Church Doesn't Happen at Sunday Services
If you have been around Branches long, you have heard me say something like this. I know it can be frustrating to hear, especially if you are someone who has spent a lot of time in church circles. This statement can be frustrating because it disrupts what you know to be “church.” It is intentionally thought provoking. I want people to see past “church” as something we go to, to get something out of. Church was never meant to be something we receive, rather it is supposed to be something that we are (1 Corinthians 12:27).
The earliest example we have of the Church is in Acts 2:42 where “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” It wasn’t about a weekly gathering at all! It was about a lifestyle and a community centered around Christ’s teachings and his death and resurrection. What Jesus came to do was a big deal, the Church lived like this was true. Today, we should have the same attitude.
At Branches, Sunday gatherings are a little bit of this thing we call “church” but only the first step. We are focused on real “church” happening in Groups that meet throughout the week as well at the monthly Furnace event. Here we take communion as commanded by Christ (Luke 22:19-20), bear each others burdens (Galatians 6:2), confess sin and pray for each other (James 5:17). When we do this in smaller groups we are able to truly connect with each other in a way that is not possible for a “church” of 600 spread out across 3 services.
Real “chruch” happens when a small group of people commit to pursue Christ together throughout the week. Branches is setting out to facilitate as many of these small groups as possible so that we are making disciples and full the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Thank you for helping make this a reality here at Branches.
In Christ,
Timmy
The earliest example we have of the Church is in Acts 2:42 where “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” It wasn’t about a weekly gathering at all! It was about a lifestyle and a community centered around Christ’s teachings and his death and resurrection. What Jesus came to do was a big deal, the Church lived like this was true. Today, we should have the same attitude.
At Branches, Sunday gatherings are a little bit of this thing we call “church” but only the first step. We are focused on real “church” happening in Groups that meet throughout the week as well at the monthly Furnace event. Here we take communion as commanded by Christ (Luke 22:19-20), bear each others burdens (Galatians 6:2), confess sin and pray for each other (James 5:17). When we do this in smaller groups we are able to truly connect with each other in a way that is not possible for a “church” of 600 spread out across 3 services.
Real “chruch” happens when a small group of people commit to pursue Christ together throughout the week. Branches is setting out to facilitate as many of these small groups as possible so that we are making disciples and full the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Thank you for helping make this a reality here at Branches.
In Christ,
Timmy