And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” vss. 6-7
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
It’s easy for congregations to begin to think of the church in narrow and parochial terms. A pastor gathers a community of believers who begin to worship and who then organize themselves in councils and committees. Sacraments are performed, children are taught, and offerings are taken to support the mission of the congregation. For most of those people their group is the church, and often they don’t have a strong sense of responsibility to the larger body of Christ. When there is a budget item for support of a synod or national body, there will sometimes be attempts to keep that number as low as possible. One of Paul’s purposes in writing to the Thessalonians was to remind them that they were having a powerful influence on other congregations–they had a mission beyond themselves. How wonderful it is when our communities of faith understand those connections. Not only is our local mission expanded but we can become inspirations for one another. The Church of Christ is not just our local group but it’s a network of congregations spread all around the globe, and together we are the presence of Christ for the world.
Thought for the Day: How can congregations help each other?
0 Comments