Scripture: Acts 20:28-29
Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Thought for the Day: My theology professor from Seminary, Joe Jones, offers this definition of the church:
The church is that liberating and redemptive
community of persons
called into being
by the Gospel of Jesus Christ
through the holy Spirit
to witness in word and deed
to the living triune God
for the benefit of the world
to the glory of God.
Joe goes on to say, “This definition at least means that the church is not called into existence by the American way of life, not called into existence in order to punish evildoers, not called into existence to endorse any political regime, and not called into existence to protect Christians and wreak vengeance on nonchristians. But it does exist for the benefit of the world, though not on the world’s own terms regarding what it finds beneficial as an endorsement of the way it prefers to live.”
There’s something to chew on!
Prayer: As you have called forth the church to be your agent of the Gospel, O Creative God, may I support its central task over and against those forces that wish to subvert it. Amen.
