My biggest challenge for the last 6-8 months is finding a church. Mostly because three years before that we were planting a church and two years before that I wasn't going at all, and the transistion has been less than smooth.
While the overwhelming excitement of a new adventure has been reinvigorating, the process of finding a place to connect with community service and worship is becoming stressful It's like you have to start over from scratch While trying to keep the community and mission that you started over three years ago What should we look for in a church? What are the signs of a healthy growing church? How do you go from leadership to a visitor? If I get everything that a church service can offer from outside sources...do I need to go to church?
I was listening to Judah Smith this morning. He was at Passion 2013 this year talking about community My thoughts that came from his sermon are reflected in my blog posts community Part one and Part two While I was re-listening to his sermon a major point stood out to me
Our main purpose is to reflect God.
When He created adam there was one thing that God said that was wrong with this picture ...he was alone Everything else that God had made reflected God's glory except that Adam was alone We were made in God's image and because of that it was not good that we were alone. God isn't alone He's got the trinity God knew that if people were going to truly reflect who He is then theres no way that they could do it alone ...because God in Himself is not alone God in Himself is community So if we are called...to what could arguably be our greatest purpose theres no way that we can do it alone Theres no way that this world can see who Jesus is if we're alone Because Jesus isn't alone This is why I love the church Because without it we cannot show the world who Jesus is and while there are some weird strange, bizarre, mean, overly critical people our there We need them and they need us not to fulfill some emotional need but because we cannot do what God has called us to do because of this the excuses of
"I can worship Jesus more in my boat than with a church"
or
"I don't need the church to worship/love Jesus"
Don't have a leg to stand on
You do need people and the church Don't believe the lie Don't be deceived into the doctrine of isolation because...in all reality...it seems easier but ...to put it how God put it... It is not good for man to be alone proverbs says the man who isolates himself seeks his own desires and rages against all wise judgement! Don't let the dirtiness and the brokeness of people lead you away from the pack
And I'll tell you what... I give you permission to give up on people and their brokenness if God gives up on you and yours. Don't give up so quickly on what God has called us to do because this will help you complete the greatest purpose of your life. It's simple I seriously need you and you need me What are some reservations that you have about maybe being in a community or investing in the people around you? (Please answer in the comment section) -Sam
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe
,
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The God we serve is not one of isolation.
He is one of intimacy and interaction, perfect community and unity.
God does not need us...He is independent from us. We, on the other hand, are dependent people. We need God and we need each other. It's one of the reasons that Jesus said
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself"
God knew that we would need both...God and others In our own little world it should not be population...me our world needs to be populated with others and over populated with Jesus and His love.
In peter it says that we are stones....living stones There is nothing special about a rock! ...if it is alone. But like it says in 1 peter, we proclaim the greatness of God when we are together. When we are together we are like aspiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Others see Jesus when we're together. This is why I need you and YOU need ME. We are living stones...rejected by men...chosen by God to be built up together! not separate this is the community we have been called to.
So...I want to be honest, this might be because I'm an extrovert, but I get DEPRESSED when I'm not around people for a long time. I don't know why...but I'm very glad that God has given me this very present need for community. For some reason I have this need for people to be in my life on a constant basis.
I
think that God does this for a reason. The need for community is from God he
put this in us.
why???
We are created
in His Image
God has perfect
community and unity within the trinity
because of this
we have an urge to be in community and unified with other people
Even
with this urge to be around people I can forget that I need people. We have to be around peoole...we cannot live the life that God has called us to live without it. It's impossible.
Jesus
said that
they will know that
you are my disciples because of your love
So
if we don't have community. If we feel like it's too much of a hassle to have
to deal with people or that I don't have time to invest love into people a few
things can happen
1.
The life that you are called to live in Jesus will be more weight than you can
handle
2.
You won't see Jesus for who He really is
3.
Others won't get an accurate view of who Jesus is
We
must realize that community is not a comfort it is an urgent need in our lives.
God has made us to where we cannot function properly without it. Even with this
internal pressure to be around people I forget that I need you.
Sometimes
I don't want to Admit that I need people.
Sometimes
the people I don't like are the people I need the most.
I
believe that our independence is a very important quality. I think that we do
need to be able to stand up on our own two feet. If you are an Independent person than community looks like this for you:
A group of Independent people who willfully choose to include and depend on other people in their lives.
We can do a number of things by ourselves, but when we choose to include other people, when we decide that I need other people and that they need to be needed than we open ourselves up to a world and a life that Jesus knew would be the most fulfilling for us.
I would say that I'm pretty independent in some aspects and dependent in others. Like...I hate receiving money to help out with bills or if I'm running low. I feel like I should be the one who other people should depend on not the other way around. But I force myself to take the help...why?
It reminds me that I need other people in my life
It lets that person feel needed
It lets people into my life
That last one makes me feel a little bit of anxiety. Because what we don't realize is that if we're always the one giving to others...If we're always the one having other people depend on us....And we're never the ones receiving or being dependent on other people...Then we're able to distance ourselves from people. We don't have to show vulnerability to anyone else and we can maintain this image of how strong we are because of how many people we're helping.
In reality...
It's fear.
We're afraid that if we accept help from others they might think we're weak
or that we can't take care of ourselves.
It's pride.
And it's keeping us from living the life that God wants for us.
What I'm saying is that I need you But my pride is telling me that I don't. So I must combat it.
I need you because: I'm broken I'm selfish I need help...in almost every way possible lol I can't function and live life the way that it's supposed to be lived without you ...reference to David Guetta's song "without you" lol
I just thought I would throw that in there for kicks.
and it's a fun song...
What are some ways that we can remind ourselves on a regular basis that we need people?
What are some ways that we can remind ourselves that we are needed by other people?
