Have you ever considered your spiritual walk with Jesus as being essentially connected to God's glory in the church?  On Sunday, we saw how God uses dead materials and makes them alive, uniting them by Jesus' blood into a structure that beholds his wisdom to the heavenly beings.  His Church, by his Grace, is His Glory revealed.

In our text this week, Ephesians 2-3 will have us look backward to death rather than forward.  Christians are people who were once dead but are made alive.  New creatures are defined by their alive-ness because what they were is defined by their dead-ness. 

If you've ever visited the Gulf Coast of the southern United States where a hurricane has come through, you will see empty spaces where large condominiums and homes once stood, but right at ground level there is a flat cement foundation.  The building above could not withstand the hurricane winds, but the foundation survived!

What would need to happen this year to see RIC thriving in ten years?  As elders, we take very seriously Paul's charge to the Ephesian elders. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28.

Over the summer, we have looked at nine different practices of the Christian Community found in Scripture.  I sincerely hope you've been able to look up the Scripture passages and answer the application questions.  More than anything, I hope you have gone and done them, putting them into practice in our Christian community. 

How does our community serve one another's interest?  What do you find particularly challenging about serving another's interest? 

How does our community practice forgiveness and reconciliation between one another?  How are you or could you practice forgiveness and reconciliation with your church family? 

How does our community serve one another through accountability?  How are you or could you remain accountable to your church family?

How does our community share one another's beliefs, thinking, and spirituality?  How do you share your beliefs, thinking, and spirituality with your church family?  Can you think of ways to put these passages into practice during the week?

How does our community share one another's needs and problems?  How do you share your needs and problems with your church family?

I had just returned from a trip away from the family. The kids were in bed, and I was looking forward to a relaxing evening with the Mrs. As we were winding down for the night, she received a message. Three friends of a friend are stuck in Rome for the night and need a place to stay. Commence: my grumbling as we get three beds ready.

How does our community visibly show godly affection?  How do you show visible affection for your church family? 

Does our community "welcome one another" well?  How have you seen "care for one another" happen?  Can you think of a way to put these passages into practice during the week?

Over the next nine weeks, we will look at nine different practices of a Christian Community found in Scripture.  I'll talk about some of them, but I mainly want you to look up the Scripture passages and answer the application questions.  But...that's just the start.  After answering the application questions, do it.  Put it into practice in our Christian community.

Now and then, you may be asked what you believe about God, Jesus, the church, and the Bible.  Sometimes you may feel compelled to share your faith with another person.  Always, we are to be ready to give a defense for the hope that we have in Jesus.

Too many have told me they were born in the church, so they've always been Christians, not according to God's Word.  The apostle Paul teaches us that we begin spiritually dead.  We were saved from our sin only when Christ came to us and brought us to life.  Until this happens, there is no other hope to which a sinner can cling.

What does genuine concern for the welfare of a church look like?…But should the everyday Christian care about the welfare of his or her church?  If so, what does the Bible have to say to believers and their part in caring for the welfare (health) of their church?

It's been said that it's often easier to tell people about Jesus across an ocean than across your street.  Do you find that to be true?  One of the greatest challenges with living across an ocean can be that we forget we were chosen and sent there by God.  And that the people of that nation, however "backward" they may seem, are not enemies, but sinners like us in need of the message of Jesus.

King David, the psalmist who wrote this, was incredibly transparent about his fears. He was sure he would die either at the hand of the Philistines, or his king, Saul…Even so, he trusted the Lord despite fierce opponents and dire circumstances. But, Why did he trust the Lord?

Maybe you had some extra sleep (maybe not).  Maybe you were able to have some significant conversations with one another.  Maybe you heard something said in one of the sessions that brought comfort or godly conviction and helped you find renewed joy in the Lord.