1. ?

2. 1 Peter 2.4-5
Come to him, a living stone and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house.
Ephesians
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God . . .with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord

3. “Old Adam is drowned in the waters of baptism – but he’s a mighty good swimmer.”
(Martin Luther, )

4. Materialism / consumerism Hedonism / pleasure Individualism / marbles
Western culture today
Materialism / consumerism
Hedonism / pleasure
Individualism / marbles

5. Paul Hibbert, Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008
Modern focus on the individual, in contrast to earlier, inclusive, strong-group societies. Today ‘social groups are fluid and less important than the individual.’
Social groups now operate as clubs. ‘The social glue holding clubs together is weak because group loyalties are based on personal interests.’
‘Modern Christians tend to organize their churches the same way they organize corporate action in other areas of their lives. Consequently, many churches are religious clubs.’
‘People join by personal choice and are free to leave if the church no longer meets their needs. Their primary reason for joining is to get something personally out of participation, not because members have a lasting commitment to others in the congregation.’

6. We together are the body of Christ: How then shall we live?
Everyone (YES, EVERYONE) is included
We seek the common good (the good of others)
We make harmony/unity an extremely high priority
All God’s children have a place in the choir.
No one is left behind