Connect
Acts 2:42
Digging Deeper
KEY QUOTES
"Jesus expects His followers to CONNECT with the Lord and His People for corporate worship."
"I want you to know that within our DNA as human beings, we were created to connect to God and to one another to ascribe worth to the God who is the Owner of Creation, the God in whose image we are made."
"The Gathered Church is the Epicenter of God's manifested presence."
It is interesting to think about how important connection is in our spiritual journey.
As a first step, we learn that when we make an effort to connect and draw near to the Lord, He will draw near to us. As we connect more and more with the Lord, we learn to trust Him to meet us where we are and provide what we need. "Come near to God, and He will come near to you." (James 4:8)
As a result of this effort to connect with the Lord, we learn to delight in Him and love Him more. This deep love and delight come from time spent in a connected relationship with Him, learning and growing in our faith and becoming more obedient to God's word. "Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5)
As an outpouring of love and delight for the Lord, a demonstration of love for others occurs. We connect with our faith family, forming a sense of trusting community, deep friendships and meaningful relationships that can last a lifetime. "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." (Proverbs 17:17)
Finally, as a connected body of faithful believers, we can carry out the Great Commission, going to neighbors and nations sharing the Gospel's Good News. The overflow of our love of God and love for others is a light in a dark world that desperately needs King Jesus. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
WHAT NOT TO MISS
This year, the word for our church is ENGAGE. Engage is participating, becoming involved in, or establishing a meaningful connection with.
Main Point: Jesus expects His followers to CONNECT with the Lord and His People for corporate worship.
At the very first church, believers connected. (Acts 2:41, 42, 46)
• They are added to the number of believers/Christians in Jerusalem.
• They devoted themselves to what would seemingly be some form of corporate worship for teaching, fellowship, communion and prayer.
• Every day they went to the temple courts, which was their version of corporate worship, as Jesus never intended for His people to walk away from the Temple but to reform and reimagine the Temple in light of Him.
Here are three questions to explore the depths of Jesus' followers connecting with the Lord and His People for corporate worship.
• Why do we connect?
• What do we do when we connect?
• What happens when we connect?
1. Why do we CONNECT?
The church is the temple of God.
Within our DNA as human beings, we were created to connect to God and one another to ascribe worth to the God who is the Owner of Creation, the God in whose image we are made.
Throughout the Bible, God has been building temples so that He might dwell among His people as they CONNECT with Him and with one another. That is the reason why it is so important to CONNECT with God and with His people through corporate worship.
The author of Hebrews writes,
“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.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)
CONNECTING in corporate worship is extremely important!
2. What do we do when we CONNECT?
In the Old Testament, God's people did several things when they came to the Tabernacle or Temple for corporate worship. They gathered together to:
• Offer Tithes and Offerings
• Observe the sacrifices the priests made
• Celebrate God's faithfulness through festivals
• Pray
• Hear God's Word
• Sing
• Fellowship
The early New Testament church and the church now
Contextualized offering sacrifices. (Romans 12:1, 4–8; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5)
Contextualized observances/feasts/celebrations. (1 Corinthians 11)
Continued giving tithes and offerings. (Acts 2:45, 11:29–30, 20:35; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 2 Corinthians 8, 9:6; Philippians 4:15–16; 1 Timothy 5:17)
Continued to pray. (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1–2)
Continued to sing. (Ephesians 2:19; Philippians 2:6–11; Colossians 3:16)
Continued, contextualized and began reading, preaching and teaching God's Word. (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16, 4:2; Titus 2:1)
Began sharing letters and testimonies of the Gospel's work. (1 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Colossians 4:16)
Began practicing sending out missionaries. (Acts 13)
3. What happens when we CONNECT?
The essential truth:
The Gathered Church is the Epicenter of God's manifested presence.
It is where His presence will be concentrated the most and we get a glimpse of glory.
It is Jesus' vision and intention that His followers CONNECT with the Lord and His people. A strong church will have a strong commitment to corporate worship.
How should you prepare yourself to CONNECT for corporate worship?
⇒ DISCIPLINE your Thoughts
⇒ PREPARE your Body
⇒ ATTUNE your Heart
⇒ DISCERN your Need
⇒ OFFER your Sacrifices
⇒ GIVE your Attention
⇒ EXPECT God to Move
LIFE APPLICATION
While we are connected in many ways in our lives, take time this week to evaluate how deep your connections are. Take steps to settle into a couple of meaningful and solid connections with the Lord and other faithful believers, realizing that these connections will be places to share joys and triumphs and anchors when life gets complicated and challenging.
If you are looking for connection points at Northland Church, please stop by the Connect station in the foyer and explore ways to connect with God and others at Northland Church.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Who is it easiest for you to feel the most connected with, and why?
What are some ways to be more intentionally connected with those around you?
Why was connection so important for believers in the early church?
Why is connection so significant for believers today?
What are some ways to get more connected at Northland Church?
DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE PASSAGES
Day 1: Connect with the Lord-James 4:8; Matthew 6:33; Deuteronomy 6:5
Day 2: Connect with Family and Friends-Ephesians 4:2-3; Colossians 3:13; Proverbs 17:17
Day 3: Connect with Others-Matthew 18:20; 1 Peter 4:8-11; Romans 12:5
Day 4: Connect with Northland Church-Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 12:4-5
Day 5: Connect with the Neighbors and Nations-Genesis 12:3; John 3:16; Matthew 28:19
PRAYER
Lord, You know my heart, and I want to connect first with You and love and serve You more each day. Meet me at this place of prayer as I desire to deepen my relationship with You. Also, I pray that you would open my eyes to meaningful connections with others around me, especially those in my faith family at Northland Church. Let me connect with other believers I can walk alongside and who will walk alongside me. I thank You and praise You for never leaving me alone, but I am always connected to You. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
