Choosing to Gather as Community

I've been meditating lately on the immense value of gathering together in  community. We were never meant to do life alone. Unfortunately, sometimes we get busy, or we're "too tired" and we get into the habit of not gathering. God has designed us to live in community with one another and to share our lives. When we live this way we develop a sense of connection and a sense of being part of a whole.

In Hebrews10:19-25, we are exhorted to draw near to God with a heart that is true, and with full assurance of faith, to get into the habit of gathering together, to be concerned for one another and to encourage one another. Unfortunately some get into the habit of not gathering together and this leads to a sense of disconnection with others. Let's not be the type of person who complains about being disconnected but doesn't make an effort to connect. Instead, let's be the person who  makes and intentional decision, who chooses to gather and to connect regardless of circumstance.

I encourage each of us to think about how well we are choosing to connect with one another, to gather together to encourage one another, not just in the greater gathering but in life groups and faith communities. If we are feeling disconnected it may be that we are developing a habit of not gathering together. I encourage each one of us to gather in community so that we remain connected to each other and can encourage each other regularly. The days are not easy, but together we are empowered to love God more and to live life well.

In Acts 2:42-47 we read how the followers of Jesus devoted themselves to the gathering both in the Temple and in the small groups from house to house. They were deliberate in sharing their lives with each other. They understood the power of community and chose to gather together.

My encouragement to us is to choose to gather, to choose community and to be encouraged and empowered by the gathering together of women in community.

Creating Community

Introduction
Community

A place - our community
A people

In true community we encounter a need for  a mind shift from individualism to shared life and community.

It means that our:
Schedules
Resources
Decisions
Are collectively built around reaching people (Jeff Vanderstelt)

This means that individually and collectively as community we make a shift away from our Western mindset that our schedules, resources and decisions are made around what suits us and our own needs best.

It is a mindshift because we are used to individualism.

It means that decisions we make as individuals are in reference to how we interact with the community of followers of Jesus and the mission of the community to love God,  love each other and to reach other people.

A few weeks ago we wrote down hopes and dreams. As a community how can we work together to help one another achieve God's purpose for our lives? How can we facilitate the hopes and dreams of each other in the context of community?

Acts 2:42-47 NLT
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. [43] A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. [44] And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. [45] They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. [46] 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- [47] 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.

Christian community - followers of Jesus gathering together for a common purpose

Worship - gathering together to honour God, connect with God in his presence,  to be in a place to hear his voice. Notice that they worshiped together at the temple. Individual worship is important but when we read the word we see that even seeking direction from God is never done in isolation but within the context of community.

Meeting together was important. 
Fellowship (koinonia):
-association, community, communion, joint participation, the share which one has in anything, participation, intimacy

Note that even in the bigger setting of temple worship they were together. There was a sense of oneness and unity.

Together - the value of being on mission together, of sharing in common - common unity - something that draws us all together for a common purpose

Community builds friendship - and relationships that care about one another.

Some thoughts on creating Biblical community

1. They devoted themselves
Community is about commitment to God and to one another

They devoted themselves,  (KJV: continued steadfastly):
to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one
to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing
to continue all the time in a place
to persevere and not to faint
to show one's self courageous for
to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly

Not only are the early Christians devoted to the word  but they are devoted to meeting together. They are steadfast, they persevered and cares about each other in real and concrete ways.

They were devoted to fellowship - meeting together in one place and in different smaller contexts to share and to build relationships with each other.

Jesus said others will know his followers by our love for one another.

John 13:33-35 NLT
Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can't come where I am going. [34] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

What we notice about this verse is that Jesus is very clear about loving others.

This is the last supper, he's giving his disciples the last bit of teaching, he's washed their feet and then he instructs them to love each other in the same way he loves us.

Notice that this is genuine love for a community of believers committed to each other.

Jesus is clear; when we love this way, others will see, and take notice of how we love each other. Now Jesus loved us and laid down his life for the greater good of mankind. (Maybe we will explore how Jesus loves us at a later date)

This is the kind of love for each other we are to have as we live in community with each other,  laying down our self life for the greater good of community. Then, those who don't know Jesus will see this love and know we are disciples of Jesus.

Notice that it is love for each other, not our individual doctrines of belief, that will reach out to and impact others.

What are we doing that shows that we have genuine care for each other?

What can we do more of to better care for each other?

2. A collective mindset
They had everything in common

They shared everything they had with each other.

