Teaching
We gather around the scriptures to learn the unfolding story of God.
In Kansas City – Jeremiah 29:4-13
In the West, Christianity has moved from a cultural majority to a cultural minority. Followers of Jesus feel a sense of cultural displacement or, in the language of the scripture, exile. Throughout the biblical narrative, the People of God have had many exilic experiences, but as the Prophet Jeremiah advises, our God can be found even when we are far from home.
Together – Assorted Scripture
As evident in the scriptures, Jesus believed in the church. We believe that church is family and so every year we want to revisit how we participate in this family or do this whole Jesus thing together. Participants in the Midtown Community are asked to commit to five things; (1) Reveal the Kingdom of Jesus, (2) Belong to a Microchurch, (3) Gather on Sundays, (4) Serve, and (5) Being Generous.
Revealing the Kingdom of Jesus – Mark 1:14-15
The Gospel preached by Jesus of Nazareth was that the Kingdom of God was close at hand. This is to say, that God’s conspiracy to take back his world from Satan, sin, and death has begun in the person of Jesus. In response, we are invited to rethink what is possible and risk for what could be.
Gospel Participation – Becoming a People of Participation
We struggle with the idea of sharing the Gospel because even that phrase has been co-opted by the misguided, the manipulative, or just tone-deaf to the moment. They mostly feel like a bait-and-switch or a multi-level marketing scheme, then a Jesus’ invitation into a new kingdom. What if sharing the Gospel could look like inviting a neighbor over for dinner? Or taking a Saturday to serve our city in a meaningful way? Or just simply living in such a way that it begs the question? What if sharing the Gospel is more like Jesus and moving towards pain and loving people into the Kingdom?
Courageous Hospitality – Becoming a Hospitable People
As city dwellers, we've learned to remain anonymous; from our neighbors to our barista, we can navigate life without knowing the name or story of people we interact with on a daily basis. We believe that the vision of community that Christ has in mind is far more costly, far more intimate, far messier, and far more beautiful than what we’ve settled for. We believe that we start to become hospitable people simply by committing to a meal.
Holistic Justice – Becoming an Interruptible People
We exist in this moment were using a term like justice is just good branding; which of our favorite brands hasn't made a statement condemning something or advocating for something? For the people of God to embody holistic justice, we must recognize that justice is not an auxiliary topic to the Gospel– justice is how the Gospel is lived out amongst the community. It is our conviction that justice in the scripture is about becoming a particular kind of community.
Intentional Formation – Becoming a People of Prayer
Intentional formation is to be deliberate and purposeful with the people we are becoming. As followers of Christ, we’ve been given specific direction for our change by the Incarnate One, Jesus. His life and ministry provide a clear pattern for the Kingdom of God. We believe that the first step in our formation is becoming people of prayer.