Key Elements
What elevates a community into a church? These are three key elements that transform a gathering of friends into a community on mission that is worthy of being called a church.
Worship
Every community is bonded together because of a common love and devotion to God. This can take the form of singing, studying the Bible, silence and solitude, prayer, sharing of meals, and much more.
Worship is the glue that binds us together because it points each individual and community towards our Creator. Simply put, worship is reminding ourselves who God is and how amazing it is to be in relationship with Him.
Community
There is no church without the genuine community. The Bible tells us that God has always been in relationship with Himself: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We get a glimpse of that relationship here on earth when we enter into relationship with one another.
So more than a social club, it is the surrendering of our own wants and desires into a larger community. Acts 2 tells us of a community that shared everything that they had with one another and were growing constantly. We are far from perfect, but we hold one another accountable to seek to be more like God everyday.
You’ll find a home in this community.
Mission
Communities are drawn together because of a common cause or mission. Sometimes that mission is reaching out in their different networks, and the church serves as a home base to recharge, share our stories, and be sent back out. Other times, the church takes on a common mission and serves together.
The important part is not where we serve, but the obedience in listening for how God is at work, and following Him into mission. We know that God is already at work in our world, and His Kingdom is being established. We get to be a part of that in our everyday mission.
