November 2019 - LIFE Church Bradford

Recap

This message is part of a preaching series called “Anchored”, which explores how we have a hope in Jesus that acts as a firm anchor to our soul. In this preach, Jock James explores how being in community can keep us connected to that anchor.

In his introduction, he says that even though our anchor is firm and secure, if we choose not to have anything attached to that anchor, there is nothing stopping us to from drifting away or being swept around in hard times. A strong attachment in community can help us stay connected to God’s truth, even if life moves us to different places and seasons.

Since we all have different personalities and gifts, we can add to each other’s lives. Jock uses the example that the biggest athletes always have a team of people around them, so they can succeed. As such, relationship with other believers is very important so we can be encouraged and helped by people that have the same anchor as us – Jesus Christ.

In Acts, we see that the primitive Church grew because the believers not only met in the temples (big gatherings), but also in each other’s house (smaller and more intimate gatherings) where they broke bread together. Jock explains that even today, it is sometimes hard to have big and meaningful conversations every Sunday at church with other believers. That sense of community can be built when we spend time together outside of church, being at each other’s house or at any other place together.

However, another truth is that the Devil hates community. We have to be aware that when we give in to isolation, we become more vulnerable to his attacks, like a deer that becomes an easier prey for a lion if it gets too far from its herd. We will still be attacked, but community protects us and helps us deal with these attacks.

In the conclusion of his preach, Jock regards that there may be times when we feel alone even in the Church, perhaps because the people we are connected to may not be present. New seasons may come, but we have to just press in and try to connect again, being in a new life group, or even a new serving area. God may be calling you to put yourself forward in a new and exciting way.

Scripture

Hebrews 6: 19 – 20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Genesis 2: 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Acts 2:46 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,

Sometimes we can end up letting our anchor down for things that are can shift in our lives, such as the security of our job, or the numbers in our bank account. It is important for us to have our anchor in something that is firm and secure.

We were built for relationship. God Himself is in relationship – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And because God created us in His image, we too are wired to seek connection and relationship. It is not good for us to be alone.

1 Corinthians 12:12;27Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

We all fit together, even though we are different, because God designed us that way. Community is a good thing. In community, strength and hope is built, faith is raised, people are helped and encouraged.

You can be isolated and be in the crowd. We can come to the church and to life groups, but still not open up and not saying what is going on in your life.

We should all have a life outside of church, to connect and reach others for Jesus. But we can’t use that as an excuse not to be connected to the church family, because you are going to be stretched and challenged by God in it. Through these challenges in the House you will receive the good things God has for you.

Questions

1. Are you choosing in the calm who you are going to be in the storm?
2. Are you allowing yourself to create sincere relationship with other believers?
3. What steps can you take this week to allow that to flourish in your world?
4. What do you see developing in you, when you are in community?
5. Are you allowing yourself to be in Family?
6. Is God challenging you to put yourself forward in a new way this season?
7. What has stood out the most for you in this week’s message?

Prayer

Areas that we should pray over include:
1. Pray for God to remove any barriers in your relationships with other believers
2. Pray for God to place new desires to be an active part of your community
3. Pray for your leaders and for the brothers/sisters God has put in your world.

Recap

This message is the first of a preaching series called “Re-Enter the Room”, which explores how we may need to re-align our vision and commitment in the different areas of our lives where we became apathetic. Areas that God has blessed us with, but where we became familiar in.
In her preach, Charlotte begins by saying that there are times when we need to walk back into some places in our life where we have become dormant, into some atmospheres we have forgotten are still available to us. She uses the example of being invited to someone’s house and arriving at the moment when an argument is happening: Everything in us just wants to walk out of the room and re-enter again with a new posture, more appropriate to engage with the situation at hand.
The question Charlotte asks throughout this message is: “What room is it for you?” What room in your world has become a place where we don’t seem to fit anymore? Where we get discouraged by how things are “now”, in comparison to how they were “in the beginning”?
Charlotte looks at the life of Peter to answer those questions that we often ask ourselves. When we think about Jesus and His disciples, Peter was a young man often associated with boldness, with excitement, having a bright future ahead of him. But as Jesus faced the cross, and Peter found himself denying Him, every certainty Peter had about his future and his calling seemed to crumble before him.
However, even though he felt discouraged, he still positioned himself where Jesus first entered his life. In that place is where Peter is called to “Re-enter the room” and where he is set up for the whole next season of his life. He is called to re-enter three things:

Re-enter His Nets. In the same way Peter was ready to put his talents in action back on the boat, we may need to trust God again in this season with the gifts and talents we were almost ready to store away.
Re-enter The Water. In the same way Peter threw himself to the water in pursuit of Jesus, God may be calling us to stop putting tidiness and restraint in first place, and to get wild and passionate for Him again: When we boldly jump in into the God’s waters, others around us get wet as well.
Re-enter Your Commitment. In the same way Peter was called to look after Jesus’ sheep, God may be calling us to honor what He has asked us to do, and who He has given us to care for – even when we don’t feel like it.