Closer to Christ

God’s church is designed to be a partnership. What is your part in this partnership? What is your next step to strengthening our partnership? A commitment to regular worship? Participation in the “Following the Promise” Bible study? Joining a small group? Giving more consistently or starting a recurring gift online? Volunteering?

As we seek to bring everyone in our area of influence closer to Christ, it is good to evaluate our own situation. How close to Christ am I? What does being close to Christ really look like?

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.” Can you imagine the disciples’ confusion? How could this be for their good? Jesus did so many wonderful things for them. Why would he leave? Jesus has also done wonderful things for us. By his death and resurrection he has given us forgiveness and eternal life. He has made us a community of convinced people. And he has another gift for us—something to be committed to. Conquering kings tend to take glory, advantage and benefits for themselves. In fact, all humans do. By nature, we try to build pyramid schemes with ourselves on top. Human nature uses the many to empower the few. But look at how differently Jesus arranges his kingdom. He alone is at the bottom, giving gifts—empowering more, like evangelists, pastors and teachers to work in his kingdom. And what is their purpose? To equip and empower more people, in fact, all of his people for service. The pyramid is upside down! Jesus’ vision for his church is that the whole convinced community be committed to his mission.

God has designed Family Church to be regular conversation with him--something we call prayer. Prayer is not something parents or friends just "model" for their children and for those in their functional family. Prayer is something that we "live" with our children and friends as God is the purpose and focus and true friend of our lives. "Can I pray for you?"

So often it may seem that all is lost. A cancer diagnosis, a relapse into addiction, the revelation of the unfaithfulness of a spouse, just the nightly news of the horrors and atrocities taking place throughout the world—it would appear the evil has this world by the throat and there is no hope of any real and lasting change. But nothing could be further from the truth. Through the cross and his resurrection Christ has won the battle with sin and death. The demons must and do submit to his authority. God give us the faith to trust that our risen and ascended Savior is ruling and controlling all things for the good of his people and of his church, even more, that everything is possible for the one who believes!