Connect

Growing at Concord

The corporate worship experience is awesome. When the spirit of God moves in this environment there is nothing like it and this is part of the way we grow in our faith. Gathering or corporate worship is not the only thing we need to grow in our faith. Today we turn and look at connecting via small groups or Sunday School. In the gospels, we see Jesus spending most of His time with the twelve disciples, not with the massive crowds. Jesus had revealed Himself to the disciples through His teachings, miracles, and the many conversations He had with them. Jesus did live with the twelve. Jesus did not stop with the twelve. He took Peter, James, and John and had special times with them. This was not because He loved them more but because the ability to pour our lives into people is limited and therefore we have to be focused. The Apostle Paul, in his writings never seems to be alone.

Philippians 4:21-22

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me

greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

In Colossians 3:7-15 Paul mentions 9 people that he is either sending or they are greeting the Colossian church. Following Jesus is by design relational, not only with God but with His children. Connecting in small groups provides a place to be vulnerable. A place to know other people at a deeper level than the passing ‘How are you?’ This is also a place to be known by other people. To be loved by people. To be prayed for by others. To be held accountable. God uses the context of a small group of people doing life together to help us grow. That growth takes place as we cry together over the hurts of life. We grow as we walk through conflict together. Connect is essential to our spiritual maturity. If you do not currently have a Sunday School class, there is a place for you. We are starting new classes this year. We want you to be a part because we know if you join one of our classes you are going to grow spiritually. If you need more information call the church office.

Pastor Scott