In today’s society we can be more ‘connected’ than ever before. According to a recent statistic, 97% of Americans own a smart phone – and smart phone users spend an average of nearly 5 hours a day looking at their device. But what can be used as a great tool can quickly become a great distraction – social media ‘friendships’ replace actual social gatherings – virtual church services replace in-person worship – and the constant mantra of SELF, SELF, SELF from the culture invades our thoughts and convinces us it’s the way it ought to be.
But God has a different plan…a COUNTER-CULTURAL plan…for the Christian woman today. Where the world says “SELF!” the bible says “COMMUNITY!” Look at Hebrews 10:23-25:
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Those few verses lay the foundation for our counter-cultural lifestyle:
HOLD FAST the confession of our hope
STIR UP ONE ANOTHER to love and good works
DON’T NEGLECT meeting together
ENCOURAGE one another
How can we accomplish this? We have to be GROUNDED. Grounded in the Word and grounded in community. We can’t do it alone and God doesn’t call us to try. He calls us to His church. He calls us to be present, to be involved, to be committed. In Ephesians 4:11ff, the Apostle Paul tells us who God gave to the church and why God gave them to the church: to equip the saints, to build up the body of Christ, so that we won’t be tossed around by unsound doctrine or deceitful schemes – like the culture’s mantra of SELF. And at the end of the paragraph, Paul reminds us that we have a goal: speak the truth in love, grow up every way into Christ, the head of the Church, who “when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” As individuals we need to be community-minded – always ready to show up and do our part, to build up the body of Grace Community Church. If we spend the majority of our time out there we’re going to be confused, we’re going to be critical, and we’re going to be missing out on one of the Christian life’s greatest blessings: the community of the saints.
You’re invited to become GROUNDED with the women at Grace!
First and foremost, Grounded in the Word. Together, let’s make the Lord’s Day Worship our top priority and pray that God would honor our intentions and give us the strength to be present when the distractions try to lead us elsewhere. Then let’s sink our roots even deeper through 2nd Hour Discipleship and Wednesdays in Worship.
Periodically throughout the year, we’ll be Grounded in Community. It won’t always look the same, but it will always be us fellowshipping together and encouraging one another, all the more as we see the Day drawing near!
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