I decided it would be helpful to blog occasionally about those
things God is impressing upon me during my sabbatical.
So, I begin by acknowledging the main take away for this second
week has to do with the importance of listening to the Spirit. In other words,
I need to lead others by means of being led by Him. This is not only much more
fruitful and effective than trying to lead merely or mostly on our own, it removes
much of the stress and pressure.
This insight also makes me think of another take away for
this week—the one that gave rise to the post’s title and also one that flows
out of what I just shared.
God has not only been impressing upon me for three years now
to lead by being led and he has not only been reiterating that during the sabbatical,
but he also drove this truth home to me this past weekend as we attended Christ
Community Church in Greeley, Co. In a sermon out of Luke 24 Pastor Alan Kraft
very helpfully and powerfully encouraged us to listen to the Spirit when it comes
to evangelism and discipling. In other words, God met me in a powerful way through
His Word, delivered by Alan, when we assembled together with other believers.
This also was true the previous week when we were at the Evangelical
Free Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming and heard Pastor Dave Carlson preach on Romans
15.
Both of these experiences, coupled with my missing our faith
family (and thinking much about the impact they have on my spiritual health)
and also my current reading through Hebrews reminds me just how important
fellow believers (aka the Church) are to our growth and spiritual health.
Hebrews certainly makes it clear that our salvation and perseverance in that
salvation are found in Jesus Christ alone (e.g. Heb. 2:1-18; 7:19-28; 10:10,
19-23). Yet, the way Christ grows us and unleashes that transforming and
persevering grace in us also involves fellow believers. Consider just two
examples:
·
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of
you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none
of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to
share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”
(3:12-14)
·
“And let us consider how to stir up one another
to love and good works, 25 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.” (10:24-25)
On this second week of sabbatical I am more convinced than
ever that I could not do this life, especially this life of following Christ,
if it were not for fellow believers. Yes, it is true that no Christian and no
local church is perfect and yes it is true that we hurt each other. But, it is
equally as true we need each other.
A cherished American spiritual dogma goes something like
this: “I am a Christian, but I just don’t need (or don’t like) the church.”
That is one we need to rethink. It is simply not true!
Joyfully on sabbatical, but also honestly in need of our
faith family!
Tom
