Church (ekklesia):called out ones.

I will build my (ekklesia) church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Matthew 16:18 NIV

The Church belongs to Jesus.

Jesus is actively and intentionally building His Church.

We are the Church to the degree that Jesus is our center.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Matthew 4:19 NIV

From that day on, your entire life was organized around three driving goals: 1. To be with your rabbi. 2. To become like your rabbi. And 3. To do as your rabbi did.
John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way

To be with Jesus. To become like Jesus. To do as Jesus did.

Bounded Set
Fuzzy Set Communities
Centered Set communities.
(see pictures below)

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Mark 10:17-22 NIV

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14 NIV

: I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:23 NIV

Unity in Christ does not require uniformity.

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, love.”
Adapted from the Moravian Church

The value of unity is often misapplied and misunderstood to force uniformity. How might we keep Jesus central while at the same time making room for our differences?

Church often places us in proximity to people and ideas that are very different from what we’ve experienced in our past. What are some of the ways you’ve grown more open – or even changed your mind! – through meeting and walking with Christians who are different from you?