We are beginning a new series on “Becoming Like Family” as our online community members begin to share the daily challenges with friends, and we begin to gather our larger community together.  We want to have five main characteristics, and the one we’re focusing on this week is to be spending time in community groups.

Yesterday, we saw that four-in-ten American young adults with a Christian background (43%) believe going to church and having Christian friends is optional.

You might think that this is a new phenomenon, but today we’ll read about a similar story from the Bible, written in a letter to some of the first Christians, within 50 years of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

First, please notice how clear this is that being a church here is about a gathering of people.  The Greek word for church is ekklesia which literally means “an assembly” or “gathering of people” called out to be and do something specific.  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews was not specifically speaking about a building.  Even if they worshipped at the temple occasionally, it was primarily a place of Jewish ritual sacrifices, not a place that was immediately associated with Christian worship just because of its architecture or presence.

He was referring to a people group, a movement, who actually did spend time together – sometimes in temple, sometimes in homes, sometimes in rented rooms, and probably some places in between.

But the other thing that’s clear here is that they aren’t meeting together as much as they should, and it’s essential that they do.

The author doesn’t say why.  Did they get lazy?  Are they afraid of being identified by persecutors?  Have they actually stopped believing?

No one can be sure.  But the author is clear that being a regular part of a Christian community is critical regardless.  He says it’s this important, it represents holding fast to what we claim/confess to believe.  That involves connectedness with others who claim and confess the same things.

Gathering with other Christians is also a visible reminder of who we are – God’s beloved but distant children, trying to follow Jesus to know him again.

Someone I know recently went out West on business, and was planning to go to an Oilers vs. Leafs game, wearing a Leafs jersey!  She went there knowing she’d be alone, and would endure persecution, where no one else would be dressed like her.  But then at the game, she looked out, and saw a few other Leafs jerseys, and a few more, and a few more.  She was reminded she wasn’t alone.

This is what church is about.  Although we may feel alone at times as Christians, when we are part of a church we remind ourselves that we are not alone, as we catch a glimpse of others wearing our colours.  We are not the only ones trying to live as followers of Jesus in a hostile world.  In fact, there are millions of us, all over the world, and all around our offices and neighbourhoods.  But we need to come out and recognize each other.  As we gather together, we remember that we are part of a community. We see this, we feel it and we are encouraged.  And we are challenged, to be there for each other throughout the week as well.

Question: Why do you think it’s important for followers of Jesus to meet together?  What should come of their meetings?

Reminder: Last week we saw the importance of reading the Bible together in sync, so our new daily bible readings start today in our mobile app and web site.

Read the Bible in Sync Today

Ryan Sim - May 23, 2013

Thursday- Act On It - Priorities

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24 ESV) Illustrate with two cups (money, God) beside each other. Can only fill one. Remember Monday – I asked you to list your priorities in order. One per rank, no ties. Illustrated with stacked cups. Still can only fill one. And money isn’t the only thing we can prioritize in life, it’s just one of the most common, and Jesus said it was one of the most seductive challengers to God’s place in our lives. Almost effortlessly it is able to lure us into its sphere of influence. When we grow from dependent children into adults, before we know it, we are living lives in its service. It calls us, it drives us, it threatens us, it rewards us. We don’t know if we have enough here, too much there, need to make more, invest more or borrow more. Money is a deep rooted power. It reaches to the very centre of who we are and what we live for – the heart and eye we spoke of yesterday. Jesus ascribed to money almost ultimate power. “No one” he said “can serve two masters, one cannot serve God and money.” You can only serve one master faithfully. This isn’t about taking on two jobs – he deliberately uses the language of slavery from his culture – where people sold themselves, in entirety, to pay off a debt – and could naturally not sell a second “self” to someone else. Jesus says money has that kind of demand on our lives – it is the most likely thing to challenge God in our lives. The point he was leading to was this: You cannot serve both God and money! If God and the vision of God’s reign is not the ultimate focus of our lives, something else will be. For many of us the something else will be money in its various forms. Money has a power all of its own. It has the power to take the very place of God in our lives. Money can lure us into its service. But putting God as our first priority doesn’t mean we deny our children, spouses, and other good things in our lives. God made them, said they were good. This is not an either/or. God wants to fill every area of our lives with his love, his power, his leadership. Illustrated with four cups on level 1, and a full God cup on level 2. Pouring water into God’s cup overflows into the others. When we start to open ourselves to God, welcoming the reality that he poured himself out for us by dying on the cross, we quickly find he pours out into all areas of our lives, and then into others. People who give of their time in service of others will tell you time and time again how incredibly fulfilling it is…that happiness doesn’t come from wealth, financial or otherwise, but rather because they have handed over all areas of their lives to God’s care as Lord. They are able to be contented and happy in all things, and that is a kind of wealth in itself that overflows into all area of life. Challenge: Take another look at your list of priorities from Monday. What does Jesus’ teaching in the sermon on the mount say to you about each of these? Have any of them been prioritized over God’s will? IF so, ask God to be Lord over, and pour into that area of your life.

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