Church: what is it good for?

"Church: What Is It Good For? (HUH!)" is our worship series for the season of Eastertide. We posit that "Spiritual, But Not Religious" could be translated, "Alone, But Not Together." And alone is not the best way to be, is it? What if the abundant life Jesus named in John 10 is the promise of fullness of relationship in the beloved community?

SBNR: “Alone But Not Together.” Introducing the series, we’ll talk about the growing data about Millennials and institutional distrust, “bowling alone,” and how church can be the “abundant life” that Jesus promised his followers. Acts 2:38-47; Acts 4:31-37; John 10:1-10.

Recognition of the gifts of the people. There are some important things we can only do together. We don’t aim to make you busier, but to encourage you in your way of working toward God’s future. Oh, and we ordained (Rev!) Nicole McRaney!

Telling the truth about brokenness. Church is the place we tell the truth, no varnish. We hold each other accountable. The world hurts; we are complicit; helping each other become the best versions of ourselves. Accountability. “You can be the boss of that. I know you, and I trust you enough to do this.” Bible & Beer, the first hour, one-on-one, a different kind of non-programming. Luke 6:20-36; Psalm 32.

Cultivation of anticipation/hope/next. Even as we tell the truth about the brokenness, we are a community of hope. We hope together toward God’s good future (i.e. “the reign of God”). We help each other stay hope-full, like it’s a resources we can literally pour out for each other. This is why we throw parties. Isaiah 25:1-10; Luke 4:31-44.

Community of interpretation. The Bible is complex; God’s way is subtle; our own hearts are self-interested. So how do we discern what God wants? The community of readers, thinkers, discerners – together on a journey that will encompass all our doubts and misunderstandings and questions. Nehemiah 7:73b–8:18; Psalm 19.

Your family of choice. You may or may not have a loving, supportive family at your back. Or maybe they’re a mix of several qualities, some good, some bad. But what if God is not as interested in DNA as in the connection between our spirits? What if water (baptism) really is thicker than blood? Luke 8:19-21; 8:40-56; 14:25-28; Ephesians 4:1-6, 25-32.

Multiplication of resources. "Do you have anything to say to me before I leave?" -- Lancelot Lamar in Walker Percy's Lancelot.  Or was it Beyoncé in Lemonade? Or is the Samaritan woman at that well with Jesus? The Trinity Brazos Area of the Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pondered it hard at our annual assembly. 

For the first part of the sermon, Bey's "Hold Up" video played silently on the screen behind the preacher. It was... umm... unsettling. In the best possible way.

You don't have to have read Lancelot or seen Lemonade for this to make sense. But you probably should anyway. Just sayin'. Luke 9:1-17; Romans 12:1-8.

Creation of beauty for our God-Who-Is-Beautiful. There is just not enough non-commercial beauty in the world; we need more to invoke the reverence and desire we’re meant to feel for our Lover-God. Our worship together provides a consistent, communal dose of beauty and invites us to participate in it as our most beautiful selves emerge in that setting. Song of Solomon.

A Bruised Reed We Will Not Break. It must be true; that's what it says on our t-shirt.

On this night we made our Covenant of Co-Conspiracy -- that's how you say "yes" to prioritizing the mission of Galileo Church for one year. Read the covenant here.