Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Community of Connections


Over the next few weeks, we’ll be reviewing our vision of what we are called to be as a faith community.

This is important, because our vision serves as a window into what we believe our church should look like. A vision isn’t a snapshot; it’s more like a symphony. When we are playing the right notes, and in step with the Lord, we will hear the music. The vision helps us to keep playing in tune.

Our first paragraph of our vision reads as follows:

“Small groups of people are where it’s at. When asked where our church meets, we laugh. “All over the place,” is our response. The church is about people, not buildings. Our small groups ARE the church. They meet regularly to share life; both its joys and struggles. You’ll find them meeting in bars, malls, coffee houses and diners. You’ll see them serving others in our community and beyond. And you’ll hear about them starting new groups. There are people all over the place who need to reconnect with God and with others; without new groups we’d never get to share this journey with them. All kinds of friends are invited to walk along with us. They come because here they discover acceptance and love.”

Questions to Discuss

o Do we see our church as a place/time or as people as we gather together?
o Where does our church meet?
o How have we been sharing life with each other?
o How have we been serving? How do we continue to serve?
o Where might new groups begin?
o How do we live out a life of acceptance and love?

Relevant Scriptures

Ecclesiastes 4:7-10
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

Luke 21:5-6
Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

Acts 2:42
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Revelations 21:22-27
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty - but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

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