The local church is the expression on earth of the household of Heaven. This is where God makes Himself known as the God who is with us, among us, connecting believers who are living their Kingdom lives alongside one another.

In the church, we have the enlarging opportunity to honor perspectives beyond our own: from other nations and continents, from other social and economic groups, from those who look like us and those who don’t. We are shaped and challenged by each other to grow and strengthen in the wisdom of the Word of God. We find sweet agreement as we are each led by Holy Spirit.

Whether just two or three believers meet, or many, this is where the Body of Christ displays love, compassion, forgiveness as a spiritual family. We pray for each other, share meals together, encourage one another. We resist the selfish urges to reject, criticize, and envy. This is because the Church is the House of God, the ‘ecclesia’: the called-out ones, the Lord’s gathering, the Body of Christ.

The keys of the Kingdom of God for binding and loosing are given to the Church. This strategic assignment can unlock an infinite number of heavenly solutions to any of the world’s greatest problems. We are entrusted with this powerful responsibility, and He is among us to bring it to reality.

Everyone is included in the invitation to be part of the Body of Christ, to grow into maturity, to experience “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” in loving and being loved, being strengthened and sent out to serve, and being transformed by our God who is among us.