Communion is not dependent on Confession, nor is Confession dependent upon Communion; Each is independent but at the same time they work together toward the same goal. These two mysteries are not part of the same process, instead think of them as parallel and often intertwined processes.
A plant without sunlight will die.
An animal without water will die. A body without food will die.
Faith without good works not only will die, but it is already dead.
Let’s be a community who reach out to those in need.
Let’s be a community who look for ways to help.
Let’s be a community who don’t just talk about their faith but shows it by what they do.
Here’s the question we’ll leave you to consider this morning:
CAN PEOPLE SEE YOUR FAITH?
Here’s another controversial statement that we’ll throw at you during this series:
1) “Let him who cannot be alone beware of community”
2) “Let him who is not in community beware of being alone.”
The first statement recognizes that God calls us as individuals, and it is us alone who must respond to the call of Jesus, and it is us alone who will give account to God when we die. The second statement recognizes that while we were called alone, we weren’t called to be alone. We were called into community so that in life, we would not be alone. So, a healthy community has people who can be alone and people who can be together.
The thing that makes a group of Christians a community is the mutual bond we share in Jesus Christ. That is really the only explanation for our life together as the people of God. We are a community not because we share the same tastes and interests outside the church. We are a community because we have had a common experience of an uncommon grace. It is the blood of Christ shed on the cross that binds us together.
The thing that makes a group of Christians a community is the mutual bond we share in Jesus Christ. That is really the only explanation for our life together as the people of God. We are a community not because we share the same tastes and interests outside the church. We are a community because we have had a common experience of an uncommon grace. It is the blood of Christ shed on the cross that binds us together.
The strength of a church is not revealed in the business meeting or the number of people in a pew on Sunday or even in its balance sheet. The strength of a church is always revealed in the prayer culture that exists. The prayer-life of a church is the true life of a church.
Are programs, ministries, services, activities important parts of church life – yes, of course but realize that all are useless unless they are supported by prayer and anointed by the Holy Spirit. The early church knew this, and their prayer meetings were demonstrations of how God’s people ought to pray.