This afternoon I will be heading down to attend and live-blog the True Church Conference at First Baptist Church Muscle Shoals. If I may, allow me to make some administrative comments and requests:
1. I am live-blogging this conference for you, yes you who are reading this right now. One of the great things about live-blogging is that it gives those who cannot attend an opportunity to participate in the conference from a distance. Therefore, let me welcome you and encourage you to comment on the posts. In all, there are twelve sessions, and I will try to cover each as best I can. I will also try to mention some other aspects which are not directly related to the sessions.
2. You can find all the photos I will be taking by going here, which is a set I created on my Flickr page. My photos will not be up immediately, but check back each day for new uploads.
3. If you are a reader of P&P or simply would like to meet up, please let me know. You will be able to find me in the auditorium in the balcony section where I will be pecking away. I have already heard via email and comments from several attending, but I just wanted to express my desire to fellowship with those of you interested.
4. Scott, the graphics design specialist at FBCMS, has been very kind to make a poster for my blog, and I thought I would put it here. I think he did a great job, and I am grateful for their generosity. Check it out:
5. If you would like to contact me, feel free to email to outpostministries[at]yahoo[dot]com.
Okay, now that I have got that out there, I want to kick things off by bringing the theme of this conference to you. If someone came up to you and asked you,
“How do you define a ‘True Church’?”,
what would you say? What characteristics are necessary for a church to be a “true church?” Let me know what you think.
See you in Alabama.
The true church is well described in the Scriptures. Today, it is the modern manifestation of those believers of old. It is a body of people (with all their issues) empowered by God’s Spirit who are experiencing real relationships with one another, and propagating such relationships. It is seasoned with love and wisdom. Christ is truly its head. It is not the organizations that call themselves churches that exist to propagate their organizations. They are more like dues paying social clubs. The true church is not a building and its life support system. The true church is honest and does not require manipulation of its members. The True Church is the body of true believers seeking after God’s purpose for their lives and an increase in His Kingdom. The true church knows its gifts and shares in love, as God leads.
Timmy, will you be posting all of the TCC posts into one category?
A true church? My response would be a body of believers that glorifies God as it upholds the Scriptures, builds up its members, and fulfills the great commandments as laid out by our Lord.
A rather simplistic answer, but one that I think sums up the fruit of a true church.
Matt and Andy,
Thanks for your thoughts.
Andy, to answer your question, all the posts will be found on here as well as on the Anchored in Truth website:
http://anchoredintruth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=18&Itemid=73
Once I blog all the sessions, I will provide some personal reflections as well as a summary and compilation post of everything up to that point. Looking forward to hanging out Sunday . . . 😉