Themes

I have a friend, Lauren, who when she wants an answer from God, she asks for it to be shown to her three times. That's how she's assured that something is from God. In my life, I've found that seasons come in themes. This summer has been so exception. God is always trying to teach me something and show Himself to me in someway. This summer has come with a few themes of its own...

1. Be intentional. In everything that we do, we should be intentional about it. In building relationships, in sharing God's word, in anything, think, act, and speak knowing your intentions.

2. Nothing replaces the Church. Nothing. Not a great small group. Not a big campus ministry or campus outreach. Not Wednesday night fellowship or whatever you do. Nothing replaces corporate worship with like-minded individuals who come together to worship God. Worship isn't about us. It isn't about getting something out of it. Worship is completely about God. Bryan Kelly told us a few days ago that leaving a church should feel like divorce, and I agree. When you leave a church, you're leaving family and parts of the body of Christ behind. You are an important part of the body of Christ. Both parts ache when one piece is cut away.

3. Everyone is learning and everyone is teaching. We all live different lives, come from different places, and see things in different lights. We each bring something different to the table, no matter who we are. In the body of Christ, we all need someone to be constantly feeding us, building us up and encouraging us in our faith. At the same time, we should be sharing those things and the things we know about God with others. We are called to be teachers and students. Children and adults alike.

4. Reconciliation. Since the fall of man, every relationship has been broken. Relationships between God, me, others, and the rest of creation: all broken. Jesus Christ came to reconcile us back to Him. As His body, we are called to continue reconciling the relationships of this world back to Him...the only thing is, we can't. Reconciliation is completely impossible without God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.

These are just four of the things that I have been learning this summer. God is truly doing amazing things through Common Ground and House to House and I am so blessed to have been used by God through it. My prayer is that God's work will continue through them and build up leaders in the community who take ownership of this neighborhood and share God's word and love with others here.