Get Big

I hate going to the gym. There are many things I’d rather do than work myself to physical exhaustion several times a week.

Gym proponents speak of the endorphin rush you get after a good workout. Funny, I always thought that rush was my body celebrating the fact that the torture session was over. I have often shared that my favorite part of going to the gym was LEAVING the gym.

You see, when you work out, you are putting stress on your muscles. They break down and the body works to fix them. What the body ends up doing is growing the existing muscle fibers while adding MORE. The body then stands back as if to say “Ha. Let’s see you break THOSE.”

Which is exactly what happens the next time you head to the gym and are surprised to find out that you can lift the barbell one or two more times than the last time (having a workout buddy who counts your repetitions in German so you have no idea when you’re SUPPOSED to stop also helps in squeezing out a few more reps). You do this long enough, this cycle of breaking down and getting bigger, and you indeed will (to quote my Germanic friend) GET BIG.

We do not grow when we do not challenge ourselves. So over the next four weeks, our church will face four challenges that will help us live out our vision of what it means to be a church.

Our first challenge is quite simple; Starting on October 25th, hang out with someone who follows Jesus three times this week. It can be the same person (other than your significant other or spouse (NOTE: if you’re not hanging out with your spouse three times a week, then THAT is your challenge this week!)) or it can be three different people or three different groups of people.

A church gathering counts ONLY if you actually get to hang out with someone before, during or afterwards.

Having a friend over for coffee at home in your bunny slippers counts.

Showing up for a small group counts.

Carpooling counts.

Texting, emailing, IMing, Facebooking, etc. do not count. You need to be able to make eye contact (webcams don’t count either).

Why go through this? Especially if you have younger kids or work multiple jobs? Because we were created to live in community. The crazier our lives get, the more we need others to walk along.

One week; three opportunities to hang out with those who share your faith.

If you want to get an early start, show up to where you typically gather for worship. Or hang out with us (the Cuban coffee will be flowing…) at 317 South West Street from 11am to noon, Sunday morning.

Related Verses
Acts 2:42-47
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.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Hebrews 10:19-25
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.


Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.