TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00:00] Imperfect church filled with various people.
[00:04:21] “You can’t separate Jesus and the church.”
[00:06:47] Pain leads to withdrawal from community.
[00:13:07] American church challenges: which, minorities, margin, influence, opportunity.
[00:14:45] Call to Christ, city, world, and each other.
[00:20:49] Adjustment, persecution, scattering, faithfulness, cultural distinctives, discernment, courage.
[00:22:18] “Surrendering control and embracing Holy Spirit’s work.”
[00:28:43] Painful obedience leads to God’s work.
[00:30:14] God can see us through church challenges.
Q&A:
1. What are the two intertwined issues that Claude Alexander identifies?
A: The desire to separate Jesus from the church, and an unrealistic expectation of the church as a perfect product.
2. Is it possible to separate Jesus from the church?
A: Alexander believes it’s impossible to separate Jesus from the church because he is the head of the church and the church is what God leaves on earth.
3. What does Claude Alexander suggest about the early church?
A: Alexander suggests that the early church was far from perfect and in need of correction.
4. What is the church made up of, according to Claude Alexander?
A: The church is made up of people who are in the process of becoming.
5. What is the current state of the church in America?
A: The church in America is continuing to be divided and polarized.
6. What does Claude Alexander suggest needs to happen in churches to address the issue of marginalization?
A: He suggests those in marginalized groups should be given the authority to make decisions and lead.
7. What does Alexander say about the call to each other in Christian teaching?
A: The call to each other in Christian teaching includes both the current state and the desire to grow and become better.
8. What is an example of “painful obedience” mentioned in the New Testament?
A: The early apostles suffering at the hands of the Sanhedrin and others.
