Performing the Gospel...

Here is a quote from Scot McKnight's book "Embracing Grace"... "A local church always performs the gospel it proclaims. This may sound odd, so let me emphasize the world "always". A church always performs the gospel it proclaims because its performance is its proclamation. If you look at a church and what it does and how it operates you will see the gospel of that church. The important point to make here is that the deepest indicator of that church's gospel cannot be limited to the pastor's sermons or the Sunday school teacher's teaching or the doctrinal statement's affirmations, or the summer camp offerings, of the aesthetic expressions. The sure indicator of the gospel in a local community is how those Christians live."

Now here is Scot's definition of gospel... "The gospel is the work of God to restore humans to union with God and communion with others, in the context of a community, for the good of others and the world."

Sounds like the kind of things I am hoping, encouraging, and leading Community of Joy to be about! Performing (living) the gospel so that others see God and are drawn to his healing love in Jesus and are encouraged to help God's kingdom become a reality on earth as it is in heaven!