Sunday Service - "From Closed Circles to Open Community"

As members of God’s Kingdom family, we are encouraged to welcome others just as Christ welcomes us. In the second part of the “Built to Belong” series, titled “From Closed Circles to Open Community,” Senior Pastor Travis Tullis discusses the concept of Kingdom Culture, highlighting the central Priest Lake Promise. This promise includes the WWL (Welcome, Work, Love) action step: “Because God Welcomes Me, I Will Welcome You; Because God Works with Me, I Will Work with You; Because God Loves Me, I Will Love You.” Key scripture passages for this message are Romans 15:7, Acts 2:46-47, and James 2:4.

Romans 15:7 reminds us that just as Christ welcomed us before beginning His work in us, we are called to receive one another in the same welcoming way. Romans 15:7 states, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” This aligns with biblical truth and love, allowing the community of faith to see the unseen.

By taking a closer look at the unseen, we can conclude that closed groups are not always created by unkind people; often, they're formed by individuals who feel comfortable with each other. As a result, churches today sometimes lack the spirit found in Acts 2:46–47, which represents biblical Kingdom Culture. These scriptures highlight values such as togetherness, sharing of meals, and joyful spiritual connections, all of which encourage ongoing growth as new people are continually welcomed into the community of faith.

Thank you, Senior Pastor Tullis, for leading us forward and higher together, and for reminding us that we must become fruitful image bearers to fulfill God’s original plan by knowing how to welcome others into His Kingdom.