A Church Of Seven

What if there was only seven people that gathered as the church? Would seven be enough? Would Jesus still show up? Would Jesus still care? Would grace still appear? Would deep worship take place? Would an awe settle in? Would lives be changed? Would transformation happen? Would healing be present in hearts? Would the good news still be heard, lived, and experienced? Would Jesus and his way still be followed?  What if only seven gathered?

What if only seven people met as the church? Would Jesus still have died? Would God turned an ear? The Holy Spirit, would she reveal herself in flames and tongues once more? Would the atonement of all mankind still have happened if only seven ever listened and gathered? Would it? Would seven be enough?

I think it would be because all I know is a few nights ago seven of us met in a living room and experienced healing, and love, and God, and grace, and joy, and companionship, and brotherhood, and celebration, and a deep sense of awe like few of us have before.

It was a casual evening for our Thrive group as we were simply sharing a meal and catching up on each other’s lives a bit. To be honest I was just looking forward to the fellowship of some friends I hadn’t seen for a while (we are taking a break for the holidays until January). As the seven of us trickled in we clumped together to enjoy fellowship—some outside around the barbecuing tri-tip, some inside around the mashing of garlic potatoes, some just lounging at the breakfast bar enjoying wine. As the meal prep was finishing up a couple of us gathered around the table and a discussion of forgiveness and the atonement ensued. Some talked, others listened. The meal was placed on the table, someone quoted scripture from memory for our prayer and we ate and celebrated and laughed.

After dinner we cleaned up and I sat on the couch. I was a bit tired and sore so I mostly observed a conversation between two men about the issues going on in one of the man’s life. I was extremely blessed by simply listening to the honest and heart-felt dialogue/ministry taking place. Soon we were all gathered in the living room. The plan was to do an extended check in to see where each man was at and then watch a clip from the movie, The Mission. But God had other plans. It seemed as if one man in particular was heavily troubled. We asked him about it and he just opened up. Each man listened and when prompted by the Spirit offered council or asked a question or simply continued listening, quietly showing support. The Spirit’s presence and wisdom was clearly felt. We then circled around the man, laid our hands on him and prayed for him. The quietness after the prayer hung in the air like a light mist.

Our casual Thrive meal lasted nearly 4-hours as each man said their goodbyes and trickled back out the door. I and another were the last to leave and we spent a good ten minutes standing in the cold air by my Jeep recalling the night and the deep sense of awe we were feeling. I quietly drove home with no radio and let the evening sink into my heart.

Would seven be enough?

That evening God seemed to shout a resounding, Yes!