As a church, even last year as we were gathering and praying as elders, we felt calling us to enlarge and expand with an opposite spirit to the world. That this would be one of the greatest times for us as church, but that it would have nothing to do with our abilities and strengths, but all down to God’s power at work in us.

Well, that’s the power we need right now. There is a battle, but we know Jesus has won the victory. Check out this promo for the series we’re launching this Sunday. It’s going to be powerful – check it out in services or get the download from our website at http://www.everynation.co.uk

If there’s one couple who know about battling to build something in simple obedience to God’s instruction – against all the odds – it’s Wolfi and Ali, senior pastors of our church. Expect some great truths and great encouragement.

• Bring us near – to him AND to one another
• Build us together so that we
• Become something amazing – a dwelling place for His Spirit
• In Christ

If you want a listen you can download the audio, slides, or group discussion notes from our website.

Here’s a few ‘big ideas’ that came through:

Church is supposed to be a group of diverse, unique individuals who are built together in Christ. God made a creative, diverse, creation and intends that to be expressed through the church. Church isn’t supposed to be about my preferences. It’s not supposed to be a group of homogeneous people – or a bunch of clones. It’s supposed to be people of different races, backgrounds, social class, status etc. all being built together and being one in Christ.

You only find what your part is in the context of the whole. We often talk about how we are God’s workmanship and how he has a great plan for our lives (see v.10 and last week’s message for more) but we also don’t really discover that part outside of the context of the other parts we’re supposed to complement.

That means I discover my uniqueness – who I am and what my place is – as I get involved in His church. It doesn’t happen if I fly solo.

Anything we built has to have it’s full weight on Christ. The only things that survive the storms of life are those which are built on the correct foundation. If we want to build something great we’d better make sure our lives – and our churches – rely on Christ as our “chief cornerstone”, and we don’t put our trust in anything else.

If you’ve got any comments or questions from Sunday, post them below.

If you’re interested you can download all the messages, slides, and group study notes from our download browser, and I’m sure Wolfi will post some thoughts on his blog as we go along.

What got me thinking today as I was looking at the background of Ephesians is how central Ephesus seems to be in the spread of the gospel.

We know more about the church in Ephesus than any other, Paul ministered in Ephesus for a couple of years, sent Timothy to Ephesus (and wrote his letters to him while he was there) and John settled in Ephesus and wrote his gospel and three letters there.

The letter to Ephesians is unlike other epistles. Most bible commentators agree that this letter was intended to be a general letter for wide circulation, and rather than addressing specific personal or church-related issues, it simply and clearly outlines the gospel and how we – the church – should live in light of it.

So, why Ephesus?

What strikes me about the ministry of Paul is how strategic the places are. Ephesus is no exception. It was a thriving centre of commerce, finance, and culture, but most importantly it was a key trade route and stood at the doorway to the Asian interior.

When Paul received the gospel and his commission to preach it, his primary concern doesn’t seem to be in building a big, static church. His primary concern seems to be to build churches that would make disciples of all nations.

Travellers from Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and further afield. All of them would have come through places like Ephesus and heard the gospel. Many of them would have believed it, been changed by it, and carried it all over the world.

Paul didn’t rate success just on how many people came to church, but how many people came through church.

That’s why:

• How many disciples are made matters more than how big your church is.
• How many people are sent out to make disciples is more important than how many people gather on a Sunday.
• A kingdom vision is even more important than a local church vision.

And that’s why even though I’m a country boy I’m part of a church that has as it’s mission to “make disciples of all nations” and is based in London – the city with the greatest potential to reach the whole world.

It seems as church we’ve been hearing more and more stories lately of lives that have been changed in a powerful way: Healed, saved, delivered, turned around, needs met.

Maybe God’s doing more. Maybe we’re making ourselves more available. Maybe it’s just that we’ve been more purposeful about expecting such stories and deliberately asking for them.

Whatever the reason it’s these stories that make it all worthwhile and give me even greater confidence that God is real and that He is good.

