Jesus Swagger by Jarrid Wilson

Author:Jarrid Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2014-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

THE EARLY CHURCH

The Greek word for church is ekklésia, which means “assembly.” You can find the first use of this word in the New Testament when it is spoken by Jesus in the book of Matthew. Jesus stated to his disciples, “I will build my church” (16:18). This assembly was built upon his character and power, and it was never meant to be done in any other way.

After Jesus said this, he began meeting with people around the tabernacle, and later the temple. Although Jesus used the tabernacle and temple as meeting places, kind of like we do, the foundation and purpose of the church is found in him alone—and not the meeting place in which it is being held.

Most would say that the beginning of the church can be found in chapter 2 of Acts, where the disciples had been overcome by the work of the Holy Spirit and were equipped for their evangelistic mission (vv. 1–4). That church’s existence testified to the resurrection of Jesus, which began a new age for believers and still affects the world around us.

Immediately after the disciples shared their teachings, a church of community and fellowship was born. The communities were filled with acts of prayer, the sharing of bread, and worship. The early church was founded on the aspect of community and how one could help the needs of others. There was no official building to meet in, but the church of Jesus grew still: “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47 NIV).

Many scholars and theologians would claim that this model of church would not last in today’s society, but when it comes to people who are looking for biblical community, I’d bet differently. There is a hunger for community, and it doesn’t matter where it meets—be it a shopping center, bar, movie theater, home, park bench, or stained-glass cathedral. A buildingless community is definitely not the only way to be the “authentic” church, but it’s an intriguing option.

When I begin to evaluate what people are actually looking for in a church setting, nine times out of ten I will get a response that has to do with finding a community of people to do life with. If this is the case, then I can’t see why an Acts 2 model of a deepened sense of community and founded on the power of the Holy Spirit would not work.

The church that propelled me into my ministerial journey was one in Corona, California, called Crossroads Christian Church. And at the age of twenty I dedicated my life to the Lord, got baptized, and immersed myself into a life of ministry. Not only did God provide me with incredible leaders, but the mission and purpose of the church was summed up into three words that I believe are the crux of our faith: Christ, cause, and community. These three words not only helped mold the church’s vision, but also kept it focused on God’s purpose for the congregation.

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