I did a quick search of ‘church’ on wikipedia.org and was directed to a definition that focused on church buildings or architecture. But is that what church is? While wikipedia’s online encyclopedia brought me to a page that focused on church architecture, it did state the following:

“The word “church” is derived through Middle and Old English cirice, circe from the Greek κυριακον (δωμα) Lord’s (house). However, most English versions of the New Testament use the word “church” to translate ecclesia (Greek ἐκκλησία “congregation, assembly”, a word originally used without specific reference to religious gatherings).”

Looking at the New Testament use of ‘church,’ ‘ecclesia,’ Fausset’s Bible Dictionary states:

“Ekkleesia in the New Testament never means the building or house of assembly, because church buildings were built long AFTER the apostolic age. It means an organized body, whose unity does not depend on its being met together in one place; not an assemblage of atoms, but members in their several places united to the One Head, Christ, and forming one organic living whole (1 Cor. 12). The bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-32; 1:22), the body of which He is the Head.”

Going to the New Testament:

Acts describes what the assembly of believers, the church, would look like “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common.” ~~Acts 2:42-44

1 Peter 2:9-10 gives us more to consider with, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

So, what’s your view of church?

What about a small group of people, friends, gathered at a friend’s house? Could this be church?

I believe so.  The kids were sitting all around us. We sang songs.

We talked about what was going on in our lives, and what was going on in the lives of those around us. We talked about how we were created for so much more.

We read ancient texts. We let the words we read whisper to our souls. We connected with the ancients.

We reflected on who we think we are and who we were created to be.

We shared a meal…and remembered the most extreme act of love.

We painted a future full of promise, life and light.

©2005 ginny rogers

Paul was always in the middle of stuff. He raises a boy to life who fell out a window while Paul preached too long. He got Gentiles mad at him and got Jews mad at him. He was “equal opportunity” when it cam to stirring things up. Q: What am I stirring up? Paul supported himself and preached the message of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. David stirred things up too. Most of the time, for good. Moses, Jesus, Peter, Joseph, the prophets. Leaders in the Bible stirred things up. Nehemiah, John the Baptist, Joshua, Noah, Abraham. These are people who stirred things up. The Kingdom stirs things up. This is the adventure. I pray that I will live the adventure of the Kingdom boldly!

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This is what Joseph’s brothers say just before they grab him and throw him into an empty pit (or well). What’s the crime in being a dreamer? Joseph was only seventeen, and the favored son of twelve, when he shared his dreams with his family—and in both cases it’s his family that interprets the dreams—with his brothers hating him and his father, Jacob, “keeping the matter in mind.” So, what’s in a dream?

Vine’s Complete Expository says this of the Hebrew word for “dream:”

The most significant use of this word…is with reference to prophetic “dreams” and/or “visions.”

With the brothers already jealous of Joseph’s favored status, the prophesies put the brothers over the edge. They strip him of his fine tunic, and toss him into a pit only to pull him out and sell him to some passing merchants.

The reaction of the brothers led me to believe that they realized that Joseph’s dreams were not just random, the dreams were prophetic—and from God. It’s the brothers that interpret the dreams, and in doing so, acknowledge the prophesies; and it’s their actions that invariably lead to the fulfillment of the prophesies.

Prophetic dreams and visions have had special significance in our faith. In Acts 2:17 we read, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

With dreams holding such a special place throughout the Old and New Testaments, I would encourage you to dream dreams—but, not just the REM kind—the kind that will fulfill God’s purpose here on earth. I pray that when people see us, they say, “Here comes that dreamer,” not because we’re detached from reality, but because we are dreaming the dreams that are about seeing God’s purpose prevail in the world today. I pray that we will all hear, “Here comes that dreamer,” when they see us because we’re living radically different by putting our love for God first followed only by our love for one another.

© 2005 Ginny Rogers

Timothy enters the New Testament scene just past the half-way point of Acts at the beginning of chapter 16. Right away, it’s written how Timothy was “well spoken of” and then Timothy joins Paul on the journey traveling from city to city delivering “the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. (Acts 16:4-5, NIV) By the time we get to 2 Timothy1:7, Timothy has traveled extensively with Paul—and sometimes, he stayed behind—it seems that he did what he was asked to do.

Often times when we hear the word “servant,” we tend to think of a person who serves at the beck and call of their employer, their master. In today’s culture, being a servant is not necessarily looked at in a positive way. We might even think that a servant is timid or weak. Was Timothy a servant? I think so. But, was he timid? I don’t think so.

Timothy went where he was needed and served Paul as was needed. The thing of it is that he served with strength—with faith. His faith was well grounded—both his mother and grandmothers were believers. Even more, though, his faith was grounded in the hope and love found in Christ. And with his faith grounded in Christ, Timothy was given the gift of a “spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline,” giving him the necessary ingredients to lead with a servant’s heart. In this verse, Timothy is being encouraged to remember that the spirit that God gives us is powerful, loving and beyond our selves.

In the same way, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity.” Instead, by putting our trust in Christ and His teaching, the power of the Holy Spirit will help us to love others and serve without being so distracted by our ‘selves.’

© 2004 Ginny Rogers