Hebrews 10:22-25 (The Message)

So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:22-25 (The Message)

Connect Groups.

Together" in the Bible: Hebrews 10:25 The Christian church is meant to be a community of believers. We are most effective when we're surrounded by fellow believers to correct and encourage us. The apostle Paul here instructs Christians not to neglect the act of meeting up periodically for worship and fellowship. Now we come together as Connect Groups.

What Connect Group(CG) is all about?
Connect groups are groups of friends based on age or location that meet on a regular basis. Together connect groups provide a great foundation to learn more about God and each other on a personal level.

Psalm 1:2-3 (New Living Translation)

Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:13 (New King James Version)
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3 (New Living Translation)

Friday, May 13, 2011

Heart for the House - Devotional Thoughts( Blog from Hillsong Collected)

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Hillsong Collected
Posted by: 
 
12 May, 2011

Key Verse:

10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Ephesians 3:10-11 (NIV)

Principle:

“Our church challenges mindsets”

Challenge:

As followers of Jesus Christ we need to love what he loves, build what he builds and advance what He advances; by doing so we will build a church that declares God’s wisdom and purpose.
I got chatting to a waiter at a cafe a couple of weeks ago, and when he found out I was a pastor he remarked "you don't look like a pastor". I guess there's a certain mindset out there of what a pastor looks like, and for some reason I didn't fit the bill. I replied to him "yeah there's a few of us like that" and told him about our church. I love that our church challenges mindsets. But the mindsets that need challenging are way bigger than just what a pastor looks like, and way bigger than just our church. THE Church challenges mindsets, and oh what mindsets there are to be challenged.
Ephesians 3:10 tells us that the wisdom of God is being made known TO the angels, THROUGH the Church! In my imaginings it would be the other way around, that God gives the inside scoop to the angels and they all together celebrate as the Church "gets it". But that doesn't seem to be what's happening here, the Church is getting it, living it, breathing it, and then the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms are seeing it!
What specifically is this "it"? Simply that the Gentiles are sharing in the promise of Christ along with the Jews! The outsiders and the insiders are now both insiders! There was a mindset about what being "in" looked like and the Church was setting the record straight!
The reality is there are still mindsets today of what it looks like to be "in" as far as God is concerned. Maybe it's that church is just for 'good' people, people that don't drink, don't smoke, or don't have tattoos, people that have never done drugs, been to jail, or been divorced. Whatever the mindset is around who's "in", it leads to people saying things like "if I went to church the roof would cave in". Their feeling that they couldn't possibly be "in" is so great, they are in fact sure that they are "out". Thank God the Church challenges those mindsets! There is no "what a Christian looks like", because a follower of Christ could be anyONE, everyONE is "in".
Gathered, WE are the Church, and it is in our hands to continue to challenge mindsets that would say it is only a certain "type" of person that is "in" with God. WHO we welcome, and HOW we welcome them, can shout loud to the world and the heavenly realms that all who will may come!
Chrishan Jeyaratnam

Question:

What can I change about the way I interact with others as the church gathers, that will better communicate God's heart for everyONE?
Join in the conversation below in the comments section.
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  • Wan Hei 18 hours ago
    I am so inspired by this posting and so believe church is the house of wisdom. He made the foundation of the earth with wisdom, what more His church being His beloved body should manifest His wisdom in a great way.  So inspired and privileged to be part of His body/church.
  • Wan Hei 18 hours ago
    1 Corinthians 2:16 (New International Version)
    16 for,    “Who has known the mind of the Lord
       so as to instruct him?”[a]    But we have the mind of Christ.
  • Karla Keatinge 1 day ago
    I'm so grateful that I don't have to be perfect; That out God and our Church is "come as you are."
  • Eddie Frenkel 1 day ago
    Church being only for "good, clean" people, would be like a doctor's surgery only for the healthy.
  • Chrishan, brilliant post mate.
    You live in a way that includes others.
    Inspiring!
  • Akrontaterman 2 days ago
    the church is the eyes ears and the workings of CHRIST HIMSELF, we must remember we were all once sinners, i dont care yer bas\ckground, when CHRIST clenses its done, ya cant wash off tatoos, nor can you undue the past, but you can put the past to rest, and go forward in what GOD has for you, the mindset, to me is dangerious, cause really its stereotyping people, change in hear tchanges outward apperance. GBU hillsong
  • Bec 2 days ago
    At my workplace, one of my co-workers loves to ask questions about my 'religion'. One of the questions he asked was about all the rules and regulations, according to him, that I had to follow. I tried to explain to him the difference between religions and what I believe to be a relationship with God as part of my christian faith but even the mention of the word 'chrisitian' confused him because there are so many people who claim christianity. I decided what I had said wasn't simple enough so I just replied, 'I love God wiith all my heart; this is what I believe.'' He seemed to have understood when I said this statement as if a light went on in his head. He was surprised it was that simple but I thanked God as I walked to the back of the store for making it that easy. For not dictating us with rules and regulations that we are to follow before we can be saved but by making it as simple as a proclamation from the heart. I pray that God, through me, will continue to change the mindsets of what my co-workeers believe being a christian means.
  • Rogerlindsey555 1 day ago in reply to Bec
    Well said! I will have to remember that for future use. Let's make it as simple as possible for everyone to know how we are CHRISTians. Let them see Christ through our actions.
  • Oh, that's fantastic!
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