Experiencing the Promise of Ekklesia

Do you remember seeing one of those images you can interpret in two different ways? At first, your brain only registers one image, such as the face of a young girl. Then suddenly, from the same lines, another image-such as of a much older woman-also comes into focus. After that, you can't stop seeing both. While looking at the church described in the New Testament, that phenomenon happened to me. This book shares that other image, which I and thousands of others have found more lovely....
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Do you remember seeing one of those images you can interpret in two different ways? At first, your brain only registers one image, such as the face of a young girl. Then suddenly, from the same lines, another image-such as of a much older woman-also comes into focus. After that, you can't stop seeing both. While looking at the church described in the New Testament, that phenomenon happened to me. This book shares that other image, which I and thousands of others have found more lovely. In purposeful contrast, the church was designed to function differently than all other organizations in the world. That is why so many of us miss the alternate image. From the drastic reshaping of leadership to advancing the mutual servanthood that Jesus promoted as the new greatness, the church as we find it in scripture represents a radical alternative to what we know and experience in the world. What might happen if we no longer see the church as an embattled religious stronghold standing against the world but:? as a community that does not think evil of others? as a community that does not parade itself with pride ? as a community that immerses itself in patience, kindness, and joy? as a community that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things?