There was a collective experience and a collective mentality. This is in stark contrast to much of our culture where we have an individual mentality.

Notice that they shared everything and where necessary they sold what they had to help those who didn't have anything. We are often prepared to give to a good cause but I'm interested here in how they care for each other personally.

They did good things for the unsaved but central to their community was a commitment to one another, not just to meet together, but to hold their own possessions lightly and to care deeply about the people they lived with in community.

Scripture speaks about doing good especially to the body of believers.

Galatians 6:8-10 NLT
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. [9] So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. [10] Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith.

Living in  relationship with God and with others, doing good, especially towards those in the family of faith.

Notice the context - it's based around the family of faith, the community of believers that God has placed us in.

Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. [24] Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. [25] 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.

How are we encouraging and motivating each other to acts of love and good works?

How willing are we to develop and love in this kind of community?

There is a challenge for us because our own sense of community is a group of individuals where the individual is important. Whereas though God places incredible value on individuals this is within the context of life lived in community with one another.

How can we create space in our lives for commitment to community especially in a 2016 environment?

Engaging in worship

Engaging in worship

'worth' ship - declaring God's worth, glory and grace

People will worship someone or something - it is a natural bias of our lives. In Romans 1:25 Paul writes how people have turned away from God choosing to worship the created rather than the creator.

Jesus came to bring reconciliation and restored relationship with God. Hebrews tells us that in Christ's death, the shedding of blood has enabled us to live in freedom and to worship our Creator in freedom. Hebrews 9:14

Here are some thoughts on engaging with worship.

1. Develop an attitude of worship

David was open to God and was not afraid of what others thought of him. He had a worshiping heart. Our heart attitude will affect our worship and our ability to engage with God.

Jesus says in John 4:22-23 that we worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Individual worship and corporate worship that is genuine, comes from the heart, seeks truth and is honouring to God is how Jesus tells us to worship.

Worship is also giving all we have, to honour him, and to be devoted to him. Romans 12:1.

Acts 2:46 They devoted themselves to worship at the temple, worshipping together. Worship was a corporate response as well as an individual response.

Acts 13:2 - Worshipping and fasting allowed the followers of Jesus to have openness to the Holy Spirit and hear his direction for their lives.

When we develop the same attitude we place ourselves in a position to do what God is asking and to live in obedience.

2. Develop an  attitude of thankfulness Thanking God for what he has done.

Eph 5:15-20; Col 3:16-17

As we read these verses we see that God is interested in us developing thankfulness and living in a state of gratitude. Gratitude is good for us. It takes our mind off what we don't have and focuses it onto what we do have and what is already working.

Bringing an open heart to God in thankfulness for what he has done is an act of worship.

Consider:
What am I grateful for?

How does gratitude towards God and the things in our life affect how we think and feel?

Phil 4:6-7 encourages us to be joyful, be thankful for what God has already done and to think about what is right and good.

A personal gratitude diary is one way of focusing ourselves in the right direction.

Activity

1. In small groups - look at Psalm 65; 100;103

Things to look out for:

What is the reason for the writing of this psalm.? (Some background on the psalm.)

How does the writer of the psalm express his worship and his gratitude to God?

2. Building a "gratefulness/gratitude" list.

What am I grateful for today?

What are you thankful for?

How could you express your gratitude and thanks?

Thoughts from WOW

1 John 1:5-6 MSG
This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him. [6] If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth---we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.

Romans 12, various verses.
2-3
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

6-11
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.  In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

16
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

21
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Romans 12:2-3, 6-11, 16, 21 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.12.2-21.NLT

Thoughts

1. Changed thinking
God asks us to align our thinking with his word. This enables us to understand how we are to live and what his will is.

What areas of thinking are working well?

What areas need adjustment?

2. Community uses all the gifts
In community everyone is important. We need everyone.

What gifts has God given you.

How will you use them for him and for Citylife Women/Church?

3. Love and honour
Living in an attitude of respect for all.

We are called to give honour to others. This is sometimes challenging especially when other people do not seem to be honoring us or behaving in an appropriate manner towards others.

However God calls is to love others without pretence and to honour others regardless of behaviour.

How well am I honouring and respecting others?

How can I change my thinking to be more positive in my relationships with others?

4. Work hard
Work at whatever God places in your hand to do. God has given all of us something to do. Do it well.

What has God given you to do?

What is in your hand?

How will you use it for good this year?

