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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
Pastor to Pastor

Visible and Invisible

The church is not merely local.

Giants of the Reformation (5)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… Hebrews 12.1

Institutes of the Christian Religion
John Calvin (1509-1564)
“Then, indeed, the church includes not only the saints presently living on earth, but all the elect from the beginning of the world. Often, however, the name ‘church’ designates the whole multitude of men spread over the earth who profess to worship one God and Christ. By baptism we are initiated into faith in him; by partaking in the Lord’s Supper we attest our unity in true doctrine and love; in the Word of the Lord we have agreement, and for the preaching of the Word the ministry instituted by Christ is preserved.”

Does it ever trouble you that there is so little visible unity among the churches in your community? So little sharing in life, worship, ministry, and outreach together? Or that, in many churches today, there is but little regard for the saints who have gone before us, who have made it possible, by their faithfulness, for the Gospel to come down to us? Shall we so easily forget our beloved forebears in the flesh? Or fail to seek unity with our brothers and sisters, living in the same town? Jesus said that unity was the key to credibility where the Gospel is concerned (Jn. 17.20, 21), and Paul reminds us that we must work hard to achieve and maintain such unity of the Spirit with our Christian brethren (Eph. 4.3). If we’re not working at unity at all, we are disobedient to the apostle; and if our witness to our local community seems ineffectual, it may be because we are disobedient to our Lord. The more we make the Body of Christ visible in our communities, the more His invisible presence and power will bring Kingdom fruit through our efforts.

In what ways does your church promote unity with other churches and an appreciation of the contribution of previous generations of believers?

T. M. Moore

Prayer for Revival
We’re seeking to begin a new monthly Revival Prayer Group to meet on the third Thursday of every month at 5:00 pm Eastern. We’re looking for men who will commit to regular prayer together, seeking the Lord for revival, renewal, and awakening. To learn more about praying for revival – why, how, and to what ends – write to me, and I’ll send you a free copy of my book, Restore Us! Our Revival Prayer Groups meet online, so all you have to do is click in at the appointed time. If you’d like to participate in this monthly prayer effort, drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I’ll send you the details. We’re hoping to begin in September.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations from John Calvin,
Institutes of the Christian Religion, John T. McNeill, ed., Ford Lewis Battles, tr. (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1960), Vol. 2, Book IV, pp. 1012ff.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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