We are beginning a new series on “Becoming Like Family” as our online community begin to share the daily challenges with friends, and we begin to gather our larger community together.
Why would we bother? One survey found that 59% of 18-29 year old Americans with a Christian background dropped out of church. Four-in-ten American young adults with a Christian background (43%) believe going to church and having Christian friends is optional.
It’s clear that not everyone feels it’s essential, and with our use of technology to form a new church, you might think we mean to simply form an “online” church where no one ever meets in person. But we believe it’s essential. We believe church is essential, but to be clear, we are talking about a community of people.
We’re not saying going to a building is essential
We’re not saying attending a particular kind of worship service with particular kinds of music is essential
Those might be good things. But they are things that churches do, not what makes them a church in the first place.
We want to ensure our church community will have five main characteristics. The first was learning common things about discipleship, and we explored that last week. The second, this week’s focus, is to be spending time in community together.
Some churches do this at bake sales, ham suppers, and such. For us, it will happen in groups that meet regularly to discuss how they’re growing as followers of Jesus. We’ll grow and learn together. Yes, we’ll be learning focused, but we’re also supposed to be a functioning community, a fellowship, in both small groups, and as a large group.
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, it takes a church to raise a follower of Jesus.
Question: Why do you think people might avoid joining a church today? Have you been part of a church before? Why or why not?
Reminder: Last week we saw the importance of reading the Bible together in sync, so our new daily bible readings start today in our mobile app and web site.
Read the Bible in Sync Today
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Jesus talked about fasting, or intentionally denying ourselves for a greater good.
The Pharisees were advertising their supposed humility to the world.
So Jesus’ challenge is this:
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)
Jesus wants his followers to fast for God alone. This is different from a hunger strike, like the one Theresa Spence engaged in. She put herself in the most conspicuous place possible – an island - and had staff dealing with her media relations. All about advertising her fasting, to make a political message.
Jesus doesn’t want his followers fasting to make a point, force change, or advertise their religiosity. He wants them to fast privately, for God.
If his followers can fast, and look and act ordinarily, God will see their humility, and no one else needs to know. And that was meant to be the point, right?
What about today – why would anyone fast? We see three reasons people fast in the Bible, same today:
1. Prayer – Particularly for making special decisions. To turn to God for direction, we turn away from something else that might try to direct us.
2. Self-discipline – Our bodies can cause us to sin, they are broken versions of what God created them to be. We want not just our wills to align with God’s will, but all of us, including our bodies.
3. Care for the Poor – I have a friend who intentionally lived on Ontario Works level of income. She decided to live more simply than necessary, to give that money to others, or in the case of fasting, food.
These are all reasons to fast for God: prayer, to be self-disciplined in avoiding sin, and to care for others.
These are great reasons for self-denial – all ways to turn away from sin in our world, and towards God.
John Stott: We have to become so conscious of God we cease to be self-conscious.
Question: What are you self-conscious about? When do you pay the most attention to what others will think?
