February 9th, 2023
This year our theme for The Branch Church is engagement, we the pastors feel that one of the most important aspects of the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ, is their involvement in His Church.
Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us to make sure we are doing some really important things, and one of them is meeting together.
"23, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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."
If we read the verses closely we can see that the author wanted their audience to fight to keep getting together. To stir up each other up, and encourage one another. The beauty of church engagement is that as people get involved, they become more invested in the life and mission of Jesus Christ, the mission to build His church. I love Jesus’ words when he tells Peter "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Yes, it is Jesus who builds the church, but we are invited to be part of His church, and if Jesus invites us to be part of what He is doing, we should be excited to do so.
Our hearts should desire to be active in the local body, (the Church) so many of us, have made being engaged in the church, of minor importance, I believe that it should be one the most important things we do as a disciple. Being engaged means that we want to be active, we see value in working for the things of God. For as we meet together in fellowship, Sunday morning worship services, in disciples triangles, grabbing a meal or coffee together, we spur each other on towards Christ. As we hang out (playing games and sports), or as we just sit around and talk and pray with one another we can not only grow individually we can help each other to fight the good fight of faith.
Through engagement, we also become more and more committed to each other, a deeper love for each person starts to grow in us, the church becomes much more than a building, or something we do. It becomes something we are. Together we become a greater expression of Jesus than we can be independently.
So we ask ourselves what would God do with a church that is engaged? One thing we do know is that God would be glorified as we work together towards the Mission Of God.
Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us to make sure we are doing some really important things, and one of them is meeting together.
"23, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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."
If we read the verses closely we can see that the author wanted their audience to fight to keep getting together. To stir up each other up, and encourage one another. The beauty of church engagement is that as people get involved, they become more invested in the life and mission of Jesus Christ, the mission to build His church. I love Jesus’ words when he tells Peter "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Yes, it is Jesus who builds the church, but we are invited to be part of His church, and if Jesus invites us to be part of what He is doing, we should be excited to do so.
Our hearts should desire to be active in the local body, (the Church) so many of us, have made being engaged in the church, of minor importance, I believe that it should be one the most important things we do as a disciple. Being engaged means that we want to be active, we see value in working for the things of God. For as we meet together in fellowship, Sunday morning worship services, in disciples triangles, grabbing a meal or coffee together, we spur each other on towards Christ. As we hang out (playing games and sports), or as we just sit around and talk and pray with one another we can not only grow individually we can help each other to fight the good fight of faith.
Through engagement, we also become more and more committed to each other, a deeper love for each person starts to grow in us, the church becomes much more than a building, or something we do. It becomes something we are. Together we become a greater expression of Jesus than we can be independently.
So we ask ourselves what would God do with a church that is engaged? One thing we do know is that God would be glorified as we work together towards the Mission Of God.
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