Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today, I want to take us on a journey back to the roots of our faith, back to the early church as described in the Acts of the Apostles, and to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 2:42-47, we see a vibrant, dynamic community of believers. "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... All the believers were together and had everything in common." They didn't gather in rigid rows and columns, like soldiers on parade. Instead, they came together in a loose, inclusive circle, each person valued, each voice heard. They were active participants, not passive listeners. They were a community, not an audience. This is the model of church that we see in the Bible. It's a model that values dialogue over monologue, participation over observation, community over hierarchy. It's a model that reflects the teachings and the example of Jesus. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, did not command his followers from a lofty stage. He didn't speak down to them as a dictator. Instead, he sat among them, speaking in parables that invited thought and discussion. As we see in Matthew 13:10-13, Jesus used parables to engage his followers in a deeper understanding of God's kingdom. He encouraged his followers to form their own opinions, to question, to contribute. He valued their voices, their insights, their experiences. This is the model of leadership that we see in Jesus. It's a model that values humility over authority, service over power, love over law. As Jesus himself said in Mark 10:43-45, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." It's a model that reflects the heart of God. Sadly, many churches today have strayed from this biblical model. They have adopted a more hierarchical structure, with a pastor who preaches from a stage, often without much interaction or response from the congregation. This is not the model we see in the Bible. This is not the model we see in Jesus. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to reconsider this approach. Let's return to the roots of our faith. Let's return to the model of the early church, to the model of Jesus. Let's create a church that values community over hierarchy, dialogue over monologue, participation over observation. Let's create a church where everyone is encouraged to speak up, to contribute, to participate. Let's create a church where the leader is not a commanding figure but a humble servant, a facilitator who works behind the scenes to support and empower the community. This is the church that Jesus envisioned. This is the church that we are called to be. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:25-27, "there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other... Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." Let's strive to make this vision a reality. Let's strive to be a true community of believers, united in our love for God and for each other. May God bless us as we embark on this journey together. Amen.