Day 5

Lord Jesus Christ, speak to me.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

The next of the core values at The Bridge is:

God Created Us for Relationships.
We value families, small groups, and authentic community.

Being a part of a church isn’t like being in a family. It is being in a family. A church is a spiritual family. When you become a Christ-follower, you become a part of God’s forever family. That is what we were made for. We were made by God and for God and to be a part of His forever family. There should not be any lone ranger Christians out there. But all too often, you will here people say, “I love God. I just don’t like the church. There are too many hypocrites there.” What does that sound like in the ears of God? The church is referred to in Scripture as the body and the bride of Christ. So when someone says, “I don’t like church,” that is the same as saying to God, “I love you, but I don’t like your body.” Or, “I love you, but I don’t like your wife.” Can you imagine someone saying that to you? “I love you, but your body repulses me.” Not a very kind thing to say. But that is how we treat God when we reject being in connection with a local church body. God loves the church. And we should too. Is it a perfect place with perfect people? No. But as Rick Warren has said, “If you ever find the perfect church, don’t join it. Because then it won’t be perfect anymore.” (not an exact quote!)

God created us for relationships. He designed us to depend on one another for encouragement and strength. Each of us as Christ-followers has a responsibility to connect ourselves with a local church. And we won’t find the perfect church. But we can use our gifts and talents and abilities to make it a better church. And I want to encourage you, don’t sit around and wait for others connect relationally with you! You take the iniative to build relationships within the church that will foster your spiritual growth and the growth of the ones you connect with. Join a Connection group. Find a prayer partner. Join a ministry team. Relate. God made you for it.