In a culture that in many ways similar to that depicted in James Ensors, painting its important to know what God has called us to do. Jesus makes the statement "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." If we would follow recent the results of recent assessments of the church in general the broader culture, we find there is a majority who believe in God,  However, the evidence is they are not approaching the community of faith as the means to receive  a greater understanding of God. Even today as I was looking to pick up a book from Chapters, the customer service person who helped me locate the book The Goodbye Generation, knew the church in general is struggling.

My experience with churches when they have plateaued, they tend to grasp at straws such as a new program or an attraction that will draw people. For others they would complain that we have moved too far from our traditon. Every church has a tradition of the 'good old days'. We try to develop the model again and stick hard to it with greater zeal. Some churches and denominations are rethinking what church should be how it ought to effect the culture that surrounds the faith community. I suppose for us as a local community we need to ask both corporate questions and person questions. How should Southside Community Church affect Riverbend? How should we affect Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the world? Maybe for some of us our concern is only for ourselves and our families. Maybe the fruit Jesus was speaking of was only our families.

If our view of the fruit of which Jesus speaks is greater than merely our own concerns. We must determine 'how great do we believe our impact ought to be?', as it pertains to bearing fruit. Once we have come to sense of what that may look like we need to ask 'am I doing my part?' What is my load, my responsibility? What is the evidence that I am sharing the load within the body? Am I using the gifts that God has given me. Do I know what my spiritual gifts are? These questions when answered will likely lead each of us to action points.

Really as a community of faith we need to ask do we need to change? Other communities are changin do we need to change?

Below are some links to illustrate how communities of faith are seeking to address their times and culture and glorify God. Take the opportunity to view them and think about what they are doing or hoping to do. Do you agree with their approach? If yes why? If not then why not?

http://www.london.anglican.org/London-Challenge-Film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l90eiNB7nMw

Let me know what you think.      wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com