Words are just words. And sometimes our words create moments. Then there are the moments we can only describe with words, even when words can’t do the moment justice.
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The guys had tuned their instruments. The girls had put the finishing touches on the meal. We all chose songs of worship that meant something special. We weren’t in a church. This wasn’t anything planned. We sang the words to all our songs in a living room, each of us sharing what God had done through the words in our lives.
Twelve years ago this month, I sang in a crowd of people.
“And now I know that I love you. I need you. Though my world may fall, I’ll never let you go. You’re my Savior, my closest friend. I will worship you until the very end.”
That moment changed my life. Though I had sang them before, this time I experienced the presence of a very real God. I felt His love surround me, and I knew that I loved Him, that I would worship Him until the very end. It was one of the realest moments of my life.
Last night, surrounded by my husband and our friends, we sang those very words again. I closed my eyes and could hear our words ringing praise to my Savior and see the very moment I experienced the presence of God for the first time. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with gratitude. Thankful for the moments we can share in the midst of people who love and worship Jesus.
You can’t make it if you don’t have Christian community. I’m not talking about just church. I’m talking about real life, real words, real moments with real people in real relationship.
5 Reasons you can’t make it without Christian community:
1. Encouragement
Life can be discouraging enough, but without Christian community you will find your life being ruled by discouragement. One of the main ways Christians ultimately give up in life is through isolation. Without Christian community, discouragement will destroy you.
Proverbs 18:1
“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
2. Correction
Many times decisions you make will seem right. Many times patterns in your life will seem justified. Without Christian community, you will quickly find yourself led down a path you believed to be right, but it’s end it’s not.
Proverbs 12:15
3. Wisdom
No one is truly wise alone. And if you believe that you are alone wise, you will find yourself unable to make it. Walking in the light and in freedom, means receiving and sharing wisdom in Christian community.
4. Support
There are some tasks and mountains that will be put before you in life that are impossible to accomplish or overcome without the support and help of others. Community is in the very nature of God (Father, Son, and Spirit). Therefore, you can expect life too be too difficult without other people supporting you along the way.
5. There are experiences in life that can only be experienced by sharing.
You can’t experience love and joy alone! Experiences like love and joy shared with other people, and without these experiences you will not be able to make it.
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Put yourself in a place to experience and build true Christian community:
Church
Bible study/lifegroup/community group
Foster and prioritize Christian relationship
Family
Mentor and disciple others
Be mentored or discipled
Check out North Community Groups HERE!
Check out this sermon, “Joy For The Weary,” if you gone through a hard and lonely season.
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Picture compliments of Joseph Elliott Photography . Check out Joseph and Melissa’s BLOG for more pictures from Friday night and sound clips of our worship!
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http://www.josephelliottblog.com/