Does the church still matter in our modern world?After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it’s easy to question the value of investing in the church.Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.Book: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still MattersDr Carmen Imes' BlogWHAT YOU'LL LEARN:Ways People Have Been Hurt by the ChurchUnity in a Multiethnic and Intergenerational CongregationChurch on the Couch is Not ChurchABOUT THE GUEST: Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.RELATED LINKS:Dr Carmen Imes, Biola UniversityBook: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still MattersDr Carmen Imes' BlogTIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:00:40 - Introducing Dr Carmen Imes01:21 - Major Issues When People Experience Hurt in the Church02:14 - ...not being heard02:38 - ...gifts are not welcome nor recognized04:30 - ...conflicts, boredom, needs not met...04:45 - Ways to Minimize Hurting People05:48 - ... the role of trust and context07:26 - ...being vulnerable08:02 - ...engaging and working through differences08:31 - ...feeling well loved11:34 - Biblical Example of Belonging11:51 - ...metaphor of family12:23 - ...solidarity12:58 - ...individualism in our society13:48 - Unity in a Multiethnic and Intergenerational Congregation14:18 - ...learn to defer and love one another14:24 - ...de-center the majority culture16:30 - ...appreciate each other17:31 - Church on the Couch is Not Church17:47 - ...online church is a blessing if it is a necessity18:34 - ...but it is a poor substitute for in-person church19:01 - ...family needs to be together physically19:49 - ...your presence is important and encouraging to others20:07 - ...church is not just transmitting information; a community is bi-direc