Our November series deals with the essence of the Church.

In America, the church is often viewed as a social organization. You attend when it's convenient to you, if you have time, if the people make you feel good, if you have needs they can meet, if you are in agreement with the stated goals, and you can consume when you want to with no strings attached.
With this attitude, you have a commitment to being a customer.

Biblically the Church is presented as a spiritual organism.
We are one of many individuals that make up a living entity which the Bible refers to as Christ's Body and Family.
With this attitude you have a sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself and your wants. It is a commitment to belonging to a community.

Body-
Paul wrote about this truth in 1 Corinthians 12:27.
When Christ entered our world, He took on a physical body "prepared" for Him by His Father. After His bodily ascension, Christ continues His work in the world through those He has saved and those who the Spirit has indwelt. The Church now exists to demonstrate Christ's love in the same ways as their Lord and Savior. In this way, the Church functions as "the Body of Christ."

Family-
Again Paul wrote about this in Ephesians 2:19.
Family is a metaphor and draws from the idea that all families have something in common such as physical blood, social lineage, and emotional loyalty.
The Christian family also shares some commonalities. True followers of Christ have in common a new birth, spiritual indwelling, and gifting of a new life commission that leads to contributing to the overall health of the church.
Jesus introduced this idea of a spiritual family in Matthew 12:49.

In the book of Acts, we can see how the Church functioned as a Body and a Family. There were times when the church met all together and other times it met in small units (At Grace we call them Home Groups).
Acts 2:42-47; 5:42

The large group gatherings allowed for corporate instruction and inspiration while the smaller groups allowed for intimacy and involvement.
Being part of both gives evidence to the reality of a person's faith and is essential to the health and growth of the individual and the whole.

In every Body and Family you will see some form of hierarchy or authority; a sense of community and responsibility for one's self and to the group as a whole.

The Authority was positional through appointed leaders. This allows clear communication to take place, care of individuals and the meeting of needs, organization of events and schedules, and the protection of one another.

The Community was experienced as people used their gifts, served, had transparent lives, shared what they were learning with others, deepened relationships, and resolved conflict.

The idea of Responsibility will be talked about next week.

Smaller groups will allow Christians, and the Church as a whole to learn how to function the way Jesus commanded.
And Home Groups are one of the most effective ways to meet needs and reach others in our immediate community.
These groups must be evangelistic if we are to accomplish the mission Jesus has given us.

We challenge you to make 2023 a year where you move your life priorities more toward the spiritual than the secular, and that you would become more active in a group.

Now you will receive some instructions to participate in the H.O.M.E. experience today. This will happen next week as well and then on November 20th, you will meet in an actual Home Group!

Birthdays and Anniversaries We're Celebrating This Week!

Saturday, November 5th - Adelyn Snider, Olivia Schilz
Sunday, November 6th - Liz Pederson, Cash Pederson
Monday, November 7th - Jessica Pierce, Braylon Van De Moortel, Allison Kerby, Michael & Haylee Sanchez
Wednesday, November 9th - Anthony Kauffman
Thursday, November 10th - Stephanie Starks
Friday, November 11th - Marilyn Coblentz, Holley MacDonald