In case you missed part one: Crafting Definitions.

In preparation for sermons, I often craft personal definitions. I do this in an effort to exposit the word of God and make things “rememberable” for the people of my congregation. I’m regularly asked to send along my definitions in print. This leads me to share a few more of my favorite definitions:

Church: People with different backgrounds and upbringings, warts and scars, bumps and bruises, victories and triumphs united by the Savior – Jesus Christ.  

Local church: Those who have publicly professed faith in Jesus Christ, followed public profession of faith with biblical baptism, and submitted to the church’s discipleship and leadership. 

Christian Community: People committed to relationship and partnership due to impact of Jesus Christ.

Test of Christian Community: If you did something unChristlike this week, do you have someone in your life who would call you out on it?

Hope: The space between a God-given promise delivered and a God-given promise fulfilled.