DId you know?

Did you know that the Jerusalem Church was not the best "perfect" example of the church? I mean they just kept wanting to hunker down and build buildings in one location and enjoy the fellowship of the believers. Over time the Mission of Christ to take the Gospel into all the world was brought to a halt with a few expressions here and there.

Neil Cole in his book, "Organic Church" page 42 has this to say, "By 70 A.D. this local church (referring to the Jerusalem Church) was dead and gone forever. The only lasting effects that it left behind were accidental moves of the Spirit in alternative ministry venues with second-tier leaders and laypeople, such as what occurred in Samaria (Acts 8) and Antioch (Acts 11). These new works eventually spread to become healthier expressions of the Kingdom that would actually obey Jesus' original command to fill the earth. Churches such as those at Antioch, Thessalonica, and Ephesus became a better representation of what Jesus intended. These second and third generation churches were healthier, more productive, and more intentional about reaching the rest of the world with the Good News." (end quote)

As a baby boomer I could in my lifetime see our second and third generations becoming healthier expressions of the Kingdom with a intentional Holy Spirit led movement and kingdom expansion through disciples making disciples around the world.

I'm praying for my generation to catch this healthier expression of the Kingdom with intentional and personal disciple making. With faith I believe and trust God for the second and third generational tiers to get right what we are slow to see and live.

Take note, our second and third generations are leaving the church and seeking to find Jesus outside of the Sunday church. They long for an authentic and sacrificial expression of following Jesus. It is quite possible that they actually have more integrity to really live it than many of us boomers. There is hope that they will rise up and be the strongest kingdom minded expression in our lifetime.