PBPC Announcements

PBPC Family Chapter 5: The Church's Mission ( from Sailboat Church) All churches, whether large or small, "has a part to play in God's work for the sake of the world." With that in mind, it is important for each individual church to "discern how God wants to partner with it and then work with God to carry out that call." It's both that simple and that difficult. In this chapter, the author provides a few avenues for congregations to consider as they prayerfully discern God's call. Proclaim the Good News. "Church is the place where good news is preserved, celebrated, taught, preached, and broadcast to all the world." Demonstrate God's Reign. "An important part of the purpose of the church is to be a place where people can experience something of God's reign in the world right now. Our way of life demonstrates God's intention for humanity and for the future of the world." Invite People into Relationship with God . ...

PBPC Family, Chapter 4: Our Boat, the Church This chapter focused on the history and mystery of the church. To put it simply, "the church is a divine, even supernatural, community gathered by God to do God's work." It can often take great faith to see the church in this light, as sin and brokenness loom large. But the church does not exist because of us; it comes from Christ. Jesus Christ is not only the author and perfecter of our faith, he also created the church. As Joan Gray writes, "Jesus gave birth to the church. He is the captain of our Sailboat. His cross is it's mast. He calls believers to live as sailors, setting sail by the Spirit and navigating the flow of God's will." When we forget this truth, we fall short of our calling. We can slide into thinking our existence is "to serve the personal religious and social needs of [our] members." But "Scripture teaches us that the resources of Jesus, his Abba, and the Holy Spirit are a...

PBPC Family, Chapter 3: The Wind One of the essential marks of a sailboat church is one that "catches the wind of God's Spirit." To become a sailboat church, it is imperative that we understand who the Holy Spirit is and how the Spirit works in God's redemptive plan and in the life of the church. The Spirit, though mysterious, is clearly seen throughout the whole biblical narrative. The Spirit is present at the beginning of time, creating and sustaining life. The Spirit fills and empowers Jesus in his ministry. The work of the Spirit culminates in the church. The Spirit creates and sustains the church, filling and empowering them to participate in God's redemptive work. For the first Christians, and for us today, the Spirit does for us what we cannot do by ourselves. The Spirit is the one who draws us together, when so many things seek to tear us apart. The Spirit paves a path forward when it seems there is no way to go. Can you think of a moment in your life...

PBPC Family On Sunday, we discussed Chapter 3, "The Sailing Life" of Sailboat Church . Chris Adams aptly named it, "The 10 Commandments of a Sailboat Church." The author laid out ten attitudes and practices of sailboat churches. Sailboat churches experience church as a divine-human partnership . These churches know "that the essence of church is participating in a dynamic, interactive process with a living God. Sailboat churches make nurturing relationship with Jesus Christ a top priority. These churches "believe helping people grow as active Christ followers is the first priority. No amount of work, skill, money, intelligence, or charm can take the place of abiding relationship with [Jesus Christ]." Sailboat churches are Holy Spirit powered . These churches are "always seeking a deeper, obedient intimacy with the Spirit of God." Sailboat churches live by prayer. These churches know "God has chosen prayer as a major means by which the ...