This week on Cultivate, we dove into the rich history and diversity of the church in our ongoing ecclesiology series. Charlie and Abigail traced the journey from the early church in Acts, through the rise of structures like bishops and councils, all the way to the denominational splits that shape our Christian landscape today. We examined how gatherings shifted from small groups of believers following Jesus to established institutions, discussing moments like the rise of the Pope, the Great Schism, and the Protestant Reformation. Biblical passages from Acts and letters to Timothy helped ground our conversation about church roles like elders, deacons, and pastors. Along the way, we considered why these structures matter—not just as history lessons, but for how we relate to Christianity and community today. Whether you’re curious about denominations or what it means to belong to "the church," this episode offers helpful context to reflect on your own connection with God’s people. Take time to consider where you see yourself in the unfolding story of the church.

This week in our Unity series, we discussed what it really means to live as citizens of God’s kingdom—together. Guest speaker Mark guided us through Matthew’s gospel, highlighting Jesus’ teaching on the “kingdom of heaven” and why our primary allegiance is to Christ, not ourselves or our smaller circles. Mark shared stories from his own ministry and explored how, even in moments of conflict or difference, the call of Jesus is to gather and unify, not to scatter. We considered how phrases like “kingdom” and “unity” connect to our modern lives, where individualism often wins out over togetherness. Mark challenged us to seek unity as an identifying mark of following King Jesus, looking for what we share in Christ rather than what separates us. No matter our background or differences, being part of God’s global family shapes the way we love, serve, and connect. Reflect this week on how you can be a “gatherer”—bringing others in and letting kingdom unity shape your everyday life.

Questions:

1. In what way is thinking of Jesus as KING different than how you normally picture Him?

2. What about the idea of ONE KINGDOM is helpful in our pursuit of unity?

3. What does it look like to be a gatherer instead of a scatterer?

4. When are you most tempted (like the disciples in Mark9) to disapprove of someone that Jesus approves?

5. What would it look like for you to actively embrace citizens of the KINGDOM in distant places?

6. What other steps are you encouraged to take as a result of this series?

This week on Cultivate, we continued our deep dive into ecclesiology—the study of what it means to be the church. Charlie and Abigail tackled some big questions: What really defines a local church? How do biblical principles guide our methods and traditions? Pulling from passages like Matthew 28:19–20, Ephesians 4:11–13, and Acts 2:42, we explored how baptism, teaching, fellowship, and serving are central to the church’s mission. The conversation also addressed how different structures and traditions develop, and how we can hold to core biblical truths while staying flexible about non-essential details, like service formats or leadership roles. If you’ve ever wondered why churches do what they do—or wrestled with the difference between core theology and church customs—this episode is for you. We invite you to reflect on how the church’s mission shows up in your own life, and to join us in looking for ways to live out faith in community, wherever you are.