Ah... fresh starts. It feels good to be at the verge of something new. As we close the book on "Faith & Life" we begin a new chapter entitled, "The Kingdom of Couches." It follows the course of a book by the same name, which we will be using as the basis of our discussions over the coming weeks. The book's subtitle is "Fighting for Communal Faith in an Individual Age" and is truly the first book I have found that strikes a chord with me on this subject of 'spiritual life together.'

We're on this journey together, yet many times we find ourselves holed off in one corner with our Bible, perhaps a good Christian book, praying to ourselves (that is 'by' ourselves to God), treating discipleship as if it were purely an individual affair - and many times totally void of any kind of meaningful spiritual connection & relationship with others. Our faith is a communal faith - grounded and rooted deep in the Body of Christ with Kingdom intentions.

I'd invite any of you who are readers to join me on this journey. The book is not a necessity - just a welcome deepening of the topics we will be addressing on Sundays. You can find out more about the book, including where to purchase it online, on its website: www.kingdomofcouches.com. If you want a sampling, download and read the sample chapter that's available on the site. Here's a glimpse - see you on the journey!

"That people learn best in community is not a novel concept, but it stands in contrast to the predominant models of discipleship today. Most people approach discipleship individually and privately. We read the Bible alone. We pray alone. We share our faith alone. Sometimes we confess sin to people, but only in controlled environments like accountability groups. Even among hundreds or thousands of people at church, it is possible not to talk to anyone. If we pursue life with Christ on our own, we are largely confined to our version of the story.

A major consequence of this privatized faith is that our discipleship becomes academic — a collection of facts — and our personal faith does not find consistent expression in the public activities and relationships of our day-to-day lives. Faith is not simply separated from works but life in general. What growth and change we do experience is often little more than self-help. I am not against bettering ourselves. I just think that Jesus intends our personal growth to benefit others as much as ourselves."