Consecrate me upon Golgotha, from the height of Your Cross, as You consecrated Your Beloved Disciple John. Remit my life, as You remitted John to Your Mother. Grant that I may take her to my own home, to be with me and within me, for she is the living evidence of true consecration and of Your Presence. Grant me to bear Your Presence to others.
I will tell you by what Christian ministry should be measured: our willingness to die to the world. If you have truly died to the world and taken Christ into your heart, be certain that your service can never fail, but will rather continue to shine from generation to generation.
Viewing authority in the church in light of koinonia quickly dispels any perception of domination or authoritative rule in the worldly sense. Instead, authority in the church begins to be seen as a reflection of God’s communion with the world in Christ.
Many churches around the world have limited gatherings at their parishes to the core liturgical services, meaning that Sunday School, Youth Meetings, Bible Studies, sporting events and other activities are cancelled. Understandably there is a sense of worry that children, teenagers and youth will miss out on all these services for at least the coming weeks. However, this is also a great opportunity to take stock of what we see as the core or central activities of the church.