01-19-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 19, 2024
A simple request—tomorrow, the Leadership Team at Cypress Creek (Elders and Board) will be meeting for the breaking of bread (with some soup), conversations, connection, dreaming, praying, and some other good stuff. Some might think the purpose of this gathering is to get the Leadership Team on the same page. That’s sort of true, but it’s really about getting on God’s page, which tends to be a bit more challenging. In Philippians 2, Paul writes, “…complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other” (vs.2). This sounds as if the hope is for everyone to agree, but if you go just a few verses later, you find Paul writing, “Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus” (vs.5). Suddenly, it is not just about achieving consensus but also aligning ourselves with Jesus. That’s easy? Right? Actually, if we take a quick look around at Christianity in America, we will realize that there is very little consensus on who Jesus was, is, and what he called his disciples to do. I’m not naive enough to suggest that a gathering tomorrow morning and early afternoon is going to bring about a true alignment with Jesus, but we need to start somewhere. And really, that begins with being mindful of who we really believe Jesus to be, what his essential practices were, and how we shape our lives together so that we might reflect him. Again, I request your prayers.

O Loving Lord, O Merciful Christ, you gently and persistently form us in the ways of Jesus, yet sometimes we push back. Sometimes, we are not always interested in changing. By faith, we claim your eternal patience, yet we should not abuse such a gift. Today and tomorrow are both excellent days to work on aligning our lives with the life of Jesus. Amen.