Our church is embarking on a new journey called Ecclesia. It is a nine month session of working with our pastor on better ourselves and our walk with Jesus and our involvement in the church. It is a strong commitment to make, but Aaron and I are seriously considering it. I feel like if we don't do it, we will be sitting stagnant and not really growing much in our walk with Christ. I was ready to walk out of church last Sunday because Stinky Face was crying in the nursery and I felt like I couldn't get anything out of church. By the end of service I realized that Ecclesia is something I can definitely use at this point in my life.
Some of the requirements are $250 fee for all of the material and a retreat that we will be required to go on, if you miss more than 2 meetings you are automatically out, you should read through the New Testament twice (that's recommended but not required), you will be involved in some area of service at church (we already lead a small group and I might be joining the kid's on course choir soon), you must commit to one date night a month with your spouse and there are a few other requirements.
When I think about all of the responsibility that comes with this, I think about 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 that says, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
That is the whole point of Ecclesia; to build us up to be soldiers for Christ who will be better equipped to go out and share the gospel with others! The more I think about this, the more I feel like it's something I don't want to miss out on! I know the commitment is immense, but my reward will be an eternal crown!
