Sunday:
Along the way we mature and become stronger and stronger in our faith. At St. John’s we have designed a simple process to help you mature as a Christian. We are with you on this journey and will seek to help you CONNECT, GROW, and SHARE.
CONNECT to God and His People in Worship. GROW together in God’s Word through Life Groups. SHARE Christ with our Words, Service and Resources.
The members of St. John’s commit themselves to this process to grow and mature as a follower of Jesus Christ.
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As we gather to Worship together we receive forgiveness as we hear the Word, participate in the Lord’s Supper together and celebrate Baptism. God connects himself to us in a most powerful way. We respond to his grace in prayer, praise and confession of what we believe. We see this evidenced in the very first Christian church:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NIV)
In Acts 2:46 it states:
“…they continued to meet together in the temple courts.”
When you remove one piece of charcoal from the rest, it immediately begins to cool while those that remain together keep hot and burning. As God’s people, we find energy and purpose as God connects us together in Worship. God’s word encourages us to stay connected to Him and His people in Worship:
“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.”
(Hebrews 10:25)
“…in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42 NIV)
“Greet also the church that meets at their house.” (Rom. 16:5 NIV)
At St. John’s we call these small gatherings of Christians Life Groups. Life Groups are an important part of the discipleship process because that is where we make a commitment to meet together to study the Word of God. In our Life Groups we find acceptance, community, friendship, accountability and the support of fellow Christians as we commit to grow in God’s Word to become more Christ like in character.
The Word of God: We are committed to growing from the Word of God in Christ. Growth - we want to grow and see our lives transformed to be more like Christ. As part of this growth we commit to pray for each other. Acceptance: Life Group members seek to accept each other unconditionally as Christ does to each of us, seeking to build strong friendships rooted in Him. Confidentiality: Everything shared in a Life Group stays with the group. Gossip and slander are unacceptable. Like Christ we seek the best for each other.
Jesus is concerned with what we do with our words, service and resources because he is concerned about where our hearts are. The reality is that when we SHARE Christ our hearts are in the right place and we are becoming more and more like Christ.
“For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.”
(Mattthew 6:21 NIV)
You have influence among those around you: family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, community members, etc… God has placed these people in your path that you might be his representative, a messenger of his grace and mercy. It is important for you to know that God has empowered you with His Holy Spirit; He has trusted you and He will work through you to influence his children around you.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Rom. 10:13-14 NIV)
As we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot help but overflow with a life of service. There are abundant opportunities for us to serve others all around us. We want to help guide you on that journey, as you discover how he plans to use you as an agent of his grace and a proclaimer of the Gospel message.
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 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.” (Matt 20:26-28 NIV)
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:7-8 NIV)
The Bible talks a lot about money and resources. Some 25% of Jesus’ words in the Gospels are related to the topic of worldly resources and the proper stewardship of them. Why? Because money is a critical component to the health and growth of God’s people. But, due to its role in our lives, it’s nearly impossible for us to separate the connection that money has to our hearts. Therefore, wealth and possessions are prime targets for idolatry. God desires that we live a life of generosity.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21 NIV)