Nupedia was an online encyclopedia idea launched in 2000 that most people have never even heard of. The best and brightest doctors, historians and professors were recruited to write scholarly articles that were filtered through an extensive editing process. Very few elite professionals were allowed in making the project extremely slow and inefficient. A mere twenty four articles were published over three years before the idea was abandoned all together.
Another idea was emerging almost simultaneously. In 2001 an online information feeder system was created. Average, ordinary people were encouraged to submit articles to an online editorial staff. In just one year 20,000 “wiki” articles had been submitted for consideration. 10 years later Wikipedia was the largest online encyclopedia with more than 17 million articles.
Trusting ordinary individuals to work on articles pertaining to topics they were passionate about changed everything.
The book of Acts describes Wikipedia Christianity.
WIKIPEDIA CHURCH:
God is transforming the church of our generation from a room full of consumers who listen to a minister into a room full of ministers who listen to God.
God is removing confining control from the hands of the elite ministry professionals so he can and put it in the hands of ordinary people who carry powerfully transforming gifts from a uniquely them perspective.
You are uniquely equipped by God for powerful personal ministry in your everyday life that flows from your own God-given design.
Some relationships in your life will have grace and favor on purpose.
Focus on personal ministry to people as you search for grace and follow the favor God is providing to show you the way.
Jesus is the Master at converting that which is mundane into something meaningful, but it does require sacrifice.
Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world…
When we invite Jesus to a table it becomes an altar and our lives become the offering. Biblical hospitality is a powerful tool for ministry. An invitation to Biblical hospitality might be the most compelling and irresistible aspect of Christianity.
In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul is speaking to Christians who live in the Gentile, Roman culture of dominance. Christianity was born in the Roman Empire. Jesus was executed by Roman authorities in Jerusalem, a city in a Roman province.
Jews were thirsty to hear of the greater dominance of God yet the theme is love, invitation and inclusion. We are not guests in the house of God. We are family at the table of the Lord. What God has freely and sacrificially through his Son given to us we are responsible to provide to others freely and sacrificially.
Domination of human authority will never overtake the Kingdom of God. God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of unstoppable love.
Romans 12:9-16 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor… 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly… ESV
Loving people or a person the world sees as unlovable is very enriching. Purposing to spend time with someone to get to know them may surprise you just how much it will minister to you.
The sending of the church to spread the good news of the gospel often crosses cultural and social boundaries.
In the post-Pentecost church of the New Testament, hospitality was central to the message of the love of Jesus.
Christians consistently cared for the deepest needs in society. Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in Rome and this mobilized Christians to openly and legally care for the needs of people in society. The love of Jesus was spreading like wildfire.
Twenty five years after Constantine’s death Emperor Julian decided to return the Roman Empire to paganism. He began to fund the construction of pagan temples and pagan worship, but the culture wasn’t shifting for him. He wrote in a letter complaining, “These Galileans support not only their poor, but ours as well.” He goes on to say how difficult it would be to get control of society when Christians have been so generous.
Early Christians understood their role was to actively establish God’s Kingdom of love and compassion in the earth.
We live in a society that has tried to tame Christianity into a self-serving religion. In doing so we have fostered confusion rather than compassion.
Finding the beauty of hospitality is essential. Hospitality is people centered. This is an attitude of loving God by loving people.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Look for grace and favor in conversations you’re having this week. Follow the favor, purposing to invite one person into a deeper conversation.
THE TABLE: WIKIPEDIA CHURCH
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: A shared meal could be the activity most closely tied to the reality of God’s kingdom, just as it is the most basic expression of hospitality. It comes as no surprise that many significant
stories of Jesus are centered around a dinner table.
When Jesus wanted to explain to his disciples what his death was all about, he didn’t give them an informative lecture. He gave them a relational meal.
In a society that has grown so relationally disconnected, an invitation to Biblical hospitality might be one of the most compelling and irresistible aspects of Christianity. The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It’s about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.
God’s plan is for us to hear his voice together as a family. This is why we start each group with the first question:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses. Don’t move on to the next question until everybody who is willing to share has had the opportunity to give their perspective.
ROMANS 12:1-16 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world…
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly… ESV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Have each person give a 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, in their own words.
3. What do these verses teach us about God?
4. What do these verses teach us about people?
5. What should you do this week in response to what we are reading and what God is revealing?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Look for grace and favor in conversations you’re having this week. Follow the favor purposing to invite one
person into a deeper conversation.