How did Jesus live as a Son of Israel?
Did he create a separate and competing community
from the one that was already there?
Did he tell people to leave their synagogues?
Didn't he seek to bring transformation and new life
to the community that was already there?

The first followers of Jesus did not leave there synagogues.

They began meeting regularly in small groups for
fellowship, study, and prayer centered around Jesus while
remaining part of the synagogues they were already in.
 

These small group meetings were not under the auspices
 of the wider community, yet, the people within
them remained relationally and culturally loyal to
their wider community.
There were a number of circumstances that lead to
some dynamics changing, but this was the original
 model.    

From Mission Frontiers May-June 2011 PP.7