."

~ Vintage Church (Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears)

a working definition of the church - it is both affirming to me in the church i've chosen, and a challenge to me in whether or not i am a participating member of the church, or just an apathetic bystander.