The Connected Church

Who led you to Jesus Christ? Who taught your first Sunday School class? Who explained the Bible to you when you had questions about your faith? Chances are it wasn't a stranger...but a friend or a family member! It was someone who cared deeply about you. It was someone who was committed to see you become a better follower of Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, the message was pretty clear. Relationships are the key to your spiritual growth! The bottom line is that we need one another! The life of a Christian was never intended to be experienced alone or in isolation but in community. The Bible teaches that we are "connected" into a family, "connected" within a body, "connected" as an army, "connected" like a house and "connected" within a flock. There are many other images that are used to highlight our "connectedness" to each other. Amazing!

Acts 2:42-47 demonstrates the community life of the early church. The model of the early church is that they me from "house to house". They had true fellowship, deep worship, great instruction, intense prayer and took care of each other as the needs showed up. People loved that about the early church and it grew! I believe that the same possibilities exist today for our church if we'll make a decision to be "interdependent" vs "independent". That means...no Lone Rangers! No monks! No excuses for not being connected!

Because the body of Christ is a living organism and not just an organization we must function like a healthy body. Disability in the church happens when we disconnect from one another and do our own thing versus doing God's thing. We can accomplish a lot more together than we can individually for God's kingdom if we'll work at it. I admit I struggle with doing it by myself the way I like it done and I miss the opportunity of doing ministry with others who add value to the mission by contributing their ideas, thoughts and love to working for the greater mission.

So come on. Let's go. God is calling us to join together in the most amazing mission ever! Let's turn the city upside down (or right side up) and see a genuine revival come to our community in the months ahead. Make it your business to do the "one another" verses in the Bible.

See you Sunday!
Pastor Tad