Collaborative Church?

Collaborative church — a gathering of Christ-followers where everyday people collaborate with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ by sharing testimonies, prayer requests, gifts of the Spirit, encouraging words, Scriptures, songs, exhortations, etc., as prompted by the Holy Spirit; resulting in cooperative learning, spiritual growth, an overwhelming sense of God’s presence.Collaborative Church?

Collaborative church happens when Christ-followers gather together under the actual and direct leadership of the living Christ.  Collaborative church teaches trust. We learn to:
1) Trust the heart-promptings of the Holy Spirit;
2) Trust the Holy Spirit’s ability to personally lead and direct a meeting; and
3) Trust one another as we see ordinary people share and shine forth in God’s beauty.

If God can keep your heart beating without your help.
If He can keep you breathing without your following a breath-by-breath program.
–Then God can lead a church service without human help or programming!

Perhaps churches are called to be Jesus-centered (not pastor-centered) communities that empower & make disciples of all believers, not just a “select few”!

General André Cox, international leader of The Salvation Army) speaks out for Jesus-centered, collaborative church:
–“As Salvationists (soldiers of The Salvation Army), we are keenly aware that our places of Christian worship are not retreats from the world for a select few. Rather, they are bridgeheads of God’s Kingdom into the world – Jesus-centered, grace-filled communities serving others selflessly. Our churches are places in which Christ’s disciples can be resourced, empowered and enabled to fulfill the Great Commission – in word and in deed.” –General André Cox (speaking with Pope Frances at the Vatican in 2014.)

(The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee, 37207, practices collaborative church every Sunday morning at 10:45.  Check it out.)