CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN LIMA CENTER
In a world that emphasizes more is best and bigger is better, filled with grandiose statements and hard-selling superlatives bellowed at us from all directions . . .
. . . small congregations like ours
can go overlooked and
under-appreciated.
People can feel treated the same way. . .
But not where we are . . .
We are not so much hidden
as just “way out here,”
lifted up on a hill, like
city lights at night twinkling on the horizon,
or a bright lamp on a table,
or a candle in the window . . .
waiting to share our hospitality with you.
But night or day . . . It is a great place to see the Risen Christ . . . . . . .and be seen by him.
THE SMALL CHURCH
Please see below for more!
For a Meditation on Jesus’ Ministry, the Realm of God, and the Lord’s Prayer, Please Click on Link Below
LOOKING FOR JESUS? He is here in Rock County to be visited, and not just at church.
Below are listed the 25 places and ways Jesus promises to reveal himself, making himself accessible to us, according to the Gospel of Matthew:
We hope that this walk through your world mapped by Matthew, to be carried by you for those times you leave home, will help you see Jesus’ face and body even on gray days.
1. In the fulfillment of the law (of love) (Matthew 4:17, 12:8-10, 17:3-6)
2. Among the disempowered and disinherited (Matthew 8:19-22, 21:42; 25:31-46)
3. In forgiveness of sin (overcoming alienation) (Matthew 9:6)
4. In the call to repent and follow (Matthew 9:9, 13)
5. In the apostolic mission of sharing the good news (Matthew 4:19, 10:40-42, 23:34)
6. In the courageous response to persecution (Matthew 10:21)
7. In merciful ministries of healing and exorcism (Matthew 11:2-6, 12:27, 28)
8. In revelations of the Kingdom (Realm) of God (Matthew 13:11)
9. Where there is faithful expectation i.e. hope (Matthew 13:58, 14:28, 29, 15:28)
10. In the church where the gospel is proclaimed (Matthew 16:18, 19)
11. Where there is self-denial for the sake of service (Matthew 16:24)
12. In the approaching future (Matthew 16:28, 19:28-30, 23:39, 24, 26:64)
13. In the confrontation with the power of death (Matthew 17:23, 24, 20:18-23)
14. In the welcome of children (Matthew 18:5)
15. In faithful dialogue (Matthew 18:20)
16. In the voluntary surrender of worldly goods (Matthew 19:21)
17. In humble service (Matthew 20:28, 21:5)
18. In sincere and inclusive worship (Matthew 21:12-16, 26:13, 28:17)
19. In discontinuity with ultimate human claims of authority (Matthew 21:23, 22:21, 23:9-11).
20. In the resurrection (Matthew 22:32)
21. In our fragile humanity symbolized in the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-29)
22. In the fulfillment of Scriptures (Matthew 26:54)
23. In crucifixion (Matthew 27)
24. In our next steps as we take them (Matthew 28:7)
25. In the church's witnessing, baptizing, and teaching ministries (Matthew 28:18-20)
Summary: (Note that Christ is always found in some type of community, with people, however small a group).
1. In the gathered church, such as in worship and in prayerful dialogue among the members.
2. In the pain and innocence of the most vulnerable, e.g. poor and children.
3. In any effort to share the good news of God's saving love as experienced through Jesus, such as in evangelism, personal witness, preaching and teaching, the church's education program, etc.
4. In the promised future that is coming to us, toward which we are headed and to which we are called to be open in mind and heart.
5. In any event in which selfless love - ἀγάπη - is experienced.