Neil Cole wrote a book a few years ago which was really helpful in my King First – Then Kingdom – then Church process. He does the work of revisiting how Jesus built the Kingdom and consequently the Church, giving context and examples which help amplify the way the Gospel of the Kingdom grew and how the “called out assembly” (Church/ecclesia)) grew into Her Good News mission. Together we are being purified to be the “spotless bride” of the Lamb through our dedication to honoring our King.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7
Neil consults the words and actions of Jesus as He explains His Kingship, Kingdom, and Church to His new followers. Together they with Jesus each will share in the work of establishing His plan for honoring His Father. Organic Church asks many stimulating questions which, if we want, can return us to a more authentic understanding of how Jesus wanted His disciples to proceed – built upon the greatest Story ever brought to mankind.
Here are few quotes to give you flavor for the book:
From the preface: “The ideas shared here have ruined people for the ordinary church. This is your last warning.”
From the introduction: “Apparently, the world is interested in Jesus; it is His wife (the Church is the bride of Christ) that they do not want to spend time with. Unfortunately, we have reduced the Gospel message so that is inseparable from the institution of church.”
Neil Cole is not a conformist when it comes to the Bride and religion: “church attendance, however, is not the barometer of how Christianity is doing. Ultimately, transformation is the product (impact) of the gospel. It is not enough to fill our churches; we must transform our world. Society and culture should change if the church has truly been effective. Is the church reaching out and seeing lives changed with the good news of the kingdom of God? Surely the number of Christians will increase once this happens, but filling seats one day a week is not what the Kingdom is all about. We do Jesus an injustice by reducing his life and ministry to such a sad story as church attendance and membership rolls. The measure of the Church’s influence is found in society, on the streets and not in the (pews).”
Reading and sorting through Organic Church can help you with authenticity for your own personal connections among your neighbors. Jesus summed it up when He said “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:51-52
Read, meditate, discuss, and enjoy!
Dave and Burnadette