5. Be an example
Others are watching is. We are encouraged to be an example of Godly character and behaviour, doing good at all times.

Reflect?

Am i reflecting God's life in my life?

What areas of my character do I need to develop?

Surviving the Silly Season

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It's a time of gathering together with family, sharing around the giving and receiving of gifts and most importantly, celebrating God's great gift of Jesus.

However in the desire to make Christmas special it can become a time of year fraught with 'busyness' and overspending and stress. How as followers of Jesus can we ensure we don't get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas and forget what we are really celebrating.

Here's some thoughts.

1. Jesus is the reason

This can begin to sound like a slogan but when we remember the real reason we are celebrating - then we can keep our focus on God.

John 3:16
God loved us so much that he gave his only Son that whoever believes may have eternal life.

As we go about all the things we think we need to do think about how it fits into what God has done for us.

2. Presents are not everything
It's wonderful to receive gifts and it's even more wonderful to give gifts. However a material gift may not be the way to go.

Here's a couple of my thoughts.

Being present is more important than a present.
A gift of time - choosing to spend time with people is an important way we can give of ourselves that others will remember, sometimes more than any material gift we can give.

Give the gift of memories.
As we get older we don't really remember the majority of the gifts we are given. We remember the experiences of the people we were with.

What other ways can we give?

3. Do something for someone else
It's a time of year where a lot of things are happening but when we focus on others, who are not as well off as us, we give them a gift and teach our children that Christmas is about giving and loving and caring.

This could be anything
- Visit a nursing home
- Donate toys to a charity
- Bake a cake for a neighbour
- Buy flowers for a friend
- Random acts of kindness

There are plenty of other ideas. If you need an idea find out what others are doing. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration.

4. Some Practical tips
Only spend what you have. Our children do not need lots of things - choose to give them memories.

Buy presents throughout the year or layby and pay it off. Going into debt for Christmas is not helpful for you or the family

Make home made gifts instead,  they are often more appreciated because of the personal touch.

Only eat till you are satisfied; you will feel better for it and stay healthier

Get enough sleep - if you can - go to bed earlier if you need to

Drink lots of water - too much sugar makes you sick  and too much alcohol dehydrates so try to avoid excess

Find time to exercise - it is good for the body but also good for the soul. Our mental health is related to how much we exercise and what we eat.

5. Spend time with God

This is the most important thing we can do. Take time to be with God and spend quality time with him each day.

Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. [29] He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. [30] Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. [31] But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

We are not meant to do life separated from God. When we are tired and things are busy, go to him, give him the things that worry and tire us out and wait on him. He will renew and enable.

Some other ideas that can help:
Choose to think about what is good and right and lovely. Make a last of the good things and think on them.

Start a gratitude journal or a gratitude jar.

Do something you love - make time for if

Have a wonderful Christmas season.

Worship

A few weeks ago at WOW we explored worship. We began by listening to a worship song,  just listening and reflecting on the words and allowing God's presence to settle around us, taking the time to be conscious of his presence.

We reflected on the following.
What do these words mean? What do they mean to me? What is God speaking about to me?

As we did this each person present received a word from God,  reassurance,  encouragement and empowerment.  So often we get too busy to really worship and reflect. This became a powerful moment and a powerful teacher about putting aside distraction and entering God's presence in true worship.

Worship

God desires us to worship him in Spirit and in truth. The following is part of the discussion Jesus had with the woman at the well. It highlights God's desire for people everywhere to worship God in spirit and it truth.

John 4:19-24 NLT
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. [20] So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?" [21] Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. [22] You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. [23] But the time is coming-indeed it's here now-when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. [24] For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."

Worship is acknowledging God and who God is. This means giving God first place in all that we do. God is looking for people who will worship him in Spirit and truth. This is worship that connects deeply with God in our hearts and spirit, connecting with God's Spirit and coming with an open heart and a real desire to have relationship with God.

Psalm 29:1-2 NLT
Honor the LORD, you heavenly beings; honor the LORD for his glory and strength. [2] Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 29:10-11 NLT
The LORD rules over the floodwaters. The LORD reigns as king forever. [11] The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.

Isaiah speaks the word of God to the people about just going through the motions of worship and the attitudes of our heart in worship. God wants our hearts not our words.

Isaiah 29:13 NLT
And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

Jesus repeated this when he challengesthe Pharisees about their behaviours and attitudes towards God.

