GodReflection: It’s Jesus Friday

Jesus’ mission on earth was multifaceted. He came to show the heart of God. He came to be the sacrifice that atones for the sin caused by Adam thus creating a pathway back to God. He came to exit the tomb to demonstrate his power over death. In short, he came to offer eternal life.

He did all of that and more.

I am slow to catch on.

It’s starting to dawn upon me that Jesus came to design church.

For three years, he taught people how to live in community under the rule of God. By sermon, example, miracles, questions, aha moments, and his walk among the crowds he taught people how to be church.

He introduces the God of extraordinary grace through parables. His stories introduce the God who throws a party each time one of us lost creatures return to Father Creator.

The design is for his church to live in the same manner as the Father. We are to gush grace onto all humankind.

He spoke of grace demonstrated through love, forgiveness, faith, trust, prayer, relationship, hope, and eternity.

He told the parable of the vine to teach the church’s connection to him and his relationship to the father. His parable about the good shepherd taught his care for the church.

His miracles of healing and his love for the poor were living demonstrations of the heart of God. The church is to display the same heart.

He taught that his church should imitate children’s loving innocence and trust in its walk with God.

He taught that his church was to live in peace and use the utmost gentleness in reaching out to a fellow Christ follower who offends.

Jesus wants his church to be at peace. So much so that he reminds me to refrain from worship until I make an offence right with a disciple I may have hurt or offended.

As Jesus forgiveness is without limits toward me, so should my forgiveness be without limits toward others.

His church is the fellowship of the pure in heart.

The Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament letters add rich texture to living as the body of Christ. However, I should never again divorce Jesus of the Gospels from the holy architecture of church design.

Acts and the Letters supplement but they do not design.

I must remember—it’s Jesus.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on Jesus Designed Church.

Gary@Godreflection.org     www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com