“Connect”

February 17, 2008

Hebrews 10:19-25 / 1 John 1:1-5

 

Objective Statement:  Every person can be connected to God and others by following these principles:

Principles:                                                                                                   1) We need to connect to God as individuals.                                            2) We need to connect with God in community.                                             3) We need to extend connection with God to others.                                  4) We need to be balanced in our connection.

<Simple Church Slide>

Open: If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to

Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.

<This is the word of God and we believe it.>

Last we began a series of messages entitled, Simple Church.

As we dove into the topic, we realized that our world naturally tends to be more complex than it is simple.

Jesus stepped into a religious scene that had become incredibly complex with a ranking of 613 commands. 

When asked by a young smarty-pants Pharisee lawyer what the greatest of those 613 commands was, Jesus responded,

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”

“Love God.  Love people.  Simple.”

This past week we celebrated Valentine’s Day, which is a celebration of love.

On Thursday mornings I have a men’s small group that I’m part of that meets at Wheat, Montana.  I had in mind to stop at County Market on the way home to pick up some flowers, a balloon or card.  Fortunately the gals at Wheat, Montana gave me some ammo:  a cookie that had the following message written on it:  “My man loves me.”  J  “That’s a good one for Kelly!

I love you, Kelly!

“Love God.  Love people.”

I think that’s what’s really at the heart of our message this morning:

“CONNECT”

Our series entitled “Simple Church”, is designed to communicate the basics of what we’re about at Alliance Fellowship.

“Transforming hearts that transform the world” describes a growth process that we would love to see happen in the lives of people as they become followers of Jesus and grow in Him – process known as “discipleship”.

We would love to see people Connect (with God and other Christ- followers),

Grow (taking on the character traits of Jesus),

Serve (utilizing the unique personality and strengths that God has given), and

Reach (taking God’s love to neighbors near and far)

So let’s start with “CONNECT”, which is about loving God and loving people.

To get a good handle on this, we have to go back to the very beginning, in Genesis, where God created the world and everything in it, including us human types.

We Were Created to Be in Perfect Relationship with God – There was no barrier between us and God.

The “Great Dis-Connect” – We rejected God, choosing to go our own way.  This caused separation in our relationship with God.

Sin Broke Our Relationship with God – Our disobedience placed us in a position of being the subjects of God’s judgment and wrath.

Jesus Died to Provide Connection Back with God – God didn’t leave us permanently separated, but provided Jesus as a perfect substitute to pay the penalty for our offense.

Faith in Jesus Is the Way Back to Relationship with God – God’s arms of forgiveness and reconciliation are open, but we need to individually respond to God in faith, accepting his gift of salvation. 

So, in the biggest way possible, God demonstrated his desire to reconcile our broken relationship with Him.

The occasion of Valentine’s Day often begs the question:  “What is love?”

1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God made the first move, saying, “I love you.  I want you.”

<Motion with open arms.>

Have we reciprocated?

If God’s body language is this:  Open Arms

What is our response?

-      Disinterest <Shrugged shoulders>

-      Anger <Back turned>

-      Apprehension <Shrinking down>

-      Reciprocity <Open arms>

1) We need to be connected to God as individuals.    

2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Have you connected with Jesus?

 

We must connect with God as individuals, but God also has a plan that we connect with God together. 

Psalm 34:3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

God made people to be connected to Him.

God made people to be connected to one another.                                              (“It is not good for the man to be alone.”)

And…

2) God made people to be connected to God with one another. 

Hebrews 10 is a passage that clearly points to the connection that we are to make with God in community:

Hebrews 10:19-21 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

The shed blood of Jesus is the access by which we gain confidence to enter the presence / company of God.

Hebrews 10:22-23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Our corporate worship service begins with a “Call to Worship” – God calls his people in to worship.

“Church” – ek-klesia  - Those who have been “called out” (ecclesiology)

Our readings of scripture, the songs of praise, the celebration of communion – are affirmations of our commonly held faith.  A faith we hold in common with brothers who have long since flown to Jesus and our sisters who are also gathering to worship Jesus this very day in Ghana and Venezuela and Papua New Guinea and in Cambodia!

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.

We meet together to be mutually encouraged in our faith, to center our lives with the weekly tradition of worship in community that re-connects us with Christ and his followers.

Eg:  “The Individual Christian” – Every now and then I scan through the “Churches” section of the Yellow Pages and something that catches my eye is “The Individual Christian”

Saying:  “There’s strength in numbers.”

Eg:  Carnivores usually pick off the stragglers, separate them, then take them down:

-      Lions and gazelles

-      Cougars and deer

-      Wolves and elk

Eg: Sparticus was a gladiator that led a rebellion in the Roman Empire.  Following that revolt, the Romans separated gladiators, making sure that no one who spoke the same language was held together.

We need to connect to God as individuals.

We need to connect with God in community. 

3) We need to extend connection with God to others.

1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Sounds like a Circle of Life, doesn’t it? J

Our joy of connection with Christ isn’t complete until we share it with others!

God went out of his way to communicate that we wanted connection with us.  God wants us!

How are we doing at communicating to others that we want them?

Here’s where we have some Practical Applications:

-      Fill out Special Days Card – We want to celebrate with you!

You matter to God and you matter to us!

- Fill out the Connection Insert – We want to communicate with our guests that they are wanted!

-      Be Hospitable – The box is already checked!

This is stuff you can do when you come to worship – you don’t even need to make another time commitment!

-      Be a Greeter

-      Be an Information Host

-      Be an Usher

-      Be a Meet-er

-      Be on the 10th Anniversary Planning Team

We need to connect to God as individuals.

We need to connect with God in community. 

We need to extend connection with God to others.

<Creative Team’s Video?>

4) We need to be balanced in our connection.

Eg:  Lego pieces

<Circle of Life Slide>

Close:  <Simple Church Slide>

You know, you can have a big impact on whether or not somebody else connects with Christ.  You can have a big impact on whether they connect with this local church.

Eg:  “Brother are you saved?”

Eg:  Bruce Thames

Eg: Brian Adkins and Dave Burcham

Let’s respond to God’s invitation to be connected.  Let’s continually prioritize weekly worship, which helps us stay connected with God and one another.  And let’s have our eyes and hearts open to connect with others!

<Prayer>

Benediction