Excerpt from our weekly update newsletter for 1/30/2023. Click here to sign-up to receive updates directly to your inbox.
This past Sunday we entered week four of our series, The Gospel. If you missed this week’s message, you can catch up on Facebook now. One area I felt like the Lord really wanted us to focus on this last Sunday was the importance of Christian community and Christian mentors. There is a tune that I sometimes catch myself singing, I’m sure you know the one. The song goes like this:
Lean on me
When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on.
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
Turns out that this idea is absolutely Biblical. We are reminded in Hebrews 10:23-35: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
As members of the Church, that’s the capital C church meaning the universal church of Jesus Christ, we are called to be in community. In this week’s focal Scripture, we saw the great mercy of God when the angel Gabriel proclaimed that Mary’s relative Elizabeth was supernaturally pregnant too (see Luke 1:36-37). As soon as the angel departed after making some incredible promises to Mary concerning the birth of Jesus, we see how Scripture records Mary’s response: In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39-40 ESV – italics added)
What’s the point? Mary was given a community of believers to share in her incredible journey. Elizabeth and Zechariah were no doubt an incredible gift to Mary. Mary and Elizabeth no doubt prayed together, worshiped together, encouraged one another, and recounted the powerful promises of God again and again. For three months they did life together. There is something so powerful and unique about gathering with other men and women who have experienced the transforming power of the Gospel.
The reminder from Hebrews tells us that we should consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. We are also commanded not to neglect meeting together and to encourage one another more and more as we see the Day drawing near. What is that Day? I believe it is the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord spoken about in Scripture. The second coming of Christ.
Why do we need to meet together? We need each other. We need to encourage one another. We need to remind one another of God’s promises and His faithfulness. We need to challenge one another. Sometimes, we even need to correct one another. Here is a question to seriously consider over these next few days… have you neglected to meet together with a community of Christ followers? Have you neglected to encourage others, challenge others, and to be there to support others? If so, I pray you will confess that to the Lord and recommit your heart to being a part of His Church.
One last thought, maybe you haven’t neglected to meet together, but maybe your heart really isn’t in it anymore. Do you know that it is possible for you to be physically present but spiritually and mentally a million miles away? If that’s you today, maybe its time to recommit to not just being present at Church, but truly being present, serving, and engaged in the Church. Mary needed Elizabeth, and you should trust that you are needed here at Shoal Creek Baptist church too.
