Part 3
Values
The last part of our vision series conversation centered around values of The Table. I tried to combine and summarize the similar themes we discussed together. I also a few values we didn't have time to discuss. The values listed here aren't set in stone. We believe, through each one of us, God is laying a foundation for The Table. Each one of you is helping bring about these values and others that haven't been named or articulated just yet!
Church as Family and Friendship
Made for relationship. We were made for relationship with God and one another. This is a central theme of “church” and discipleship to Jesus. We were made out of the overflow of love between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. For this reason, the church can be understood in two primary ways: family and friendship. We believe that we cannot follow Jesus on our own. Jesus didn’t even do this! He had his ‘band’ (Peter, James, and John) and his own ‘Table Community’ with the 12 (plus the woman that followed him). We can see this dynamic extend into the early church (ie Acts 2:42-46) as well.
Everyone has a part to play. To talk about the church as family means everyone has a part to play in “building up the body” (Eph. 4:12). All come with something to offer (1 Cor. 12; Rom. 12; Eph. 4; etc), which means everyone is expected (to some degree or another) to participate in the family. This even includes our children! We believe they not only should be present throughout our gatherings, but, they too, have something to offer the community by their presence, words, and worship.
Honesty and vulnerability. Healthy relationships require honesty and vulnerability, both of which take time to develop as trust deepens. We value authenticity, because we believe that when we are known by others we can be fully loved by God and others.
Consistency. We value consistency, because real community is a sacrifice. We want to show up for others when we might not be in the mood to gather. Consistency also helps cultivate honesty and vulnerability as well, because we can grow to trust our community will be there for us no matter what.
Sharing a Meal. We love food (especially dessert)! We believe one of the simplest functions of the church is to gather around a table for a shared meal, so that we can share our stories of following Jesus.
Spiritual Conversation
One of our core values is the idea of spiritual conversation. Hebrews 10 says,
“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” (vv22-25)
Much could be said on this passage, but a few quick points. First, when we gather (“let us”) the goal is to meet with the risen Jesus (“draw near to God”). It is so easy to gather as if God is not with us, but He is! Jesus meets with us through his Spirit. The Spirit works through each one of us to point others Christ Jesus (“spur one another on”), so that we can love him and others more deeply.
This dynamic, gathering with Jesus and pointing others to Him, happens through spiritual conversation. There isn’t one way this happens. The key is gathering as if Jesus is really present. When this happens, the Spirit can prompt us to pray, offer a word of encouragement, share His word, or to even to listen. It can also look like sharing our stories of seeing God at work, which could prompt within the community — thanksgiving, confession, lamenting, or rejoicing! It could mean feeling compelled to give generously or offer hospitality. The point is that as we gather Jesus is present with us and wants to offer for us and through us, by his Spirit, for the community.
Spiritual conversation is our way of naming this dynamic and why it is a core value to all of our gatherings.
Investing in a Few
We place a high value on starting and growing The Table through relationships. Jesus gathered a few to himself so that he could send them out to do the same (Mk. 6:7, Mt. 28:20). The church is a people that is on the move. Jesus calls each one of us to make disciples. How we do this matters. For us, we invest in a few relationships at a time for the sake of the many. Robert Coleman’s contends, in his book The Master Plan of Evangelism, “A few people so dedicated in time will shake the world for God. Victory is never won by the multitudes.” The kingdom of God advances in power when God’s people take seriously the call to make disciples.
Spiritual Hunger
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Mt. 5:6) We believe that the starting, middle, and later journey of discipleship is fueled by our hunger for more of God. We want to create spaces that inspires people to long for more. We value this because we don’t want to settle for a lukewarm, mediocre, faith. God has far more for us that we could ever imagine.
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