We are better together!
We will be sharing with you, how to be connected to the body of Christ. You cannot be connected in isolation. You must be connected to the body of Christ and to other people. We are a society that values independence. The idea of independence is not of God. The Word of God says no man can stand alone.
The key to happiness is not independence, it is inter-dependence. This life is too challenging for us to go through it alone. Backtrack to 2020 March/April, for the first few days we were happy to be on “holiday”, but reality sets in and weeks after that we started realising that we actually need relationships and interaction. This is integral.
Interdependence is integral. I have something you need, and you have something I need.
Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other and of us needs all the others
Romans 12:5
We need one another in the body of Christ. To God, community is not optional. We come together for a common unity. The great thing about community is that it is not based on ethnicity. We come together from different backgrounds. We cannot fulfil God’s purpose by ourselves. There’s an African proverb that says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” If you want to go fast, then please, by all means, but our faith journey is exactly that, a journey. It is a marathon. You need to go on a journey with others.
5 reasons we must be CONNECTED in a COMMUNITY
- I need others to WALK with me
Colossians 2: 6 | Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him
We were never meant to walk through life alone. You are meant to go through life with others because you and I were built to require relationships. We are called for connection and not isolation. God created us to want a family. That’s why as New Season we value connecting. So, that you never have to walk alone.
Why walking together is better.
- It’s safer
- It’s supportive
- It’s smarter
Imagine being so isolated that not one person has taken time to call in and check on you. You need to have relationships so that people can care for you. What happens when you’re in hospital and no one knows that because you are so isolated. Its not healthy. Walking together is better because its safer, supportive and smart.
Only fools trust in what they alone think
Proverbs 8:26
You are not a fool, because only fools trust in what they alone think
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” I will make a helper who is just right for him.
Genesis 2:18
This concept that you cannot be alone is biblical. You CANNOT be alone.
God created 2 families.
-Natural family: what you are born into
-Spiritual family: what you are ingrafted into – you make choice to be in this family. The moment you accept Jesus you become a part of a spiritual family. We encourage you to be a part of a spiritual family. We cannot always rely on our natural family because they are not always Godly. They will not be able to support you in your spiritual journey
Hebrews 10:25 | 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.
We encourage you to not give up on Destiny groups and worshipping corporately. Its unhealthy to only go to church every 3 to 6 weeks.
1 Corinthians 14:26 | So here’s what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sin a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide insight.
To be a healthy believer you need:
-Large group worship – where you are being instructed and being taught in the things of God
-Small group fellowship – where you can have meaningful relationships
We’re made for relationships. God wired us that way.
- I need people to WORK with me
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
What God has called you to is your ministry.
Its better to have a partner than go at it alone. Share the work, share the wealth
Ecclesiastes 4:9
We have a ministry, purpose and calling. The more we work for things of God we are going to get tired. You need someone else to walk the journey with you so that when you are tired, someone is there to build you up. If Pastor Bojan is running the New Season ship by himself constantly, he will eventually get tired, and that would be bad news for us. He has a support system to ensure he doesn’t get completely burned out. Community is God’s answer to fatigue.
- I need others to WATCH out for me in life
Our question to you is, is anyone watching out for you?
Don’t be upset when someone who cares about you challenges you. They’re doing that because they care about you.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others
Philippians 2:4
Satan cannot hurt God. So, he will try hurt his children. That’s why you need a community around you. To help you, support you and minister to you.
10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 & 12
- I need others to WAIT and WEEP with me
I don’t know about you but when life is difficult, I don’t want to go though it alone. We don’t need people to give us answers, we just need them around us to wait with us and cry with us.
As mentioned above, the saddest thing is, when you’re in hospital and no one knows. Or when you have a baby, and you have no one to celebrate with you. A family celebrates when one succeeds, and a family weep when someone is suffering.
What is God’s safety net? It is a GROUP of believers. A crowd cannot support you. You NEED a small group.
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15
So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
- I need others to WITNESS with me
The greatest witness to Christ is not street evangelism. The greatest witness to the world is found in the following verse.
John 13:35 | This is how everyone will recognise that you are my disciples – when they see the love you have for each other.
When you’re truly in God’s family you start loving others in God’s family
We truly want to encourage you to join our Destiny Groups and be connected.
