More Than Stone

I just discovered John Smulo’s blog. He has a great article entitled I Dream.

1. I dream of a church where Jesus-followers hold firm to the essentials of the Christian faith, but charitably disagree on non-essential matters.
2. I dream of a church that practices forgiveness.
3. I dream of a church that is free of gossip and slander.
4. I dream of a church that is generous with grace, truth, mercy, patience, kindness, and love.
5. I dream of a church that seeks first the Kingdom of God.
6. I dream of a church where pastors are first and foremost equippers of the saints.
7. I dream of a church where “missional” isn’t a buzz word, but a gospel mandate.
8. I dream of a church that is passionate about social justice.
9. I dream of a church that has a global perspective.
10. I dream of a church where people are growing in their understanding of God’s Word.
11. I dream of a church where people understand that knowledge of Scripture isn’t an end in itself, but a means to know God, love God, follow God, and love our neighbor as ourself.
12. I dream of a church that is gracious towards outsiders.
13. I dream of a church where people can be themselves, in all of their sin, brokenness, successes, and failures.
14. I dream of a church where No Perfect People Are Allowed.
15. I dream of a church where no one can go to, because everyone understands the church is the people not a place.
16. I dream of a church where people aren’t hidden from the community in a building during all of their free time.
17. I dream of a church where people realize that the someone else who should be doing “x” just may well be “I”.
18. I dream of a church where evangelism means being yourself.
19. I dream of a church where people know what they believe and why.
20. I dream of a church that practices Missional Apologetics.
21. I dream of a church where people are partners in the gospel, not members in a club.
22. I dream of a church that gathers in Third Places.
23. I dream of a church that serves and blesses its community.

I would only add that I dream of a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.

Thanks, John, for encouraging us to dream!
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