Ecclesia - Part Four: Escaping Containment Through Communion

Ecclesia: the Church universal and through all time composed of those called out by the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "'I will build my 'Ekklesia'." 

When Jesus builds His Church what does that look like? What does it sound like? Generally when we gather between four walls of any church building we are meeting behind walls that divide us from many parts of the Body of Christ! We are safe in our church 'constitution', confession of faith, rules and order, books of disciplines and so forth. We even claim a history that somehow dignifies out 'church personality' with an air of 'if only others understood the faith the way we do.'

Did you ever notice how much time Jesus spent in the open air?  When you read the Gospels or even the book of Acts so much happened 'out of doors'. Maybe that's something we need to get back to. Our theme of personal relationship with Jesus through Communion in our home as the foundation and then meeting from house to house on a weekly basis as a way t share the bread of revelation with each other keeps things moving. There are other houses where sharing Communion needs to happen. How many homes in your neighborhood? 

The 'death of the sanctuary means understanding the Body of Christ outside of any walls! It means love one another without regard for anything that 'seems important' to you! Jesus prays that we would enjoy Communion with Him the way He does with the Father. He also prays that we would know Communion with one another in the light of Communion with Him. That we would be one as the Father, Son and the Spirit are one. That we all would be one in Him and Him in us. 

One dear sister said the light is just starting to come on for her regarding John 17. She says she is at the "Dr. Seuss" level now. "That we may be one as He is one and as He is one that we may be made one that whosoever...." she said it sounds a little bit like Dr. Seuss! Hats off to her! Its a good start. Start reading, praying, thinking about and talking about John 17. As you do you will grow to appreciate what Jesus is praying for and what His design for the Church looks like. (Hint: It has no walls! His New Jerusalem has walls but not His sanctuary!) 

How might this look? World Evangelical Alliance Responds To Papal Apology With Its Own