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A New Way Forward | Connect

Last week we started a series called “A NEW WAY FORWARD

• This series is all about our VISION AS A CHURCH

We have a MISSION based on the GREAT COMMISSION

• Go into all the world…

Our Mission:

TO HELP DISCONNECTED PEOPLE FIND, FOLLOW AND BE LIKE JESUS

Keyword is “DISCONNECTED”

Disconnected from:

• GOD
• OTHERS

Then we talked about our C3 Vision:

• Care
• Connect
• Cultivate

The circle is important

• Traditionally, growth in the church was seen as linear

But really, it’s circular

We are always:

• Connecting
• Caring
• Cultivating

Sometimes, one will rise to the top…

Today Let’s focus on Connecting

We actively CONNECT people to God and Others

Up and the Out dynamic of our Faith

• UP – Faith in God cannot exist in a silo
• OUT – Healthy relationships have God at the center

We need others, and others need us

• To grow
• Mature
• Learn to love

Faith in Jesus is not a SILO experience

Romans 12

4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

We need one another
How do we ACTIVELY CONNECT?

• 2 Ways…

1 – Be where they are

Acts 17

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
Paul was in Athen

• He looked at culture and was Deeply Distressed
• It upset him
• He didn’t go stay in his hotel
• He didn’t rant about where the world was headed
• He Got to word

He when where the people where

• The Synagogue
• Jews in Athens
• Marketplace
• Where everyone was

Here is some questions for each of us…

When was the last time you shared some of your faith with some new?

• It can be scary
• Can be uncomfortable

Charles Peace was an English burglar and murderer during 1800s

On the way to be hanged for his crimes, the chaplain was reading about the fires of hell…

Charles Peace shouted out…

“Sir, if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worthwhile living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”

Do you believe that?

• Do you believe that people who don’t know God will not spend eternity with God?
• Do you believe that about your neighbors, friends, family, co-workers?

Are We “DEEPLY DISTURBED” like Paul was when he was in Athens?

• Heartbroken by the state of things

People won’t know Jesus if we don’t go to where they are and tell them

Changing gears:

You confidence and courage to connect with those who don’t know Christ will come through your connecting to those who do know him

• Other believers

How do we do that at our church?

• Sunday’s
• Volunteering
• Groups
• Growth-tracks (Short term groups)

To connect with people, we must be where they are…

• We must go to them
• They will not come to us
• Those times are over for the Seeker-sensitive style of church and ministry

2 – Meet people where they are

1 Corinthians 9

19 Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. 21 To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. 23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.

Paul is aiming at the selfish individualism we know so well today

• My Truth
• I am who I am
• Be and individual
• You are unique
• Don’t let others drag you down
• Etc

Our culture lowers to elevate the self OVER others

• Your TRIBE over others

Paul say NO

• I place myself in the best position FOR others

That’s really the question here:

• WHO ARE YOU FOR?
• Are you for yourself only?
• Are you for others, the gospel, and Christ?

What Paul is saying here isn’t easy

• It takes work
• It takes Prayer
• It takes discipline
• Most of all, Takes HUMILITY

That last line is the key…

1 Corinthians 9:23

23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.

When we meet people where they are, we are sharing in the ministry and the blessing of Jesus

Want a blessed life?

• Don’t make your life about yourself
• Don’t have a mindset that people must come to you

Who are you to say that you are so important that you can’t meet someone where they are at

• Emotionally
• Physically
• Spiritually

We do this by Seeing people as they are

• Loved by God
• See their point of view
• Their past
• Empathy
• What is giving you your value set

When we do this, we are not only connecting to others ourselves

• Their stories
• Their lives
• Their problems

But WE ARE the conduit by which God flows to others

• People are disconnected from God because they are disconnected from God’s people

You are a TEMPLE

1 Corinthians 6

19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

These things are what the temple in the old testament did

• It’s was God’s way of being close to his people

The temple was:

• WHERE THEY WERE
• Moved with them
• The place where heaven and earth met
• Where God’s presence is

To actively connect, We meet people where they are

• Emotionally
• Spiritually
• in maturity

A few more thoughts on Connecting:

Connecting is a mindset

• It’s putting the needs of others over your own
• It’s allowing your schedule to be changed
• It’s going out of your way when it’s not convenient

Connecting is Continual

• Not just once
• Repeatedly
• Regularly
• Consistently

HOW OUR CHURCH CONNECTS:

• VIP
• Newcomers
• Connecting with those outside the church
• Volunteering (Heroes)
• Groups (Be where the people are)
• Growth tracks (Short term groups)

The future of the church will hinge on our ability and desire to connect with each other and others outside the church

TO HELP DISCONNECTED PEOPLE FIND, FOLLOW AND BE LIKE JESUS

We do that by…

We actively CONNECT people to God and Others

Are you willing?

• To be where people are?
• To meet them where they are?
• So see them as they are?
• To try and bring them