plenty of room at the table

A FAITH VILLAGEEBCLA’s Vision Statement

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BECOME

“…A PICTURE AND A PREVIEW OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IN AND FOR ALL OF GOD’S CREATION.”

EBCLA’s Vision Statement

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BECOME

Every church should be an uncomfortably diverse group of grateful sinners whom Jesus inspires to extend to each other the same undeserved extravagant love and grace that he extends to them.

A church is a people of the Spirit empowered by the Spirit to live in ways not attainable by ordinary means.

Scot McKnight

A church is a redemptive community where each person has a place at the table and a voice worthy of hearing.Scot McKnight

AT THE TABLEPLENTY OF ROOM

JESUS CAME AND DIED TO RECREATE THE WAY HUMANS

LIVED TOGETHER

ONE DIVERSE UNITED PEOPLE

CHAPTER ONE: DESIGNED FOR GOOD

SEPARATE TABLES

DIFFERENCES LED TO MANY DIVISIONS

CHAPTER TWO: DAMAGED BY EVIL

MADE PEACEDESTROYED EVERY DIVIDING WALL

CHAPTER THREE: RESTORED FOR BETTER

ONE NEW DIVERSE UNITED PEOPLE

CHAPTER FOUR: SENT TOGETHER TO HEAL

GOD’S NEW HUMANITY OF INS AND OUTS

EPHESIANS 2

11 You who are not Jews by birth, here is what I want you to remember. You are called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “circumcised.” But they have only been circumcised in their bodies by human hands. 12 Before you believed in Christ, you were separated from him. You were not considered to be citizens of Israel. You were not included in what the covenants promised. You were without hope and without God in the world. 13 At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. This has brought you near to God.


EPHESIANS 2

14 Christ himself is our peace. He has made Jews and Gentiles into one group of people. He has destroyed the hatred that was like a wall between us. 15 Through his body on the cross, Christ set aside the law with all its commands and rules. He planned to create one new people out of Jews and Gentiles. He wanted to make peace between them. 16 He planned to bring both Jews and Gentiles back to God as one body.


EPHESIANS 2

He planned to do this through the cross. On that cross, Christ put to death their hatred toward one another. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away. He also preached peace to those who were near. 18 Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of one Holy Spirit.


EPHESIANS 2

19 So you are no longer outsiders and strangers. You are citizens together with God’s people. You are also members of God’s family. 20 You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building. 21 The whole building is held together by him. It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the Lord. 22 And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit.

IN-N-OUTBURGER

INS-N-OUTSCHURCH

Christ has made Ins and Outs into one group of people.

PLENTY OF ROOM AT THE KING’S TABLE

MATTHEW 22

Jesus told them more stories. He said, 2 “Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like. A king prepared a wedding dinner for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to those who had been invited to the dinner. The slaves told them to come. But they refused.

4 “Then he sent some more slaves. He said, ‘Tell those who were invited that I have prepared my dinner. I have killed my oxen and my fattest cattle. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding dinner.’


MATTHEW 22

5 “But the people paid no attention. One went away to his field. Another went away to his business. 6 The rest grabbed his slaves. They treated them badly and then killed them. 7 The king became very angry. He sent his army to destroy them. They killed those murderers and burned their city.


MATTHEW 22

8 “Then the king said to his slaves, ‘The wedding dinner is ready. But those I invited were not fit to come. 9 So go to the street corners. Invite to the dinner anyone you can find.’ 10 So the slaves went out into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good. Soon the wedding hall was filled with guests.


MATTHEW 22

11 “The king came in to see the guests. He noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man couldn’t think of anything to say.

13 “Then the king told his slaves, ‘Tie up his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. Out there people will weep and grind their teeth.’

14 “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

A PLACE & A VOICEYOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE,

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

plenty of room at the table

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