Hannah Sorenson’s Reviews > Why Church?: A Basic Introduction > Status Update

^That is the way the church is. It is the place of genuine life, where we find what we were made for and how we can be what we were meant to be. That person we are becoming is connected to the Lord of life who gives us fullness of joy. We abide in the one who is Joy.

John 15:11^

^Jesus chose his disciples and then each disciple turned around and looked and found they had a community of really close friends that they did not choose.^

^The church should be a reconciling community bringing together people who are united in Jesus Christ, even if they are not united in many other ways.^

^The local church should reflect the local community.^

^Mackay's wonderful reminder, even coming from a rather formal Presbyterian, was that the church requires order, but must not lose its ardor.^

^Can a person come to faith, start attending a local church, and not tell others about Jesus? Well, I guess they can, but if they are mute in their witness they have not yet understood what it means to be a Christian. There is a direct connection between believing in Jesus and speaking to others about Jesus.^

^It is true that mission beyond our community and beyond our borders is the calling of every church. But it is also true that "go!" means we go out from the Christian community (church) to be the good news for others in our community.^

^By God's Holy Spirit, the missionary brings something of the presence of Jesus even when there is little she or he can do to alleviate suffering.^

^However, proclaiming good news without demonstrating good news is equally tragic. We illustrate the good news that we tell others through the good news that we do as a community.^

^We will be challenged by Scripture (because we are sinners) and we will also be comforted (because we are broken).^