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.

A DECLINE IN FORMAL RELIGION
A study from the Pew Research Center found that Christians accounted for about 90% of the population 50 years ago, but as of 2020, that figure has slumped to about 64%.

The study found that the number of people who identify as “religiously unaffiliated” is on the rise. Although some of these individuals are atheists, it mostly comprises a population that is agnostic, spiritual, or nothing specific. This percentage is currently projected to overtake the US Christian majority by the year 2070.

"Some scholars say that it's just an inevitable consequence of development for societies to secularize. Once there are strong secular institutions, once people's basic needs are met, there's less need for religion… Other people point out that affiliation really started to drop in the '90s. And it may not be a coincidence that this coincides with the rise of the religious right and more associations between Christianity and conservative political ideology." – Stephanie Kramer

PRIVATIZED RELIGION
This is when one believes they should rely on themselves rather than the established or organized religious traditions to answer spiritual questions – “I am into Jesus, but not the Church.”

JESUS AND THE CHURCH
As evident in the scriptures, Jesus believed in the church, not just in the Christian community but also in the institutional religion of his day.

“For Jesus, the church was never optional. Jesus was not anti-institutional. He regularly led his disciples and himself into the church of the first century which was the synagogue and temple…. [Jesus] immersed himself in the relationships at the temple, he went to the temple for prayer, and he added his own voice to the teaching of that temple.” – Tyler Staton

HOW DO WE DO CHURCH TOGETHER IN 5 COMMITMENTS

Reveal the kingdom of Jesus
The kingdom of Jesus or the reign of God, is not simply the rule of God in each believer's heart, but a kingdom that pervades every aspect of our lives- the spiritual and the physical- and looks utterly unlike the kingdoms of this world.

It is an upside-down Kingdom, a new world order– under the leadership of Jesus. It is a Kingdom that we were made to be a part of.

"We are built to live in the kingdom of God. It is our natural habitat." – Dallas Willard

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”– Mark 1:15

Belong to a microchurch
Micorchurch, is prayer, scripture, and mission.

So just like the disciples, we may be a messy bunch of people with varying beliefs and backgrounds, but we come together time and time again, in the midst of laughter and conflict, to shape one another.

So here is my encouragement to you today…

• If you are not a part of a microchurch, consider joining one or starting one. Sign up for Dinner Party.

• If you are already in a microchurch, re-evaluate and commit to being part of that community.

  • Regularly attend unless you’re out of town, sick, or there is an unforeseen, unavoidable circumstance outside of your control.

  • Give your wonderful mirochurch leader a 24 hours notice for any absence.

  • Actively participate: help with the meal, hosting, and clean up. Add to the conversation, prayer, and discussion.

• Lead a microchurch. We need more microchurch leaders who are willing to open their homes and hearts to pastoring people. If you are interested in this, talk with your current microchurch leader or one of our pastoral team members.

Gather on Sunday
We still believe in the value of the Sunday rhythm. There is something about gathering together, letting the voices of those around you carry you, hearing the stories of the people of God, being reminded of the teachings of Jesus, being challenged to commit to a spiritual practice every week, confessing with one another and taking communion with one another that forms us and shapes us to be the sent people of God.

Serve
Jesus’ teachings and the depictions of the early church in the New Testament is filled with instruction to us regarding service. To name a few…

• Mark 10:44-45 says, “And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

• 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”

• Galatians 5:13-14 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus and his disciples instructed in and demonstrated service to one another and to those in need. And it is our desire to reclaim the full breadth of the word service including both those two things: serving one another and the community of Kansas City.

• Serve one another on a Sunday. At Midtown Church, we desire to be a place where many do a few things instead of the few doing many. So, here is my request: please consider serving one another 1-2 times a month, to say I am going to contribute to serving this community of Jesus followers on a regular basis.

• Serve the community throughout the week. Service should always extend much farther and wider than these four walls to the people of Midtown and to Kansas City. At Midtown Church, we want to shift from a praxis that says only certain people or ministries are called to serve and love the poor, oppressed, and marginalized to a praxis that says all are called. Jesus’ teachings are pretty clear that serving the marginalized is a Gospel mandate.

This month, our serve day is Trunk or Treat on October 29. Last year we had 500 people in attendance, a vast majority of which are local and from low-income families.

Be Generous.
We are descendants of an ancient church that has historically practiced a 10% tithe. And as a participant in this community, we ask that you work toward that 10%.

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” – Mark 12:41-44

This is why we pray our generosity prayer every week as we work to shape our hearts and minds toward the person of Jesus and not the idol of money. As we work to be more like the poor widow than the rich people in this story.

Five Commitments

1. Reveal the Kingdom of Jesus

2. Belong to a Microchurch

3. Gather on Sunday

4. Serve

5. Be Generous