God wants to govern people from the inside out. “The kingdom of God is within you.” The Christian life is about realigning your life to Christ’s inner government– the kingdom of God.

We can’t “quench the Spirit” and “be led by the Spirit” at the same time. At any moment, we are either doing one or the other.

Christ doesn’t give us a menu to choose a religious entertainment venue. He gives us a calling to: “Come and follow Me.” When Christians meet to be fully surrendered to Jesus, and led by the Spirit, the kingdom of God begins to manifest. For a meeting to be “led by the Spirit,” requires the surrender of human control and agendas. We need freedom to obey the Spirit.

Church began when the Spirit-led movement known as “the Way,” began to shift into an institutionalized organization. Jesus says, “Follow Me.” If we aren’t actively functioning as a Christ-follower, we’ve abandoned biblical Christianity.

Early Christianity was consumed with commitment to Christ. Contemporary Western Christianity seems compromised and casual. Jesus is present in the 21st century. There’s no need to go thru a religious organization to connect with Him. Call on Jesus now!

When churches exalt pastors and guest speakers, they create passivity and a sense of inferiority in the rest of God’s people. Pastor isn’t an office any more than golfer is an office. They both refer to people who engage in a particular activity.

You be a pastor (shepherd). Help someone grow in the Lord through your encouragement, caring, listening, and walking with them. If you disciple, coach, or encourage one or more people in the Lord, you are a pastor (whether you are paid for it or not). I’ve been much more effectively pastored (discipled) by ordinary Christ-followers than by official pastors.

The Bible never says that a pastor is the leader of a church, but one of five gifts or functions in the body of Christ (Eph. 4). When you learn to feed yourself spiritually and not be dependent on sermons, Christianity becomes thrilling!

It’s popular today to self-identify, but Jesus calls His followers to, “Deny yourself.”

The Protestant Reformation recognized that the Bible sees all Christ-followers (men and women) as priests. Why settle for less? If you’re missing out on the amazing, day-to-day joy of Christianity, search for: The Joy Of Early Christianity book.