Connecting Series

Opening Illustration: The Car Chase!

Series: You Asked for It – What is the churches mission or mission statement? Why is the church here?

Focus of this message is on our Church Motto: “Connecting with God and Connecting with people!”

Sermon: Connecting

Question: What is CHC’s mission?

Thought: Connecting with God - Connecting with People --- Tag line: “Jesus was intimate with the Father and was also a part of a life group!”

Thesis: At CHC we want everyone to “Connect with God and Connect with People.” We cannot settle for a dry shallow view of Christianity in our life and just know of God we must be willing to go deeper into a relationship with God to actually know God intimately. Jesus always called His followers to a closer more intimate relationship with Him. Intimacy with Jesus is a closer relationship that comes from a relentless pursuit of Him. But there is more to Jesus’ message than just intimacy with God, there is also the challenge that we all as Christ followers need to connect with others too.

Scripture Texts:

James 4:8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you...”

James 2:14-17: 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

I John 4:11-12: “11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Psalm 73:28: “But as for me it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

1 Thess. 4:9-10: “9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.”

Matthew 22:37-40: 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Introduction:

Quote: “One of the most important elements in church life, is building relationships (with God) and with other believers. We can often come to church and enjoy great worship and a great sermon, but without our relationship (connection with God and) with other believers we are severely stunted in our calling in the commission of God and can even stunt the growth of the church. So, why are close relationships important? Close relationships (between us and God) and among believers in the family of God, provide a context of applying biblical truth, promotes unity, (promotes) care among the members, meets spiritual and emotional needs, furnishes a setting for lifestyle evangelism, and ultimately it demonstrates the Body of Christ in action. In order to accomplish this in our Christian walk, (an intimate relationship with God) (along with) small groups provide the ideal format and setting to put the Body of Christ into action” (http://endofthematter.com/2016/09/connect-group-message/).

This is the essence of the type of Christianity Jesus emphasized in His teachings, modeled in His ministry and this is what the Bible promotes as the ultimate goal of all who follow Jesus to connect with God and with others. It’s also the sign of a disciple of Jesus Christ. It’s promoted by Jesus as there being nothing better in life than to draw near and be closer with Him and then to connect with others to share life in Christ together as a family.

I. In the Bible we discover 6 levels of relationship with Jesus and with others according to Robert Crosby from his book The One Jesus Loves:

1. Listen to these 6 levels of relationship:

i. The crowds – Jesus drew a crowd – impressive crowds 10,000 or more people would come hear Him and see Him. This represents the outermost ring of association with Jesus and the least commitment to Him.

1. Crosby states, “The crowds represent those who follow Jesus to the places of watching and listening” (The One Jesus Loves, Page 13). See John 12:19