Matthew 15:7-9 NLT
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, [8] 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. [9] Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'"

This raises a question for each one of us. How can we ensure our worship does not become 'man-made rules' but comes from the heart?

1 Timothy 2:8 NLT
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

God is interested in our attitude and heart condition in worship.  It is not about the words no matter how grand or sincere they sound. Jesus also spoke about our attitudes when we come to worship and ensuring that our hearts are truly open to him.

What attitudes towards God and others colours our worship?

What does it mean to bring a sacrifice of praise to God when we come to worship him?

Romans 1:25 NLT
They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

The trap, in fact it's almost a tendency in human nature,  is to transfer our worship, to move the priority of our lives away from worship and to trust other things instead. Idols seem obvious, but we can make idols of work, family etc. These things may be important but when they replace honouring and worshiping God as the most important thing,  they become idols.

Thought and challenge:
When the opinion of a person on social media is more important to you than who God says you are, you've set that person above God.

What vies for our attention?

We worship God in praise when we come to him and thank him for all he has done. Read the following and hear the heart of the psalmist as  he seeks God.

Psalm 40:1-8 NLT
I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. [2] He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. [3] He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.

4] Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. [5] O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

6] You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand - you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings. [7] Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: [8] I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart."

This is all about Who God is and what he has done.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he started with worship and honoring God.

Matthew 6:9-10 NLT
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. [10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. When Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:9 when teaching the disciples to pray he began with honoring God and seeking the honour of God in all that we do.

As an exercise of worship:
Read Psalm 91

Take time to read and to reflect on the psalm,  the words and the heart of the psalmist.

Who is God? How does he reveal himself in these psalms?

Have you experienced God in this way?

What is God saying to you about who he is?

What are different ways we can worship God in our lives?

Take some time to think about why God is worthy of worship and what it means to worship him in spirit and truth.

Community on Mission

Community

What is community and how do we define it?

When we speak about community and doing life together as community, what are we actually conceptualising?

Community
  Common unity
  Common purpose/cause
  Common ownership

For us it also means
  Caring for one another
  Spending time with one another
  Sharing spaces

Most importantly though we are a "community of Christ followers" on mission with God. Followers of Jesus

God mission is clear - we are to be disciple makers - to help others become followers of Jesus
Matt 28:16-20

That is,  we are to be about the business of loving others and helping them to discover the grace of God and become people on mission with us as follows of Christ

How are we as community doing this or going to do this?

(Many of these thoughts come from the work of Jeff Vanderstelt from SOMA churches and his thoughts on missionary communities )

1. Show God's character to the world.
Meeting felt needs
Speaking a message of hope
Listening to and understanding the stories of our neighbours-we are to live our neighbour

What group or 'pocket' of people has God placed our community in?

What do they look like?

What do they do?

2. We are like a family
We are a family learning to follow Jesus in every aspect of our lives

Experiencing life as a family

Acts 1:8 Spirit led.  Spirit filled

Acts 1:8 NLT
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

3. Re-orient our lives for mission
A place - our community
A people

This is where we encounter a mind shift.

It means that our
Schedules
Resources
Decisions
Are collectively built around reaching people.

This means that individually and collectively as community we make a shift away from our Western mindset that our schedules, resources and decisions are made around what suits us and our own  needs best.

It is a mindshift because we are used to individualism.

It means that decisions we make a individuals should be in reference to how we interact with the community of Christ followers and the mission of the community to reach other people.

In many ways there is much more flexibility in missional community but it does require a higher level of relationship commitment.

John 20:21 - As the Father sent me,  I am sending you

John 20:21 NLT
Again he said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you."

In the same way that God sent Jesus to reconcile us to him, we are sent with the message of reconciliation.

Acts 2:42 - they devoted themselves to.....

Acts 2:42-47 NLT
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. [43] A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. [44] And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. [45] They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. [46] 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- [47] 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.

This includes the Word and meeting as community - in small groups such as life groups and in larger 'extended family groups'.

Colossians 4:5,6 making the most of every opportunity God
gives us.

Colossians 4:5-6 NLT
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. [6] Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Live wisely, be sensible and understand the power of gracious conversation.

God created the world good

The world is broken - because of sin we are separated from God

Jesus cane to restore is to relationship with God

Some questions.

Are we prepared to make the shift necessary?

What decisions around our schedules and finances would we make differently as part of a community?

What will we collectively do differently as a community of Christ followers?