Owl #6 Series

Herein lies the larger motive in espousing the Coracle as the greater vehicle to reach a culture that is seemingly more and more divided. The Coracle is a group with a dynamic sense of place and mission. They are as different as the people who lead them and in the parts of the world God has sent them. This is the power of the small and diaspora or scattered. We, at the Center, recognize the coracles as sent to places the western version of ‘Church” can never go. They are not held captive by what was but motivated by what could be. They are able to be more flexible and creative. They are better at adapting to their environment and translating the good news of Jesus in ways only those trusted could.

The “Church” was born at Pentecost. A time in which true unity between God and his people began along with His power so as to convey the message to every tribe and tongue in ways they could understand. God uses the ordinary in ways some believe are crazy. Remember the reaction of the crowd when the Holy Spirit swooped through the town. The non-believers claimed the Christians were drunk. However, God knew the power of hearing the good news in one’s own language. That power is what we harness in the coracle ideal.

Let me stress, the coracle is not a small group. It is a small ingenious way to share the gospel in ways subcultures can experience and begin to understand. It’s often said Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Each with its own distinctive. These distinctives when cherished offer unique opportunities to share Jesus. The coracle serves as a strategic initiative to engage the non believing community with God’s Word. It is the Kingdom of God coming down with power to break into the human palaces of our world. The coracle is a decentralized form of the ‘Church’ designed to confront evil, reach every person and transform our society.

The coracle makes it easier to see the needs of the hungry and do something. It makes it easy to see those who need shelter, jobs, education or even healthcare in our neighborhoods and do something. It allows us to see the pain of those addicted, abused, mentally ill or stigmatized so we can do something. The coracle gives permission for the body of the church, its people, to act. We are more powerful than we have ever imagined when we act in His name.

When Jesus said to Peter, “You Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hade will not overcome it.” (Matt 16:18)

He had in mind a church so engaged and dispersed that it could and would make disciples of every nation through ushering in justice, dignity and life via those willing to enter the cosmic battle taking place all around us!

As Paul said in the letter to the Romans: For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)

I know what some of you are thinking, nice word pastor, but I don’t feel competent enough. Do you think those 12 knuckles who sat around the last supper table thought they knew enough? If you’ve been a Christian for more than three years, you’re ready. Let me tell you how. If you honestly are open minded enough to follow the Spirit’s leading and willing enough to try, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit will equip, guide and provide for your mission. I am serious. Those young men who followed Jesus didn’t have anything that you don't. In fact, I could argue you have more because you have education, the bible, stories of thousands of miracles and even our support to stay encouraged.