The scriptures give us a vision of the church that is both local and universal. As believers and followers of Jesus, we are called into local communities and covenant with people. This grounds us and informs our understanding of God in the context love. Walking apart from the accountability and life of His church is to reject God’s plan for abundance of life. We also find ourselves in the wider, older and broader picture of His universal church. This is why we participate in the wisdom of traditions that have been formed long before our modern moment. God’s church is called to equip saints for the works of ministry that Christ may be seen in the earth.