A Jesus community by nature exists for those who are not yet its members. As the church, we are called to be a community of ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, bearing witness in both word and works.

The way Christians grow is when the people of God use the word of God in prayerful dependance on the Spirit of God for the growth of the whole body. Discipleship is that process in action.

The first thing membership means, and what Jesus has purchased through his gospel, is connection to an already-created community of love. It's the particular community of believers that Jesus has for you in this present season.

Even if we are exiles in Babylon, God is in control, life is possible and we are called to seek the welfare of our city. Whatever transition we have faced, these three things are true. We are called to lean in to whatever season we find ourselves because God is at work.

Openness to God doing a new thing doesn't come naturally. We have to learn to perceive what God is doing and trust the new work. This often requires us to surrender what God did and listen to what he wants to do now.

Throughout the scripture God's words and God's leaders have only one message to those in transition. God is with you. When all around us is in flux, God's presence is a constant that we can rely on.

We, like Paul, have been called to join God in his work of making all things new in Jesus Christ. God has given us his Spirit, and unique gifts to cultivate human flourishing in our own context, as a foretaste of what he will do completely and finally when Jesus returns.

Christians should be a people of thanks because God has done so much for us in Jesus Christ. He has invited us to know the living God, to grow by his word, and to enjoy a perfect inheritance as his children.

C.R.E.A.M. = "Christ Rules Everything Around Me". Enough said?

The Holy Spirit is present today to guide the church. What churches does he guide? Churches that prioritize Jesus. What does he guide them to do? Proclaim and embody the gospel of Jesus. What does success look like? It looks like trust, faithfulness, and joy in the midst.