Beef Stew at Church?

“What is a church supposed to look like?”

This question was posed by Duane Eatmon, a friend of mine who’s the pastor of Mosaic Church here in Culpeper. Kathy and I were in attendance that Saturday evening.

Everybody kinda looked around. Most of us were sitting around the tables, but a few got to stretch out on some couches.

Very comfy.

We had just finished eating a potluck dinner at Kay and Anthony’s and the tantalizing aroma of beef stew, pizza, and baked ziti (not to mention Kay’s homemade bread – WOW!) continued to play with our noses. We had all eaten our fill and were letting things settle before we tackled dessert.

Duane led us through a few questions regarding our thoughts on church. Why do churches look different? What similar things do churches do? What do churches focus on? What are things that we get caught up in that really aren’t all that important?

As we shared throughout that evening, we got a glimpse into each other’s lives: the joys, the struggles, the successes and the pain. There was plenty of encouragement and support to go around.

God’s name was praised often. Not in songs or hymns, but in truth. The stories of what God was doing in and around us. God was there.

You see, this is what churches do.

Church is not about buildings, style of worship, or a premeditated format on how God’s going to show up.

God’s already in the house.

Church is about the people of God getting together (whether 2 or 3 in a home, or ten thousand at a stadium) to praise who God is, and to share what we’ve seen Him doing around us. It’s a time of refreshment and encouragement. Refreshment for those who are weary of the journey, and encouragement for all to continue serving those around us with the bold love of Jesus.

This is described in part six of The River’s Vision:

Gathering to Honor
Once a week, all these groups gather together. Why? So we can honor God as a community of faith. We have had gatherings of the church in warehouses, garages, train stations, and houses. During these gatherings we take time to worship God through music, art, scripture, reflection and questions. We believe in a life that wrestles with questions. It’s how we grow as individuals as well as a community. These gatherings are not about numbers. It’s not about getting a crowd to sit in our seats; it’s about helping people find out how they fit in God’s story. A story about a kingdom unlike any other in human history. A kingdom not based on political might or brute force but rather the power of reconnection and restoration that can only be found in the love of God.

How can we all live like this in our wonderfully varied communities of faith?

Joe

Related Verses
Acts 2:42-47
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

John 4:19-24
“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
NLTse