Let me start by asking:
What if Church was where you could be you?
- where people could know everything about you and still love you?
- where others would stop to listen to you?
- where people cared for you?
- where you were needed?
What if church was like people on a journey together?
- sharing their lives together?
- filled with awe and wonder?
- full of laughter?
What if Church was something more than a place to attend?
- more about being than just doing?
- more natural than ritual?
- more like life?
What if Church could be all about Jesus?
What if that church was in your neighborhood?
Today was an awesome day. The Dwelling Place officially moved out of the building last Sunday and began a new journey together at our home. We are still maintaining our church building in hopes of it selling, however, it’s in the Lord’s hands. Thankfully today is a New Day as we 
embark on a grand adventure into being the Church. Today The Dwelling Place moved into the neighborhood and with us came Jesus. Our desire is to be an incarnational expression of Jesus in us to each other and our surrounding neighbors. To be the church where the church lives…
Here are some of the highlights from our day. We shared a lite breakfast as people began to arrive while some musicians sat and played. No this was not ambiance or background music for a service about to begin; this was a group of guys just talking and enjoying playing together, making a spontaneous melody. I shared some thoughts about the journey ahead of us. The musicians began to play and everyone began to sing an intimate and familiar chorus to Jesus. This continued with a sweet presence and 
at times carried different and spontaneous voices singing praise though it all seemed to be the same melody. It seemed natural to share communion beginning our new journey together to remind us that it’s all about Jesus – members of Jesus and members of each other. I love Luke’s account where Jesus told the disciples to share it amongst themselves. So, we let each person pass the bread and juice sharing it with their neighbor. One of our guys has been under a great deal of personal strain and suffering from not being able to sleep, so I felt 
moved to pray for him. Sitting with my head down I prayed and when I was done I looked over and three others had walked over and layed hands on him and began to intercede for him.
One of my desires has been to encourage a more open a participatory teaching and sharing time. I began by asking someone to read a scripture, shared a couple of thoughts, then asked some questions to start. 
People began to share what they though and understood. I concluded to pull things together with what I sensed the Holy Spirit saying.
Our Scripture for today: John 3:16; John 17:3; Eph.1:16-23
Questions:
- What is eternal life? (might want to check the Greek)
- How does this affect what church should be and do?
It’s not so much about our practices and traditions as it is the Holy Spirit directing what we do, that means everything you do. The point is for it to be all about Jesus.
Disclaimer: Someone said to me, “So you are starting a house church.” I said, “NO, we are a church gathering at a house.” This puts the emphasis on the wrong thing – the house. The only thing that makes the church anything is the fact that the Church belong to Him. It’s not the container, but rather what’s in it that makes it
something of eternal worth. Paul said, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves…” (2 Cor.4:7) Anything else and it’s about us and not him, no matter what kind of church you are and what you do when you gather or every day for that matter.
So what now: Know Jesus, Be the Church, Love your neighbor.
Today was a sweet new day…
This past Sunday we took communion together. I have been meditating on being the body of Christ and the passage in Luke 17, where Jesus shared his last Passover meal with His disciples. Verse 17 is an incredible verse giving us insight into the body of Jesus.
