In Spirit and Truth
Since God’s way of thinking is not our way of thinking, we must study the scriptures to know what He expects of us. Christ outlined certain expectations of how we should worship. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) If we truly worship God the way we should, it affects the way we live. We worship something because it has value to us. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12)
That Sense of Community
Are you attending a service each Sunday morning but feel there’s something missing? Do you greet those around you but feel only a momentary connection to them? Do you feel there’s no one to call or text when you need some help? In Acts 2 we find worshippers meeting together in addition to their worship service. If, like them, you met with a small group of believers where you could develop friendships, find ways to serve or ask for help, you might discover that “something missing.” You may see, as these Acts 2 people did, there’s more to church than the Sunday morning worship service.
Somewhere
Many people want a spiritual presence in their lives, but don’t want to be a part of a church. While we understand many of the causes of this disconnect, we believe it is important to consider the value of partnerships made within the Christian community. Service is a good starting point. Recently, churches led the way in providing supplies and manpower to aid hurricane victims. For decades churches have served locally, establishing and supporting organizations like Helping Hand of Hope, Warm Blessings, and Habitat for Humanity. Christians are called to serve. We serve best when we serve together.
Growth Cycle
God made each of us unique with a different set of skills, abilities and passions to use throughout our lifetime. If you think your talents are simply for you to make a lot of money, retire and die, you’ve missed the point of your life. God gave you talents to benefit others, not yourself and God gave other people talents to benefit you in return. Jesus told a story where the master gave three differing degrees of resources to his three servants. Two used those resources to attain a return for the master. One did not. The two who produced more were told, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” The one who simply hid his resources was met with these words, “You wicked, lazy servant!”
The Adventure
Calvin Coolidge said, “All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort and effort means work.” The same can be said of spiritual growth… it takes work. In the early church the followers established activities that would help each person grow in Christ. They worked, trained and supported each other. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) Practice is central to achieving growth in so many activities. “Teaching the players during practice was what coaching was all about to me.” John Wooden
Day of Thanks
Engage is all about fulfilling Jesus’ command to us recorded in Matthew 28:19-20. The ability to engage starts when we understand the true meaning of being a disciple. Discipleship is the process of helping people know Jesus more and obey all He has commanded. Jesus tells His people to be about the business of not only making new disciples, but also making current disciples better disciples. The hope at FCC is that we will actively engage in praying for opportunities to share the Gospel with lost friends and neighbors and thus, lost people will recognize their need, repent and believe.