Getting "Linked" Up

I'm amazed at how "linked" our world has become. Recently one of our Congressional representatives got into controversy for "staying connected" with his constituency during a trip to Iraq. The Pentegon expressed concern that his position and mission might be compromised. In a few seconds, he was able to "Twitter" many of his people in his home district.



All of our technological advances though do not serve to deepen our genuine friendships. We are more connected than any generation, yet more isolated and lonelier than ever before. One of the crucial purposes of our church is to "link" people together for relationships. The Bible supports this purpose on almost every page of the New Testament. It says....



-We are like a building. We are like bricks that fit together to make a strong wall. "In Christ we are built together spiritually into the dwelling place of God." Eph. 2:22



-We are like a body. We are like the parts of our own bodies. We each have a vital function to perform in the "body of Christ." Romans 12:4-5 says "Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ's Body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one to make it complete."



-We are like a family. This is a wonderful metaphor for the church. We belong! We are adopted into the family of God. "I want you to know how people who are members of God's family must live. God's family is the church... I Tim. 3:15



-We are like a vineyard. We must stay attached to the Vine. Jesus is the True Vine and we are the branches. "Live in me and I in you. A branch has to stay attached to the vine. You cannot produce fruit unless you stay attached to the vine." John 15:4



That's why we continually teach that connection is a major focus for us at Cornerstone. We need to be "linked" together. We will only grow larger as we act smaller! We don't know where God will take us in the years ahead. I suspect we will see continued growth and health. That's why getting linked up with other is so important.



We never want you to say, "No one cares about me at that church." If people know you, I guarantee they will care for you. We never want you to say, "It's so big, I don't know anyone (and no one knows me.)" When you commit to a Life Group, you will find a dozen or more people who will know you deeply.



We never want you to say, "I'm not being fed." Sunday morning worship is not aimed at "feeding" you all you need spiritually. Our job is to "make you hungry" for more. The real "feeding" of the soul occurs on your own in devotional time with God and in Life Groups. That's the place to dig in, ask real questions, search for answers, and pray together with others.



Our Life Groups all must step up a notch. Some groups have stayed together too long and gotten stale. Sometimes I feel we've gotten into sloppy patterns of meeting infrequently, focusing on fellowship for the most part, and not really being real with each other. It's time to drill down into some deeper study of God's Word (where life's answers can be found), learn how to "pray out loud" (no more excuses), and really be faithful in love to the people we come together with!



If you are not yet "linked," do so immediately. Bonnie Anderson can help do just that. Also, there will be a fantastic LIFE LINK event coming in May. Don't put it off. Get connected. Get growing. Get recharged. Let's make this the most "connected" Body of Christ that we can!!!



Brad