The way ahead in the 21st Century is no yellow brick road. It is a dangerous wilderness and we Christ-followers need to cast aside our comfort zone, come out of our church customs, and cut a new trail — following and obeying the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

To do so we need the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of Gideon and his army, the radicalism of John the Baptist, and the holy lifestyle and anointing of the 1st Century church.  It’s time! If not now, when? If not you, who?

Perhaps we will begin to blaze a new trail when we learn that church is a team of believers learning together to listen to and obey the leadership of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.  “In a team setting, leadership is shared by a community of people, which counters the tendency for pastors to form congregations in their own images.” ―Adam S. McHugh

Perhaps church should be about:
* Changing our heart condition rather than sticking with the same ole traditions;
* Spirit-led sharing and heart-felt caring;
* Freedom from sin and beginning again;
* Spiritual interaction rather than passive inaction;
* Obeying Jesus rather than just wanting Jesus to please us.

When we hang out with close friends and/or close family members, we like to be our unprogrammed, spontaneous self.  Jesus says that we are His close friends and family. So when we hang out with Him on Sunday mornings, why aren’t we unprogrammed and spontaneous?

The word “overseer” (“episkopos” in Greek and sometimes translated as “bishop” in English ) is used in the New Testament to describe church leadership. Overseers are servant leaders rather than authoritarian leaders.

Football and basketball officials are a good example of overseers. They humbly stay to the side, watching over the game as servants to the players and only taking control when necessary; rather than continually directing or controlling the game according to a prearranged program.