Okay, so yesterday, we focused on how God has created His people as a connecting community. He brings us together in Christ Jesus, and intends for us to have connections with one another.
Yet, that's not all that God intends. Now, I generally avoid pulling bible verses out of context and just presenting them to you, but there are a couple in the Gospels that speak about God's intent for this community of faith that He creates. Jesus says, in Luke 19:10, "...the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." After His death and resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples and tells them, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." (John 20:21) We could also look at that most famous of bible verses, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Pulling these all together as a theme, we see that God intends to connect with the communities of this world in Jesus.
Jesus came to find those who were separated and lost from Him. God's love for the world was such that the Father sent Jesus to pay the price of their sin. Jesus seeks out the lost to save them. And then, as part of His farewell tour, Jesus gives His disciples that same task. "Go seek out the lost to save them. I paid the price of their sin, so go let them know that it's done. I was sent to do this, and now I am sending you."
God's community is sent to connect with the community around it. Connecting community means that we realize that God has put us in the time and place where we are, and that God has His reasons for our presence there. He sends us to connect with a community where there are those who are lost, so that we can be God's hands and feet in seeking them, and in bringing them the message that Jesus has rescued them.
In a sense, our task really is that simple. It's not a tough message. And yet, so many Christians find the idea of connecting with the community a real challenge. We're frightened of how the message will be received. We're unsure we know enough. We think we have to be eloquent and have all the answers. But the message really is pretty simple. Jesus died to rescue you, and wants to bring you into His kingdom that never ends.
That's why God's community connects with the surrounding community. And on a bit of a personal note, I don't think that it's all that challenging to find those connection points with them. A large part of my doctoral focus is to demonstrate that this is a much simpler task than we have been led to believe that it is. But one thing we have to have our eyes opened to first is that God's community is a connecting community with those around us. Guide us in this, O gracious God.
Yet, that's not all that God intends. Now, I generally avoid pulling bible verses out of context and just presenting them to you, but there are a couple in the Gospels that speak about God's intent for this community of faith that He creates. Jesus says, in Luke 19:10, "...the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." After His death and resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples and tells them, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." (John 20:21) We could also look at that most famous of bible verses, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Pulling these all together as a theme, we see that God intends to connect with the communities of this world in Jesus.
Jesus came to find those who were separated and lost from Him. God's love for the world was such that the Father sent Jesus to pay the price of their sin. Jesus seeks out the lost to save them. And then, as part of His farewell tour, Jesus gives His disciples that same task. "Go seek out the lost to save them. I paid the price of their sin, so go let them know that it's done. I was sent to do this, and now I am sending you."
God's community is sent to connect with the community around it. Connecting community means that we realize that God has put us in the time and place where we are, and that God has His reasons for our presence there. He sends us to connect with a community where there are those who are lost, so that we can be God's hands and feet in seeking them, and in bringing them the message that Jesus has rescued them.
In a sense, our task really is that simple. It's not a tough message. And yet, so many Christians find the idea of connecting with the community a real challenge. We're frightened of how the message will be received. We're unsure we know enough. We think we have to be eloquent and have all the answers. But the message really is pretty simple. Jesus died to rescue you, and wants to bring you into His kingdom that never ends.
That's why God's community connects with the surrounding community. And on a bit of a personal note, I don't think that it's all that challenging to find those connection points with them. A large part of my doctoral focus is to demonstrate that this is a much simpler task than we have been led to believe that it is. But one thing we have to have our eyes opened to first is that God's community is a connecting community with those around us. Guide us in this, O gracious God.
No comments:
Post a Comment