The Urgency of Community

Have you ever felt a moment of convergence in your life in which your entire existence seemed to come together and connect at that point in time? i'm sitting at lunch today eating taco boat with Kevin and we're talking about the vision that God has given him for the ministry here at Haven. We're discussing the vital link that connection in community has with growth when the question hits me: Is growth even possible without connection?
Ephesians 4:16 says, "He [Christ] makes the whole body [the church] fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (NLT) Without the rest of the body, growth is not possible.
John 15:4-5 says, "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." (NLT) We cannot grow without being connected to Christ. How are we connected to Christ? According to the Ephesians passage mentioned above, we're connected to Christ through His body, the Church.
We have this idea that we can be "Lone Ranger" Christians, that we can make it on our own. We can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. Yet this is the very thing that Christ tells us is impossible. We are connected to Him through His body, the Church. Therefore, failure to connect with others within the context of the Church is failure to connect to Christ making growth impossible.
God has gifted every believer in order to be an instrument in His hand to make an eternal impact on the lives of others. How then can we make that impact or be impacted ourselves if we are disconnected from the body?
What then is connection? Connection cannot be simply coming to Church and sitting in a pew. Connection is not coming to Church and teaching a class, passing an offering plate, leading in worship, caring for infants or directing children's ministry. Attendence and service opportunities are excellent, but they fall short of the connection with our brothers and sisters that we need as a body in order to grow.
Connection is "koinonia" or community. It's not just "fellowship", it's living life together. It's sharing the load of the burdens that we struggle with (sin, stress, grief, finances, devotions, marriage, family, purpose, difficulties...). It's sharing what God is doing in our lives and what the Holy Spirit is teaching us so that we can grow together. "Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." (Proverbs 17:17) "God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ." (1Pet. 4:10-11)
Connection then is not just something that is useful--it is vital. Connection is not just something to "get around to"--it is urgent. Without the connection of community with our brothers and sisters within the body of Christ we are trapped in a shallow, spiritually impotent existence.
How about you? Are you part of a vital connection group within the body of Christ? If not, what's stopping you? Get connected so that you can take your place within the body of Christ and experience significance, purpose and growth like never before. Thanks for reading.

An Instrument in God's Hands

This past Sunday, we started a video series in our teen Sunday School class called "Your Divine Design." It's a study of how God has gifted each person to serve in a different capacity with the same purpose: God's glory. For me, i see it as yet another thread God is weaving into the grand design of my life.
He has been teaching me that each day has purpose and meaning because of the connection that i have with those He has placed in my path. How often do i simply let each day pass by without ever pondering this important truth? i am meant for greatness--but not as the world sees it.
i've heard numerous times about the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet and then teaching, "The greatest among you will be the servant." It is as I am writing this that the Holy Spirit is revealing to me His truth that the reason for the servant's greatness is the fact that he is an instrument in God's hands.
The servant realizes that he's nothing great in and of himself. He's no one special. However, he realizes that his value, his worth and his greatness come from the fact that he is an instrument in God's hands. God is using him to make an impact on the lives of others that would be otherwise impossible.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God. Even the unbelieving philanthropist can only donate funds that God has entrusted him with. Therefore, in a sense, no matter who you are or what your motivation might be, God is in control. You are an instrument in God's hands.
So thinking this through, God is teaching me that He is in control and ultimately He will be glorified. Yet for me, my life can only have true meaning, my life can only be complete, my joy can only be full when I yield to God's hand. What's more, my life does have meaning and purpose. I'm here for a reason. My life is significant--but only as an instrument in God's hands.
This again is another universal truth applicable to all of humanity. Michael Jordan's significance worldwide was only a result of the grace of God: the talents, abilities and passions placed by his Creator. Andrew Carnegie's grand philanthropy was only the result of the resources he was granted to utilize by the very God who created them. "In Him we live and move and exist...We are His offspring." (Acts 17:28 NLT)
So what am i learning? Each day has purpose, meaning and significance because God makes it so. I am an instrument in God's hands for the purpose of impacting the lives of those around me...and so are you. Thanks for reading.