So where do we go from here??
Back to the basics!
A year like no other!
· This last year has been like no other
· We had a plan going into 2020 and that all changed in March
o We were closed for 6 weeks
o We have seen changes in how we meet, where we meet
o And we have lost and gained some along the way
· And 2021 will definitely have its challenges as well
o So as always, we have to set some goals and a plan
o But know we have to stay fluid as well!
So, what did the first church formed after Jesus ascended do that was so special, so awe-inspiring that lead to the making of so many disciples?
1. They learned together
2. They had one common mission
3. They hung out and spent time together
4. They gave for the common mission
It’s hard to believe that it is that simple, but it was. And simple does not mean easy!
· It takes commitment
· It takes your time
· And it takes a purpose!
Jesus' Last command, is our first priority
Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
· Jesus wants us to make disciples
· Jesus wants us to teach them about Him, His commands, His character, His values, what is important to Him………………..
· That’s hard to do when you skim over the bible, you pick and choose what’s important and what’s not, when you make other things priority over building a solid relationship with Him.
· And that brings up to the first thing we must do to follow Jesus' last command
o It’s one of the things the first church did very, very well
o It’s what most “successful” churches do well
o They learn together!
Sunday is a fire hose; we don’t need just a fire hose!
· Small groups, Feedlot, life groups, whatever you call it all boils down to
o Small groups of people gathering and learning together!
o Regularly learning together
o Purposefully learning together
o Growing together
o Building relationships together
Learn Together (it might look a little different)
Learning and growing together is important
I know why it’s important, you know why too!
· Most of us know why it’s important
· We grow in wisdom
· We grow in knowledge
· We find more joy
· We find more peace
· We find healthy relationships
· We are just plain happier when we are in the word and with our church family.
Satan’s Goal
John 10:10 (NIV)
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
· God wants to give you a full and productive joy-filled life!
· Satan wants to steal your time
o Kill your joy
o And destroy your relationship with Jesus and his followers
We have cluttered our lives with so much useless stuff that we think we have no time to do what really matters!
SO why is learning together so important?
It's biblical
Hebrews 10:24–25 (NIV)
24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
· We all need encouraging
· We all need reminding of our true purpose
· We all need to meet together
· I love Wednesday nights
o Seeing people visiting
o Catching up
o Praying for each other
o And building relationships
We all need to be fed!
John 21:15–17 (NIV)
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
· Jesus knows we need to be fed
· Jesus knows that the world will try and grab all your time
· And without regular feeding everything dies
· We need regular feeding
· Feeding of the word
· feeding of encouragement
· feeding of hope
· feeding of fellowship
· feeding of love
· the world only feeds junk food
o in small doses
o the news
o the gossip
o the drama
o the hate
o the rage
· Jesus wants you to get some good nourishing food through meeting and learning together
We need each other!
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
16Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
· We need wise counsel
· We need good solid teaching
· We need to be held accountable
· We need loving advice
· And we can only do that through relationships
· Your phone won’t do that
· The TV won’t do that
· Only learning and growing together in a relationship will do that
We cannot survive this world alone, we need each other, and we need Jesus
Matthew 18:20 (NIV)
20For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
When the wolves come, we can’t handle it alone
I don’t care how long you have been a believer
I don’t care how strong you think you are
You can’t survive alone
And when we gather, Jesus is with us!
Learning together this year will have its challenges!
· It could look different
o Large gathering will be hard
o We are going to need to get back to small groups in homes
o At the church
o And we are going to need people to step up and lead
o Without that we will all suffer
· We are going to continue with online bible study (more live for Q&A)
My challenge to you!
· Spend 20 min a day in the word
· Find a mid-week bible study or small group and join it
· Make Sunday church a habit
· Get plugged in and start serving
· And start freeing your mind and your thoughts
· And don’t tell me you don’t have the time, because we do, we just waste so much!
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