A City on a Hill

Our Journey as a Church

Over the past decades, our church has changed significantly in how it relates to the world. Many of us remember a time when congregational life was more insular. Membership grew through family ties and close attachments. Conformity was highly valued, and often a few families could dominate a congregation. This closeness gave a strong sense of belonging, stability in times of upheaval, and a shared identity.

But a closed circle cannot last forever. Generational change requires openness. The Holy Spirit directed us to step outward. District Apostles through the years each contributed to this shift:

• Overseas missions expanded our horizon.
• We learned to deepen our faith, to engage society without fear, and to open new spaces like small groups.
• Slowly, we developed the ability to act as Christian disciples not only within our congregations but in our daily environment.

Today, this journey continues. With new challenges such as migration and asylum seekers joining our congregations, we are equipped to welcome, adapt, and shine God’s light more broadly than ever.

Lessons from the Early Church

The early Christians faced similar transitions. What began as a small Jewish group of 120 believers (Acts 1:15) grew to nearly 30 million by the time of Emperor Constantine. How did this happen?

• They lived communally at first, but did not stay tribal.
• They welcomed all—Jews, Greeks, pagans—without requiring ethnic identity markers.
• They served their communities during plagues and crises, often at great personal cost.

As the historian Rodney Stark notes, Christian care during epidemics drastically increased survival rates. Pagans fled, but Christians stayed, cared, and bore witness to Christ’s love. This was not about power or politics but about faithfully serving their neighbors. Their quiet, consistent witness became a force the empire could not ignore.

Serving in the Earthly City

Scripture shows us examples of God’s people faithfully serving foreign societies while holding firm to their identity. Daniel and his friends thrived in Babylon yet refused to assimilate to its values (Daniel 1–3). Jeremiah urged the exiles to “seek the peace of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7). Joseph and Jonah also remind us that God places His people in specific settings to bless others.

This is our calling as well. Our identity is affirmed in Christ—this is our light. We can serve society without losing ourselves to it. The danger of assimilation is real. If our worth, belonging, or identity comes only from success, acceptance, or community approval, then we risk slipping away from Christ. But our discipleship draws a line: we have the ability to serve and work in our communities without surrendering who we are.

At the same time, God has not called us to be separatists or haters of our world. We are not waiting for the last soul before escaping. Instead, we pray daily: “Your kingdom come.” That means we already live as citizens of the heavenly city, here and now.

Loving Our Neighbor

Chief Apostle Schneider has emphasized again and again the call to love our neighbor in practical ways. To do good works is not optional—it is the outflow of our citizenship. We are not in our communities for our own sake, nor to boost the image of our Church, but to serve God by seeking the shalom of our neighbors.

Shalom is more than peace; it is flourishing in every sense—spiritual, physical, social, and economic. When we pray for our towns, contribute to harmony, and support the prosperity of all, we reflect the city of God.

As Jesus taught in Matthew 25, the mark of heavenly citizenship is found in being a good neighbor: feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and serving the least of these.

Identity and Vigilance

This calling requires us to know who we are. Our young people especially face pressures and distractions far greater than in the past. Faith cannot be absorbed by osmosis; it must be intentionally formed.

Our strength lies in:

• Remaining rooted in Word, sacrament, and gospel.
• Keeping what is holy, holy.
• Patiently teaching and modeling faith for our children and youth.
• Building a congregational culture of belonging, accountability, and reconciliation.

If we know our true identity as God’s children, we will not live selfishly with our light hidden under a basket. We will serve as effective witnesses right where God has placed us.

Congregations as Cities of God

Every place where a congregation exists is like a small outpost of the heavenly city. Together we bear witness that the kingdom of God is near. Our congregations should feel like previews of that city: strong, welcoming, filled with love and peace.

Guests who visit sense whether this is true. Do they see the light of Christ shining among us? Do they find belonging, forgiveness, and a foretaste of God’s kingdom? This is both a challenge and a joy for us to nurture.

Congregations also serve their wider communities. Charitable contributions, outreach projects, and acts of service are natural results of living in Christ’s light. They are not ends in themselves but signs pointing to the true Light—Jesus.

Moving Forward Together

As a church, our direction is clear:

• Love your neighbor.
• Do good works.
• Prepare for the return of Christ by fulfilling His purposes.

Small groups, minister training, family activities, worship and music, and our daily witness all contribute to this. Each initiative is a way of shaping disciples who are equipped to live as dual citizens: faithful to heaven, engaged on earth.
Brothers and sisters, you are a city on a hill. Do not despise the earthly city, do not assimilate to it, but serve it. Shine your light through good works, not for your own honor, but so that many may glorify our Father in heaven. Together, as Christ’s disciples, we are called to bring His kingdom into every place we live. Let us go forward together with courage, with joy, and with love.

 

Click the links below for additional resources for "A City on a Hill," perfect for use in your small group or for personal growth.

A City on a Hill - Video and Discussion Guide

A City on a Hill - For Your Journey with DA Schnabel / PART 1

A City on a Hill - For Your Journey with DA Schnabel / PART 2