Thank you for our year 2012 of focus on the purpose of discipleship.
Next year 2013 we focus on fellowship.
At 'Spirit Led' last month we launched the focus for 2013 - the purpose of fellowship - Christian fellowship. The fellowship of the body of Christ, the church. Next year we bring into the spotlight the privilege of Growing Together in Christ. This year we have focused on growing - spiritual growth. Next year look at how we can grow TOGETHER!
The church is called to unity. This Jesus says in John 17 is the greatest witness the church can give to the world. In unity the body is connected. Everyone belongs and each person has a part to play.
Let us pray and think together of how we can invite God's Spirit to make us more welcoming, more loving, more caring, accepting and forgiving. It is an opportunity to teach and resource our churches to be emotionally healthy communities; that our churches would be places where people are encouraged to be authentic and allowed to be vulnerable. It is a place where people are helped to understand and overcome the fear of taking off their mask/s, of being rejected or of being hurt yet again.
I pray that we can be churches where grace and truth can stand together. That there will be truckloads of grace and truth told with kindness and love. These are churches where people experience real joy in God's house of prayer! Isaiah 56:7
Imagine that kind of a church! That is the kind of church that we could welcome friends to with the worldwide focus on evangelism in 2014. It is also the bicentenary of the gospel coming to Aotearoa, New Zealand!
Growing with you
Eddie