Here’s some video from another church which I found pretty inspiring.

Do you have a cardboard testimony?

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
         Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! – Psalm 34:8

“Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for her” 
- Ephesians 5:25

Recently I’ve been spending some time walking around our local community and talking to God (otherwise known as prayer-walking).
As I’ve been doing this, there’s been one recurring prayer that has been arising from my heart over and over again, and it’s this: “Lord, make us the church we need to be to reach these people who don’t know you.”

Life is a journey of discovery for me. Consquently, there are not many beliefs I have which I am not open to being moved on (given the right persuasion and biblical evidence). However one thing I have come to believe, and from which I cannot be shaken, is this: The church is the hope for the world. Jesus came to bring freedom, hope, and abundant life to a fallen world. After making a way for us to be able to receive this awesome gift, he left the job of spreading the word to a group of imperfect and unqualified people: The church.

God doesn’t have a plan B. What does it take for people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, for light to be brought into a dark world, for healing is to be brought to a broken, disillusioned, and hurting generation? It requires the church to grow into all that God intends for her to be, so that she can do all that He has purposed her to do. The church is God’s plan for the world, and he doesn’t have a backup.

So, what is the church? If you ask the typical person off the street you will probably get many answers to this question. Unfortunately most of them will be very different to the church the Bible describes, and what God desires to see. Typical answers might be ”A building”, “an outdated organization”, “a religious institution”, or “the Christian Granny brigade”. After much reading and much thought here’s my simple definition of the church:

The church is an authentic community of believers who, together, are on a mission to share God’s love with the world.

If we take this as our foundation, rather than just our traditions and preconceptions, then we should see a church which is:

• More organism than organization 

• More about people than procedure

• More about community than committee

• More about the priesthood than about the pastor

• More about every believer fulfilling the calling of God for their lives than about achieving one ‘corporate’ vision.

I praise God for all the great local churches here in London. My prayer is that each of them will be fruitful and grow into all that God intends them to be. And if you’re in London and are not part of a local church you are welcome to come along and join us anytime and become part of a community that, while far from perfect, is passionate about becoming a church that reaches the world in London.

What that actually looks like is the subject of many a discussion. In fact I’ve often told our connect group leaders we don’t really care what you do as long as people are being connected to other people, to God, and to Biblical truth; and the world is being changed in some way. How to determine that we’re actually being successful in that endeavour is yet another discussion. Bottom line is that we want to have a confidence that we together are changing the world through fulfilling the great commision to “Go and make disciples…” in a way that expresses the great commandment “Love God, Love your neighbour” .

This is really just a very long-winded way of providing a link to a good article written by Dan Reiland called “Successful or Fruitful” which has some great thoughts to ponder. You can read it here, and if you fancy a bit of discussion on the subject then feel free to add a comment below.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. – John 15:16

If you’re interested you can listen here, or you can read some thoughts I blogged on this a little while ago.

If you’re a Christian, your ‘job’ is to have the light of Christ in You and let it shine into a dark world. How are you doing with that?

The three guys pictured are some friends of mine from church (calling themselves Fire Fall Down) who I went to see play at a pub in London. They are very talented musicians who have all been involved playing in our church worship teams. They believe God is calling them to use their music to reach out into the world and share the truth of the gospel. For them, it’s not just about the music or the songs. It’s about meeting other bands and people that like music, and hoping to have the opportunity to share something of God with them. There are people out there who are lost in darkness and would never come through a church doorway, but God still wants them to know His love.

In many ways they’re just starting out on the journey but I have huge respect for their heart for God and their commitment. I wish them all God’s best as they continue to step out and carry the light-giving message.

You can visit their myspace page for more information (and if you live in London then do come along to a gig – especially if you have some non-christian, music-loving friends who you can bring).

Also if you’re in London, and have no plans to meet with church, why not come along to our services in Hammersmith or Stratford and encounter some light. If you’re on the West side of town, Fire Fall Down are going to play a couple of songs in the service and surprise some of the older generations

Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. – Phil. 2:15-16 (The Message)