Worship, Connect, Serve

Worship, Connect, Serve

January 7, 2024

Isaiah 37:30 NIV

"This will be the sign for you, O Hezekiah:"This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Ethos - the distinctive character of a group, typically expressed in attitudes, habits, and beliefs

What does God want me to do as a part of this fellowship? What is our ethos?

1. Worship

Psalm 34:1-8 NIV

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

When we gather, we will place a high value on the presence of God.

Most of our songs are songs sung to God about God.

Worshiping is an act of submission to God. It’s a declaration that his ways really are better than ours.

2. Connect

Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

A congregation is formed by the Holy Spirit to become a community of believers who are always making room for others.

1. I will live in community because I cannot mature as a believer without others.

2. I will find community and not wait for others to find me.

3. I will make room for people different than me.

4. I will live at peace with people.

5. I will not be surprised by imperfect people because I know community is sometimes messy.

3. Serve

Matthew 20:25-28 NIV

“Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

To serve is lay aside our sense of entitlement so we stop demanding.

We must never forget the words of Jesus as he looked at a crowd of people from a city similar to our own.

John 4:35-38 NIV

“Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages; even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."