Growing Together (Connection)

Our discussion this week centers around the actions of the first group of Christians.  Acts 2:46 tells us they were devoted to one another both in large groups and small groups.  They met in the temple courts and listened to the proclamations of a Savior and risen Lord. However, their relationships did not stop at that point weekly.  The scripture tells us they were meeting house to house and learning the words of the apostles and they were taking communion. It would be wise if we were to follow the lead of the first century as we make our attempt to build community in Modesto.  We provide opportunities for God's people to assemble on Sunday's for a time of praise, worship, prayer and word.  We have a time for study and a time to participate as we grow in our faith. Fellowship, that is the time we spend together is a paramount in connection in God's Kingdom.

Two other scriptures shape our gatherings and connections in the Kingdom. In 2 Cor. 2:12, Paul mentions that we need to look for open doors for the message of Christ to walk through. The path of long term faith passes through the church, through the home and is founded in the cross.  The open doors of faith let us pray and praise God for Jesus' sacrifice, additionally in our smaller groups we can create places that are safe to share our everyday issues and provide us systems of accountability to one another and to what we believe.  This accountability is what Proverbs 27:17 is talking about. Iron sharpens iron means that one friend holds the other accountable to scripture and peels off the outer layer that has become damaged and restores the sharpened edge to its original condition.

The questions of connection in today's church are, "Do you want to grow or are you complacent in your current condition?"  The decision is for us to make.  It seems so simple yet the decision to fellowship is one of the hardest to make in our culture. We do not want to "not fit in" if we go to someone's house for small group.  What do we say if we do not want to come back after the test drive?  No one wants to have awkward moments at future assemblies.  Please understand there is an awkward component to practicing Christianity.  Learning to sacrifice and focus outward is never easy.  Be willing to be uncomfortable this week!

I saw this article posted by John Lightfoot today.  I applaud the work that he and so many other Law Enforcement Officers perform to help hold this world together for all of us.  Walking to the edge of the cage of the monsters are many support people who quietly do their jobs, I, tip may hat to them today also.  Viewing the worst acts that people perpetrate on one another continually changes a person.  The crime scene techs, the coroners, the CSO's and the Chaplains share a part of the process that we call criminal justice.  I hope this article gives those away from the cage of the monsters a glance to know that others pay a price for the pursuit of peace and liberty in our neighborhoods.  Hats off to all you responders, whatever your role.

John Slensby writes, 

"Those who fight monsters inevitably change. Because of all that they see and do, they lose their innocence, and a piece of their humanity with it. If they want to survive, they begin to adopt some of the same characteristics as the monsters they fight. It is necessary. They become capable of rage, and extreme violence.

There is a fundamental difference, however. They keep those monster tendencies locked away in a cage, deep inside. That monster is only allowed out to protect others, to accomplish the mission, to get the job done.....Not for the perverse pleasure that the monsters feel when they harm others. In fact, those monster tendencies cause damage...GUILT, ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, PTSD. There is a cost for visiting violence on others when you are not a monster. Those who do so know one thing...The cost inflicted upon society as a whole is far greater without those who fight monsters. That is why they are willing to make that horrible sacrifice so that others may live peaceably.

Before you judge one of us, remember this...

We witness things that humans aren't meant to see...and we see them repeatedly. We perform the duties that you feel are beneath you. We solve your problems... Often by visiting violence upon others. We run towards the things that you run away from. We go out to fight what you fear. We stand between you, and the monsters that want to damage you. You want to pretend that they don't exist, but we know better. We do the things that the vast majority are too soft, too weak, too cowardly to do.

Your life is more peaceful.....because of us.

The current political climate in this country holds that there is nothing worth fighting for. Submission is the popular mantra. Warriors are decried, denigrated, and cast as morally inferior. We know how childish, how asinine, and how cowardly that mindset is.

We know this.....There ARE things worth fighting, and dying for. We know that not every problem can be solved through rational discourse...that some problems can only be solved through the application of force and violence. And, while we do prefer the former....we are perfectly capable of the latter.

