“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 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.”
Hebrews 10:22-25
- Because we are made in the image of our relational God, we are wired to connect.
- As those made new by Jesus, filled and empowered by His love, we are supernaturally enabled to connect.
- And Jesus gave us the explicit instruction to “love one another” (John 13:34), so we are commanded to connect.
“Connecting is a kind of relating that happens when the powerful life of Christ in one person meets the good life of Christ in another.”
Larry Crabb, Connecting p. 66
Foundational Truth:
- There is Good in everyone because the image of God is imprinted on us.
- This makes us rational, relational and moral beings who long for connection.
- “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…’” Genesis 1:26
- There is Bad in everyone because the corruption of Adam is embedded in us.
- This infects every part of us: heart, mind, soul and body. We suffer from disconnection and aggravate that pain in others.
- “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Rom. 1:21
- There is Glory in every follower of Jesus because the Holy Spirit lives in us.
- This means we have new desires and new power that activates and elevates our rational, relational and moral capacities.
- “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Rom. 8:11
“Good urges are created in us when we’re forgiven. Good urges will completely rule in us when we see Jesus and the belief of faith gives way to the excitement of sight. And good urges are released in us now as we get to know him better.”
Crabb, p. 14
Say someone comes to you with one or more of the following.
Presenting Concern: pornography, anxiety, depression, anger, rudeness, over-eating, under-eating, pride, selfishness etc.
What’s the main problem?
- Unresolved issues… You need Insight into your past and your heart ? “Fix what’s wrong”
- Bad behavior… You need Accountability and exhortation ? “Do what’s right”
Many well meaning Christian workers only have these two tools in their toolkits, so we refer to counselors to “fix what’s wrong,” and start accountability groups to help people “do what’s right.” After 25 years of Christian counseling, combining these techniques with the best of Christianity and of counseling, Crabb concluded there was a third and more fundamental problem:
- A Disconnected Soul, from God, self and others… You need connection!
Underneath (many) psychological dysfunctions and (most) bad behavior is the root issue of a disconnected soul. Since our upward relationship with God is broken we struggle to relate to ourselves, to others and to our dark and damaged world. But God connects with us in the midst of this darkness and pain.
How God Changes Us:
- He provides a taste of Christ delighting in us: EMBRACE
- The prodigal comes home and is welcomed home as a son (not a slave).
- He searches for the good He has placed within us: ENCOURAGEMENT about any evidence of God’s Spirit in the midst of problems.
- The Father affirms the son and celebrates his return, visibly conveying his reinstatement in the family.
- He intentionally exposes what is bad and painful: a disruptive ENGAGEMENT that leads to an experience of grace.
- The Father approaches his older son and invites him to the party; so we can assume he also pulls aside the younger son to talk through his poor choices and discuss how to move forward on a better path.
“Connecting… is the actual life of God, the energy with which the Father and Son relate to each other, a set of inclinations put in our hearts by the Spirit and kept alive by his presence. It is a power that is most fully released as we develop a compelling and awe-inspiring vision of who another person is and what he or she could become because of the gospel.”
“Our hearts are enlivened with the same passions that ruled unopposed in Jesus’ life; motives, desires and ambitions that were perfectly expressed in every choice he made, every word he spoke, every emotion he felt… We are alive in Christ.”
Crabb, p. 66, 68
A Vision for Greater Connecting at Oakwood
As you get involved with a community group and/or a discipleship group, our hope is that you will get connected.
- Experience a taste of Christ delighting in you – a culture of EMBRACE
- “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.” John 17:26
- Rejoice in the good things He has placed in you – a culture of ENCOURAGEMENT
- “The glory that you have given me I have given to them that they may be one even as we are one.” John 17:22
- Courage to share struggles, temptations and sins – a culture of ENGAGEMENT
- “For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” John 17:19
Let’s risk real relationship to experience genuine growth! Let’s connect!