SELAH Commonwealth

In this week's training, we continue our journey in Ephesians 4 as we explore the five gifts that Jesus has given his church. These gifts come to us in the form of people. People are the gifts. Everyone has specific gifts given to them by Jesus for the serving of others so that we might all become more like Jesus, experience the fullness of God's presence, and together participate in his ongoing m...

Scripture: John 13:1-15 Jesus makes it clear that one of the most fundamental characteristics of his counter-cultural Kingdom community is radical and sacrificial service to one another. This requires us to put aside our egos and give up our incessant need to prove ourselves. It requires us to stoop low and lovingly serve one another no matter the cost.

Over the next couple of months, we will be exploring Ephesians 4 and its profound implications for us as Jesus followers. As we begin this journey, we find right away that Jesus has designed his church with great intentionality. It is to be a community in which each person has a unique and irreplaceable role to play in God's ongoing work in our midst.  Special thanks to Alan Hirsch. J.R. Woodward,...

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-12, Exodus 19:3-6 Throughout the story of Scripture, God's people are called, not to separate from the world, but to live as a distinct community in the midst of the world. This is key to our role as the representatives of God here on Earth. The call to distinctness began with the people of Israel after their Exodus from Egypt and has continued in the life of Jesus' Church....

In this episode, we talk with Foye about the "how-tos" of spiritual mentoring. Whether you have a mentor, are a mentor, or are seeking out a mentoring relationship, this conversation will give you some practical next steps for the journey!   

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35 Easter 2024

In this episode, we hear from one of our microchurches! Over the past year, the Nichols and Mims have been creating a safe and encouraging community for medical students, medical professionals, and their neighbors! They set a great example on what it looks like to partner together around a common passion and mission!  Our All-Family Gatherings begin with a short training on microchurches and missi...

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17,21-22  In community, one thing is certain: You will face conflict. And how you deal with conflict says a lot about what you believe about community. Unfortunately, most of us avoid conflict or respond in ways that only make matters worse. The good news is Jesus invites us to view conflict, not a threat to be avoided, but as a gift to be embraced. Through conflict, we ha...

Fr. Foye is back! In this episode, we talk about the importance of the mentoring relationship in our faith journey. We all need those who have gone before us to share life, wisdom, and guidance with us. Whether you have a mentor, are a mentor, or never knew you needed one, we hope this conversation will be both an encouragement and a challenge to you!   

"Make your home in me, as I make my home in you." Set before us is the greatest invitation ever given. And it is an invitation Jesus extends to each of us every day of our lives.  So why do so few seem to experience God's ongoing presence in the everyday stuff of life? And is there any hope for us in the age of streaming services, social media, and the iPhone?  We've got some good news. Special th...

In this episode, we hear from one of our microchurches! Over the past year, Common Soil have been building relationships and creating space for mutual care and blessing amongst their neighbors. Our All-Family Gatherings begin with a short training on microchurches and missional living followed by table discussions. During this training, we hear from our friends of Common Soil. Check out what God i...

There is a kind of community that our soul longs for; a kind of community we were created for. We see reflections of it in the stories we tell and the movies we make. We read about it in anthropology, see it in human history, find it in the scriptures, watch it in the early church, and hear about it in places like Africa, China and the Middle East. So why is it so hard to find in the modern Americ...

Conversations around the church and money can bring up a lot strong emotions. For many people, this topic is characterized by a seemingly endless stream of stories about misuse, abuse, and greed. For that reason, it is easy to avoid the conversation altogether. However, as followers of Jesus, avoidance is not an option. Jesus talks about money constantly and has a very clear vision for how his fol...

Scripture: Genesis 2-4 We all deeply long to experience authentic community, but the reality is: community is hard! It is easier to settle for some counterfeit form of community that is far less than what Jesus has for us. For that reason, it is important that we truly understand Jesus' vision for community - what it is and what it isn't, the cost and the reward - so that we can experience it in o...

Scripture: John 17:20-26 We all deeply long to experience authentic community, but the reality is: community is hard! It is easier to settle for some counterfeit form of community that is far less than what Jesus has for us. For that reason, it is important that we truly understand Jesus' vision for community - what it is and what it isn't, the cost and the reward - so that we can experience it in...

Scripture: Matthew 12:46-50 We all deeply long to experience authentic community, but the reality is: community is hard! It is easier to settle for some counterfeit form of community that is far less than what Jesus has for us. For that reason, it is important that we truly understand Jesus' vision for community - what it is and what it isn't, the cost and the reward - so that we can experience it...

What was it about Jesus that made him attractive to some and despised by others? What was it about Jesus that made sinners want to be with him and the religious want to kill him? The answer is found in the invitational and challenging way that Jesus approached people. This created a community that was both uniquely safe and dangerous. While these things seem paradoxical the reality is that discipl...

One of our core values is "Called & Capable". We believe that every person is uniquely called and equipped by God to discern and step into that calling. Therefore, the question every disciple of Jesus must be able to answer is: To what or to whom have a been called? One of the first steps to discerning your calling is to define and understand your context. Our All-Family Gatherings begin with...

On the first pages of the Bible, we see that God created us for relationship. Relationship with God and with one another. God's vision for life is that it would a shared journey, and we cannot experience the life He has for us without intimate and vulnerable relationships with others. At a time of increasing loneliness and isolation, we need this value more than ever.  We are currently processing...

Part of our great adventure in following Jesus is growing in our awareness of how God has uniquely created us and what he has created us to do, and then, living into that calling. When a Jesus-community understands and steps into their unique callings, it is less like a one-man-show, but more like a powerful symphony of believers glorifying God with their collective lives.  We are currently proces...

One of our core values is "Called & Capable". We believe that every person is uniquely called and adequately equipped by God to discern and step into that calling. Therefore, the question every disciple of Jesus must be able to answer is: To what or to whom have a been called? One of the first steps to discerning your calling is to define and understand your context. Our All-Family Gatherings...

Throughout the history of the Church, the Church has been known for their radical care for the poor and the vulnerable. One of God's greatest desires for his people from the beginning was that they would protect and lift up those who were at the bottom of the societal hierarchy. We see that Jesus places justice and care for the poor at the forefront of His ministry. Therefore, if we are to truly c...

One of our core values is "Called & Capable". We believe that every person is uniquely called and adequately equipped by God to discern and step into that calling. Therefore, the question every disciple of Jesus must be able to answer is: To what or to whom have a been called? One of the first steps to discerning your calling is to define and understand your context. Our All-Family Gatherings...

When Jesus was asked about God's vision for human life, his response was to love God with all your being and to love your neighbor as yourself. The love that Jesus is talking about is not like the love of the world. It is not a love that takes but a love that gives freely and flows out of the love received from the Father. Therefore, those who follow Jesus ought to be know by this sort of love. We...

One of our core values is "Called & Capable". We believe that every person is uniquely called and adequately equipped by God to discern and step into that calling. Therefore, the question every disciple of Jesus must be able to answer is: To what or to whom have a been called? One of the first steps to discerning your calling is to define and understand your context. Our All-Family Gatherings...