We believe that fighting what others fear is honorable, noble, and just....and are willing to pay the price for that deeply held belief. Why? For us, it isn't a choice...

It is what we are. We are simply built that way."

“The Preference Driven Church.”

 “The Preference Driven Church.”

In the first century the gathering of Christians on the first day of the week, was the big day of the week.  It was the focal point of lives for all the believers. They honored Christ with the sharing of the love feast.  They spent time with one another.  They studied God’s word together and they sang with their hearts, praising the Lord for all He had done for them.

In modern times we have seen a shift to what I would call the “preference driven” church.  The preference drive church is one that has a consumer focus and has a self-serving attitude. The new trinity being served is me, myself and I instead of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  In the Preference Driven Church the members become judges, scoring all the performances going on around them.  The worship leader and his song selection are judged, other participants in the audience alongside them are judged.  The preacher is judged by content, quality and length of message. Seemingly worship has become like judges at a diving competition or watching a gymnastics meet.  The Preference Driven Church scrutinizes every detail of the Sunday morning searching for something to blame for the emptiness that is felt after the gathering finishes for the day. Not realizing the emptiness comes from taking the focus off of God.

It does not have to be that way. God did not design worship to be the biggest distraction of their faith, causing people to come with the expectation of getting something. God designed worship to be a time of Giving.  Giving encouragement to one another. Building up one another. Reaching out to one another. Helping those downtrodden by the world. Welcoming those who have been defeated to a race which they can win.

God expects us to give back to Him as we come together each first day of the week.  He wants us to greet each other cheerfully.  He wants us to sing to Him and to each other.  He expects us to sacrifice.  This sacrifice for His altar is to be from our first fruits, the best we have. 

God expects us to be touched by His word each time we meet together.  The Word according to God is a lamp for us to walk by.  His Word was written to change our behavior and draw us close to Him.

As you worship take of the idea that it is not about me today. It is not about us today.  It is all about the God that we serve and His Son who went to the cross for us.  His Son asked this of us, “Can you follow me.”  Can you follow him!

Attitudes That Make A Difference ... Moving to Reconnect

The next twelve weeks (nine sermons) we will explore the nine traits of outwardly focused churches in an attempt to tweak our present position from where we are to where we can be.  Do not misunderstand me, I, believe we do many good things in the Modesto community at the Davis Park Church of Christ. However, the community still needs us to lead them out of the cesspool our society has made.  These lessons may step on toes (mine included). It is better to have bruised toes than hardened hearts. My commitment is to write an article each work that will be published on FACEBOOK. The article will provide supplemental information to the sermon and challenge us to continue to face outward as we practice our faith.

This week’s lesson is all about the attitude we bring with us to our Sunday morning assembly.  As we leave our homes each Lord’s Day we have expectations for the coming service of which we are about to attend.  Instead of just attending let us remember that we are coming to worship God. The focus should not that of a spectator but one of which is engaged in giving back to God.  Here are a few things to remember, first and foremost no church is perfect. They have never been perfect and they will never be perfect. Some church members will be irritants to us.  Make no mistake that in their own way God loves them for who they are.  The preacher on Sunday morning is not perfect.  When I preach I am committed to giving the message my best effort. The church is not perfect.  We all do our best to allow all everyone the opportunity to have the best fellowship and worship time. Last of all we need to “do”.  We must approach Sunday morning as a time to give back.  Give back to God for His sacrifice for us. Give to others so they can come to know their Lord.

The overall health of Davis Park is tied to one thing.  Unity!  Unity is a decision that each individual makes.  God wants us united with one another. He teaches us to love one another, have peace with one another, serve with one another, and worship with one another.  Unity is evident in all kinds of organization that are effective. Sports teams, businesses, families and churches all rely on all the individuals making a decision to put the good of the group before his or her needs. Unity is best seen when the individuals in the organization have the right attitudes.

The four solutions are going to be given this Sunday. We will suggest four attitudes that will help us shift our outlook outward.  Pray that God will move us closer to Him.  

Buddy Graydpcoc.com