A Spiritual Blueprint for Elmwood Part 1

Posted By Brek Cockrell on Apr 10, 2007 | 0 comments

www.jerrygillis.com  has made this statement many times – "the church is a spiritual organism that must be led by spirit-led people." That is so true and so for me and all of us who will make Elmwood our place to serve and grow together I would like to share some thoughts that I have gathered over the this past year (or more) to help everyone understand where it is we are going. Since I can't have a cup of coffee and spend an afternoon talking about these issues with each person face to face here is my solution, grab a cup of… and let me exresso myself!

WHAT DO WE WANT PEOPLE TO SEE?

The cornerstone of a culture that is about glorifying God by reaching every child, woman and man with repeated opportunities to hear and see the loving, life changing message of Jesus Christ within our circle of influence is found tucked away in the most brilliant discourse ever recorded by the most brilliant man, Jesus Christ.  On a mountain-side with His disciples and apparently others that joined the discussion (which was one sided) Jesus spoke of a new Kingdom order. Jesus began to speak of a new way of thinking that had never been uttered before. Jesus begins to tell His listeners of the way things could be and actually should be. In a culture that was built upon a person’s ability to ‘do’ Jesus began the process of deconstruction and put the emphasis on ‘being.’ Jesus talks about many things but what He is saying behind every ‘new thought and way of acting’ is that the Kingdom that you have been waiting for and looking for has come and you now have access to the King. He begins laying out a new way of thinking and understanding and conducting themselves and toward the end of this ‘message’ He drops the bomb. Matthew 7:12 (New Living Translation) ¹²"Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.