Dear Friends,

The life of the follower of Jesus is best  done in community.  That has fallen out of style in a culture of the consumer age of individualism. We are led to believe that following Jesus is a simple as plugging in a podcast or reading the right devotional material and presto you are encouraged and growing as a saint.

This kind of modern delusion is not found in the writings of the apostles or early saints.

The growth of true and fruitful followers of Christ happens through relationships just as it did with the apostles.

1Thessilonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Notice the one another part. You can’t do this as a solo. You need others and perhaps, more importantly, they need you.

The essence of maturity in Christ is not you getting something or even a shared benefit. Maturity is when you learn to encourage others just like God does. God doesn’t need or expect anything in return. God gives grace freely, lovingly.

Philippians 2:1  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard, one another as more important than yourselves; 4  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

This is how encouragement and growth that is from God happens. Encouragement happens through the messy realities of living and loving imperfect people in imperfect relationships.

Sunday lets learn how to encourage well in the community.

Blessings,

Joe

Preparing for Sunday – July 21, 2019

 

 

What keeps people in your circle of relationships from being involved in church?

 

 

What would it take for your friends to make church life a more important part of their lives?

 

 

What would need to change?

 

 

How can regularly gathering with other believers keep you from wavering? Share an example.

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

What does it mean to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds”. How could you do that?

 

 

Why is getting out of the habit of gathering for church so easy?

 

 

What contributes to the pressure to skip it as a habit?

Hebrews 10:25  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

Why are you getting encouraged only part of the reason for gathering?

 1Thessilonians 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.